A Master Piece?

Rating: Null/10 (4 March 2000)

Films come late in the UK. I often wonder why that is so. American Beauty came to town this week and I ventured out to watch what all the excitement was about. The film took my breath away. Surely it is a master piece, not just a film ,but up there as a moving, breathing Mona Lisa. A gang of loud mouthed teens in the seats behind me were set to ruin my evening, but even they were silenced by the powerful imagery set before us. That was an incredible event in itself, the film was able to unite the generations and impress kids more used to action or sci fi thrillers into silent wonderment Something I have never seen mentioned anywhere is this films connection with Sex Lies and videotape, the images and sinister voyeurism is all there and, as if Mendes knows that there's a similarity he has Peter Gallagher playing Buddy Kane from that film. Did nobody else notice this *joke* Whilst noting the similarity I still don't intend to take anything away from this film which must come close to perfection. I've seen many critics raving about this film , justifiably, but they call it the best film of the year or event the decade. As far as I was concerned, as I left the cinemas bawling into a tissue. This is the best film I have ever seen.