Worth everything you give it - and then some.

Rating: 10/10 (30 January 2000)

Sometimes you can tell how well a film is effecting its audience by the way that people respond in the theatre. Moments of depth and meaning sometimes transcend the ability of those who lead a more pointless and shallow existence or who simply aren't paying attention. You can tell these people easily sometimes; they laugh when they are not supposed to laugh because they are totally missing the point of what they are seeing; and in this case a film so accessible and so understandable as this one further highlights the fact that they are sadly looking right past what they are seeing.
The packed cinema in which I saw this flim was such a place, there were pockets of these pointless individuals here and there; people who totally missed the point of what they were seeing and saw only the surface of the fact. That this happened in American Beauty really hammers home just quite how deprived these people were. This is neither a difficult nor an obscure film, nor is it detached from its audience; in fact it's a long time since I've seen something that was so immersive, so involving and so compelling. Indeed The Sixth Sense was a film of such quality but in a totally different way so perhaps comparisons are a tad unfair in this case.
This is a film of great depth, character and meaning which elegantly conveys its depth and communicates with its audience in a careful, considered and very thoughtful manner. This sense of depth is felt throughout the entire film and is cemented in the last few scenes, the point of the entire story is given with such clarity that it is hard to misunderstand what you are seeing.
I think everyone will perhaps pick up something different from this film based on how it relates to them and their own experience. It will speak volumes to some, quiet whispers to others; it will nudge and prod and suggest to some people who have been there, done that, others will just find it an interesting and deep story that stays with you long after you've left the cinema. I think that the elegance of this film is in its simplicity and the way that a profoundly simple concept is explored and concentrated into the final point in the film, something that not only requires truly great writing but equally strong production, direction and last but not least, very strong performances.
I found all these things in this film and I was swept up in its brilliance, its simplicity and indeed its complexity. Not only is it so clever as to be very intellectually impressive but it also achieves a level of accessibility that it may be understood by almost everyone. I now pity those who miss this film or those who see it but still miss all that is in it; those who want to look at pretty pictures and disengage their brain for a while had best not see this film. They indeed have my pity.

All I can recommend to you is two things. Firstly go and see this film. And secondly ==pay attention==. You'll be grateful that you did; it's worth every moment that you give it.