Excellent but no where near perfect

Rating: 8/10 (7 August 2000)

American Beauty ranks as one of the greatest films of the decade and with good reason. It represents a pinnacle of black comedy. Not only has Oscar-winner Spacey been given hilarious lines along with quirky situations, but the film also holds an accurate grasp of human nature and society. It is this that separates American Beauty from similar films like Happiness. The film also contains the best and most vivid motif/symbol I have seen in the color red. Thanks to the crew, the color found its way to the front door and to the clothing along with blood and roses. And the film of the plastic bag is poetry, enforced with an marvelous performance by Wes Bentley.
However, I cringe at the film because of the ultimately irresponsible script by Alan Ball. Ball overstepped himself in trying to force profound meaning into his work. He takes the "world of beauty" concept way too far. The speech that supports this concept is read twice, making the second time superfluous. Worst of all is Spacey's final nostalgic speech. He begins by saying that his last second of his life is infinite; which sounds like bar room philosophy in the untried hands of its writer. Then Spacey begins talking about how his grandmother's skin felt like paper -- absolutely inexcusable! That line has no place in any black comedy, Ball is playing with fire. I've seen American Beauty several times and the ending grows more saccharine each time.
Still, this movie is worth watching for it is filled with excellent material. I just hope you're not as critical as I am.