Life is Beautiful (with apologies to Roberto Benigni)

Rating: Null/10 (9 November 1999)

Yesterday had, for me, the potential to be a really bad day. My schedule was hectic and, truly, there weren't enough hours in the day for everything that had to be accomplished. Under normal circumstances, I would have complained the entire day. However, I just saw Sam Mendes' "American Beauty," so the circumstances were anything but normal. I honestly couldn't complain because of how much beauty was in the world.
This is, in a nutshell, the basic philosophy of "American Beauty," one of the finest films any of us will ever see. Like most summaries, the above is also a gross oversimplification. The movie is so much deeper, so much more eloquent than any words I could ever say.
The movie is, I think, completely flawless. And, to think that director Sam Mendes and writer Alan Ball are rookie filmmakers! The film appears to be the work of seasoned veterans who got especially lucky in the studio. In addition to that, experienced cinematographer Conrad Hall delivers a predictably outstanding visual production. The acting is marvelous across the board, particularly from Kevin Spacey and relative newcomer Wes Bentley. All of the characters are seen as real people, and the audience is, of course, electrified.
A warning is, of course, in order. While "American Beauty" is a superb piece of film, it is also decidedly adult. There is a great deal of profanity, sexual content, and nudity, but it is never gratuitous. This is not a film for children. However, whoever can handle it will experience a truly phenomenal film. The circumstances are not extremely realistic, and they are not meant to be. But I guarantee, you will identify with the characters despite the absurdity.
"American Beauty" is, in my opinion, a profound cry for meaning in life, for beauty. There is plenty to go around, because I now realize just how beautiful life really is.
**** out of ****.