Rose Pettals.

Rating: 9/10 (16 September 2015)

American Beauty (1999): Dir: Sam Mendes / Cast: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Chris Cooper, Mena Suvari: Observant portrait of suburban downfall. Title refers to the ordinariness people accept and the secrets they hide. Lester Burnham hates his job. His marriage is a function for his wife's publicity. He explains that the high point of his day is masturbating in the shower. And he is fixated on his daughter's cheerleader friend. A marine and his family move in across the street. His son works catering jobs to afford drugs, and his watches Lester's daughter via camera from across the street. Stunning directing by Sam Mendes with skilled cinematography. Kevin Spacey is humorous as a man unaware of the consequences of new choices but he plunges full force into a privileged agenda without care until he is placed at the crossroads of the needs of others and appreciating his life. Annette Bening hides her affair under professionalism while slowly caving to the maddening affects of no control. Insecure Thora Birch as their daughter is secretly flattered as the object of an ominous camera. Chris Cooper plays the neighbour whose marine training is crossed with family. Mena Suvari plays a teenage fantasy rebelling innocence within the fluttering red of descending rose peddles. Ads say "Look Closer" at the person within trying to break free. Score: 9 / 10