The most priceless 2 hours I've ever spent doing something.

Rating: Null/10 (13 November 2000)

Wow.
What else can I say? I am amazed that this movie won any oscars at all...it was not a film directed towards the american public so much as the american intellegentsia, and artists. But such was the films brilliance that not even the the oscars could ignore it. This film addressed issues that most people would rather keep on the under sides of their lives. And that is why I liked it so. I am not shocked or surprised to discover that some found this movie to be a bad one. Many people are ill-equipped to understand such a deep story line, and the intrinsic web which was woven and built to a mighty crescendo which ended in nothing short of brilliance itself. I refuse to reveal anything about the plot or storyline. Rather I would suggest...go see the movie yourself, and formulate your own opinion. If you have the will, then you will see the brilliance which moved me to cry, laugh, and think alike. If you allow things such as religion, stupidity, conventionality, provinciality, or any other dysfunctional malady to interfere...than you will have a corrupt opinion, and we do not want to hear what you have to say. This movie is by far my favorite movie of all time. It is breathtaking in suspense, hilarious, yet dark, and especially daring with the issues it adresses. The best directing I've seen in my life. Ricky is the embodiment of those who see life in a different way. We need more people like that on this depressingly shallow earth. Look closer...but prepare yourself. What you will see will shock you. Everyone in this movie delivers...(in my opinion Annette Bening gives the best performance). What else can one do but learn from this movie?

-FROM NOW ON I WILL RATE MOVIES IN THIS WAY: THOSE SEEN BEFORE AMERICAN BEAUTY, AND THOSE SEEN AFTER.