The Real America

Rating: 10/10 (8 May 2010)

American Beauty is an amazing film. It has been masterfully written by Six Feet Under's Alan Ball, as a quirky yet serious take on American lives and what goes on behind closed doors.
This film is beautiful to look at; when it needs to be. It uses bright red color to symbolize seduction and other important ideas, communicated through superb direction from British director Sam Mendes and exceptional actors such as Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening.
American Beauty shows that other people's lives are not always how we see them. Even if we know someone well, their lives are still surrounded by mystery. For the Burnhams, Carolyn is a joyful and ambitious real estate agent, Jane is a typical teenage cheerleader and Lester is an office worker. But this an image: the Burnhams are a family at breaking point. Jane feels alienated by her parents. Carolyn tries to cope with an unsuccessful job. Lester despises his job. Altogether, the Burnhams don't get on well with each other and can not have a conversation without an argument. Lester sums this up with his quote near the end of the film, "Our marriage is just for show. A commercial for how normal we are when we're anything but." This idea is shown with color and cinematography, showing bright colors outside the houses of all the characters, and darker colors inside.
The turning point for all the characters in the film, particularly Lester is the point where he meets Jane's friend Angela. From here on all the characters 'look closer.' Lester quits his job and experiences new freedom, being his own person and living life. Carolyn meets real estate competitor Buddy Kane, whom she begins an affair with. Jane peruses a relationship with their strange next door neighbor Ricky Fits.
American Beauty challenges us to live our lives to the fullest and 'look closer' at the beauty in our lives. It is amazing on all professional film levels - it has excellent cinematography, acting, directing, editing, writing...and the list goes on. It should be a decent addition to all film lovers favorite films list, and deserves its awards and place in history.
AMAZING 10/10