To everyone who likes to see a good satire and don't get impressed facing drugs sex or nudity.

Rating: 10/10 (18 September 2001)

The Best: Annette Benning, the smashing majority of the characters, the plot providing an actual satire and the touching directing The Worst: Kevin Spacey's office blackmail seemed came out of Fight Club'. The darker parts of the movie might be boring to some viewers, but those who think that are the ones haven't plunged completely into it. Rating: 7/10
Alike millions of Americans, the Burnhams have a easy life in a nice house with green grass and a white fence in the outskirts of a big city. Lester, Carolyn and Jane Burnham are an attractive and kind family, but behind this apparent ideal life is hidden a big dysfunction. Lester, the narrator, reveals us that he hates his job, his wife ignores him and his daughter despises him. He feels his life completely on the ground but an encounter with his daughter's best friend wakes in him long time sleepy feelings that lead him into a radical change. This is the beginning point of a narrative that chronicles how a loser can become a winner even losing everything.

The major strength of American Beauty are the well elaborated character interactions, that besides the Burnhams includes a teenager drug consumer/ negotiator, his father a rude ex marine core, Jane's best friend, a real estate manager lover of Carolyn, etc. In his directorial debut, Sam Mendes creates a singular, powerful, and intelligent master piece, about unhappiness, loneliness in the middle age, which tone varies between realism and parody showing Lester's possible redemption of his life, following what his heart tells to reach happiness even if it leads him into a tragic ending. American Beauty his a blast of fresh hair oh the way Hollywood satirises the contemporary society aye resulting in its five Oscars; Best Picture, Director, Leading Actor, Photography and plot.