Ultra-sharp satire

Rating: Null/10 (7 May 2004)

American Beauty is deadly sharp satire - it centres on what seems like a typical American middle class family. But upon closer inspection - their lives are slowly turning inside out. The husband (the very dry Kevin Spacey) is on the verge of a mid-life crisis - dissatisfied with his marriage, job and family. He becomes obsessed with his daughter's best friend. Meanwhile - the very career focused wife (Annette Bening) starts an affair with the real-estate "king". And so on...
This movie is an incredible trip - with so-sharp writing, outstanding performances, memorable imagery (who could forget - all those roses... and the plastic bags!).
Very funny - very twisted - the way I like it!