Deceptively beautiful

Rating: 10/10 (13 February 2004)

I went into this film not expecting too much. The commercials for American Beauty at the time of its theatrical release did not do the film justice. I've liked the majority of roles Kevin Spacey had been in up to this point, but the actor who got me to actually sit down and watch this was Scott Bakula. I had loved his versatility in Quantum Leap and tried to see if he could ever match that range. I was pleasantly surprised.
I was drawn into this movie within five minutes. It's a great story of rebirth and rediscovery. The ending, although not quite as shocking as some had told me, was simply beautiful. It was somewhat unexpected and the perfect ending that resonates in your head and sticks with you long after the final credits. The acting was superb on all accounts. American Beauty is the right mix of drama and comedy. You are always interested in what the characters are doing and where they will be headed. Simply put, this is an outstanding movie.