Obsession and Middle-age crisis in mid America

Rating: 10/10 (18 June 2007)

I went to see this after some of my friends had slated it but it had done well at the Oscars so I didn't know what to expect. My friends had led me believe that it was all hype and no substance and that Kevin Spacey was the only good thing in the film.
WRONG! I now have new friends. This film is a fantastic piece of cinematic art, one of the best films of the 20th century and good value for its Oscar win.
Sam Mendes direction is, as usual, excellent but what really makes it gel is the intertwining plot lines and the fantastic performances by the principle actors, not least Thora Birch, Mena Suvari and Wes Bentley. Spacey, with Chris Cooper and Anette Benning are the icing on the cake.
The story tells the tale of Spaceys character Lester, who is going through a midlife crisis and develops an un-natural infatuation with his daughters best friend (Suvari). Meanwhile, his daughter (Birch) has become involved with the strange new boy next door (Bentley) and as the story unfolds you get drawn into a web of obsession and hidden secrets.
The ending is hugely controversial and has a tremendous impact on the film but encaptulates the ethos and drama of the picture superbly.
Not for the faint hearted and definitely not a feel-good comedy, this is a legend in the making.
If you like movies and haven't seen this already, shame on you. This is a must see film to be added to the small list of must-see cinema classics.