The best film of the 90's

Rating: 9/10 (12 February 2014)

From the start of Sam Mendes' film we are aware of the ending. It still comes as a bittersweet surprise. The film opens with a shot of the protagonist's street and eventually into his house. The protagonist is Lester Burnham played by an incredible Kevin Spacey. In these opening shots we see his wife and her co-ordinated garden and footwear and their "better homes"esque house. From this it sounds like a glorification of the American dream.
The truth is the complete opposite as it smashes it. The opening song is entitled "Dead Already" from the films' apt soundtrack. Lester's groggy state is changed drastically when he first sees his daughter's ethereal friend Angela. He subsequently becomes infatuated with her.
The film is so great because it presents so many different themes which intertwine like the plot of a Tarantino film. The themes represent all the characters as neither heroes nor villains but victims of society and excessive materialism. It is a darkly hilarious satire which clearly has taken inspiration from George Orwell's novel "1984" and David Lynch's 1986 film "Blue Velvet". The cinematography by the masterful veteran Conrad Hall contains some of the most beautiful (it's thrown in on purpose) use of colour in film. It massively juxtaposes the brilliant yet unnerving reality of Alan Ball's witty and bleak script.
Lester goes on a journey to rediscover himself and subsequently leaves his job as an advertising executive and applies for a job in fast food. He begins a strict work-out regime (apart from occasionally smoking drugs). He also buys his childhood dream car. He continues with this adolescent demeanor until he eventually appeals enough to Angela.
Now this is where the film could have ended poorly, of course I won't ruin it for you. All that can be said is that the whole film is an exploration into the definition of beauty in our current society which is eventually found by Lester.
The characters are treated with delicacy as the story revolves around them all searching for something intangible. The film is so effective as a satire because it neither supports nor condemns any of the characters. It presents them and their lives objectively. In many ways Lester's representation is similar to Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver" (1976). Inasmuch as both films contain a character study not analysis and leave enough ambiguity to morally agree or disagree with both characters.
In a nutshell "American Beauty" is the best movie of the 90's and the best of Spacey's illustrious career. Need I say more!