A film to see...but stereotypical

Rating: 9/10 (1 July 2000)

Seeing it can make you sick, but looking closer, you can see the beauty of AMERICAN BEAUTY. The films look into suburban lifestyles is ---very stereotypical--- but I guess if writer Alan Ball didn't use that, the picture wouldn't have worked. Sam Mendes, who has directed the Broadway hit Cabaret, takes on his film directorial debut in this film, and what a film to start out on. Nominated for eight Oscars, deserver of Cinematography (Conrad Hall), Actress (Annette Bening) and Supporting Actor (Wes Bentley - who was not nominated.)
This is cinematography at a height. Flowers, flowers, and more flowers beautiful shot coming out from Mena Suvari's chest. It's breathtaking. The acting is nice. Kevin Spacey is in a typical role. Annette Bening is shining. Wes Bentley and Mena Suvari are amazing and Thora Birch is as well.
If there was no voice over in the beginning (give the film a strange ending,) I would have placed it on my choice for Best Picture, but the more gifted and thoughtout "The Cider House Rules" is a more touching story. AMERICAN BEAUTY is a film to see.