Hollywood's Idea of What an Art Film Looks Like

Rating: 3/10 (25 October 1999)

Hollywood's latest attempt at imitating the art film genre, or at least imitating independent, cutting edge cinema, is nothing more than another example of the consistent mediocrity they've been feeding us for the past few years.
First, I want to take my hat off to Conrad Hall's cinematography. This just may be the best photographed film of the year. But it does not make up for a poor script, directionless direction, and a series of characters that are nothing more than cliches.
Haven't we seen the mid-life crises male played before? Haven't we seen the wife and mother who is married to her career before? Haven't we seen the gung-ho, homophobic Marine Corps colonel before? Haven't we seen all these characters in better movies? Don't get me started on the daughter -- she's nothing more than a "Wednesday Addams wannabe" (re: "The Addams Family).
"American Beauty" is a must-miss movie.