A hymn for our time.

Rating: 10/10 (28 November 1999)

I am glad I went to see this without knowing anything about it. I had rushed to the multiplex for a little time alone (my wife was busy) without having done any movie homework. I ran into a really old friend (nursery school!) who was waiting to meet a friend and see American Beauty. Neither of us knew anything about it, but she said she had read good reviews and I know her as a serious person with pretty good taste.
I left this movie laughing the deep, ecstatic laugh of the crazily fortunate. I have only been hit like this once before: The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
I was in a state of bliss for several days afterward, and my only question was how can I learn to make something that beautiful.
People have compared this to Fight Club in terms of its anticonsumerist wakeup call message, and I agree as far as that goes. The rest - wholly different. I loved them both, but obviously in different ways.
Cheers!