Poignant, amazing, timeless

Rating: 10/10 (24 June 2000)

American Beauty is a dark comedy with beautiful streaks of light shining through the celluloid. Terrifying moments become uplifting in the blink of an eye. And there's so much to see in this movie that, with every blink, you'll miss something amazing. Something poignant. Something timeless.

The cinematography by Conrad L. Hall combined with the directing style of first-time director, Sam Mendes, rivals the best of directing greats Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and Atom Egoyan. The film visually envelops the audience in a way few have. There are images that will be with you forever. Some are subtle; some are startling. All are unforgettable.