Nearly 20 years on and still sensational

Rating: 10/10 (9 January 2019)

American Beauty is quite simply a cinematic masterpiece. With each passing minute as the plot evolves it delves into a topic that is often not portrayed with such exquisiteness and that is the topic of life. Be it the sheer brilliance of Spacey's performance, or the combination of the films dark and comedic factors, it delivers a piece of cinema that leaves your mouth slightly ajar muttering the word "wow". Remaining true to its title, Sam Mendes delivers this beauty to be what I consider the greatest movie of all time, and in his first cinematic directorial role. From start to finish the film tells a tale that is applicable in some sense to everyone, who feels they lead a life of the mundane. Life isn't black and white and American Beauty teaches each viewer that it can be whatever you choose. The narrative is powered through with Spacey and Benning's magnificent co-starring, and truly leaves an imprint that will never be forgotten in the history of cinema. It is sublime.