I was in awe!

Rating: 10/10 (13 March 2000)

I'm so glad that they re-released American Beauty in the theaters. I missed it the first time around and since all my friends loved it, felt I needed to go see it on the big screen. I knew about the Oscar nominations and felt that it would really have to deliver to impress me and live up to the hype. When it was over...I was in such a state of awe that I could barely move!
This movie is possibly one of the greatest of all time. I've seen great movies (Citizen Kane, the Graduate, Taxi Driver, Clockwork Orange, Silence of the Lambs, etc.) and this movie definitely ranks up with the big boys. First of all, the acting was superb. Kevin Spacey is brilliant and we see some of the insanity in his character that we saw in SEVEN. Annette Benning is easy to hate but at the same time you feel so sorry for her. Every actor in this movie delivered. The cinematography was wonderful as well. It had a "film-noir" look at times. I loved the rose petals and the other symbolism.
With that said, this was an unbelievably well written movie. There were so many twists and turns. You were on the edge of you seat even though we all knew the main character was going to die because he told us so in the first minute of the film. Having a dead character as the narrator is quite original as well. I loved this movie more and more as it went on. Almost every character is despicable but yet it is easy to sympathize with each. Even the horrible marine officer neighbor is a truly woeful character.
This movie is so great because it is not the typical movie. It does not have a happy ending nor any truly happy moments. It carries a resounding message that things are not as they seem and people suffer. Yet at the same time it shows that beauty can shine through ugliness. I was speechless after this movie! Go see it on the big screen while you have the chance! It deserves all the numerous Oscars that it's nominated for!!! A masterpiece!