Good, but why the hype?

Rating: Null/10 (12 August 2000)

"American Beauty" is a surprisingly fresh look at suburban ennui, easily the best picture of the year. But a classic, at least a modern one? Not for me. For a film so caricature-like in nature, too much art is being shoved down the viewer's throat, especially in the convoluted first half. This reviewer is all for raising the artistic bar in film, but sometimes (alas, too often) a director simply tries too hard. From the rose petals to the "beauty" of a bag floating in the wind to some very obvious shots at consumerism, right on down to some very HOLLYWOOD symbolism (Spacey's epiphany stemming from the release of all responsibility and the use of "psychotropic" drugs, the heroic beacon-of-truth drug dealer, and the Nazi-sympathizing homophobic repressed homosexual as the villain), too much of an effort is put forth. All that said, the film features some memorable, if not immortal, performances. Spacey is spectacular (has he replaced Tom Hanks as our finest actor?), Bening a riot, Birch an unintentional ray of light in a rather dark movie. The script doesn't demand much from Suvari, but she does a good job. Ultimately, this is the protagonist's tale. By that measure, "American Beauty" is a gem, going as far as Spacey's well-defined shoulders (after all, Everyman that he is, he wants to "look good naked!") take it. "American Beauty" is the best of a weak crop, but not the representation of our culture that it is purported to be. All in all, a solid effort.