"You have suddenly become my Hero"

Rating: 8/10 (14 June 2008)

There is a motto which too often is over used by many which goes "It's What Every Man Dream's of." The film American beauty is one such basis for that foundation. In this story Kevin Spacey plays Lester Burnham who is a burned out magazine salesman and after fourteen years, suffers a a mid-life crises. With his bosses planning to down-size him, his wife and daughter abandoning him and his future becoming mundane, Lester feels he is stuck in a dead-end life with nowhere to go but down. However, into this spiraling, bleak existence enters, youthful. teenage Ricky Fits, a next door neighbor who teaches him that life does not have to be taken so seriously. To add imagination to this idea he is further captivated and sexually tempted by beautiful Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari) who encourages his admiring, lustful stares and fertile day-dreams, creating a Lolita like romance. However, situations in his life cause Lester to become unaware of the murderous dangers arising from his neighbors, adulterous wife and patristic daughter, so much so, that what he sees as freedom, others consider destructive family threats. The film, with it's rich dreamlike sequences is destined for Classic status and that which we consider dreams are the primary ingredients for this awesome movie. ****