Humorous AND powerful: a look into the unspeakable you.

Rating: 10/10 (12 October 1999)

The wife and I had a chance to escape the bonds of parenting for a few hours and go to the "movies". What an astonishing surprise we got as AMERICAN BEAUTY took us on an ever increasing humorous and emotional narrative (as the film begins, it is told by a reminiscent "spirit" of sorts). It is said that we laugh at that which is most true, and indeed, this film touched several genuine personality components that most certainly occupy myself, my children, and several "lovely" neighbors. Although traits such as lust, complacency, egotism and quirkiness reside in most all of us, the writers cleverly and comically design the characters to boast these qualities with forte'. I pride myself in predicting the outcome of our run-of-the-mill Hollywood staples, however, AMERICAN BEAUTY surpassed my savvy, as it more exemplified those twists and unforeseen plot manipulations of a proper foreign film. With respect, I say that! The last twenty minutes or so were mind-blasting!
Ohhh, yes. You will get a treat at the end that left our audience absolutely mute. The film was humorous AND powerful. I still had the pain from grinning, but I was indeed silent as I left the theater.