An American Tale

Rating: 7/10 (21 November 2013)

This debut film from Sam Mendes won the Best Picture Oscar.
A quasi comedy-drama about middle America, Kevin Spacey stars plays Lester Burnham, who has a mid-life crisis when he becomes infatuated with his teenage daughter's best friend, Angela (Mena Suvari).
Annette Bening is his materialistic wife, who has fallen out of love with him and is having an affair. Thora Birch plays their insecure daughter who at first plays second fiddle with the more beautiful and forward Angela, but later finds solace with their new neighbour played by Wes Bentley.
At first she finds Wes strange as he keeps trying to photograph her. Chris Cooper is his militaristic father who is a stern disciplinarian but seems to have deep personal issues of his own.
When I saw American Beauty upon its release I did not think much of it and I note its reputation seems to have declined over the years.
Like a lot of Best Oscar picture winners in recent years, some people think it was undeserving of the top prize.
Strangely, after re-watching this film after a number of years I have revised my rating upwards. Maybe it is because I am now older along with now older children. I viewed this film differently and interpreted the story with differing nuances.
Spacey is probably in a rare role where he is likable. He realises that his life is in a mess, besotted by a nubile college girl, trapped in a loveless marriage and lost his job.
However he is trying to improve himself, working out and staying optimistic but fate has a different story for him.
The themes in this film will vary at different points in your life. If you are middle aged with teenage children it might even be unnerving.