So close.

Rating: Null/10 (22 October 1999)

When Sam Mendes' camera is focused on Kevin Spacey's Lester Burnham, who has to be one of the most interesting characters in recent cinematic memory, "American Beauty" is a pretty terrific, engrossing film. Unfortunately, there's more to "American Beauty" than just Lester. The man seems to disappear for (very long) stretches of time, leaving us to the devices of Annette Bening's shrill, one-dimensional character, or, even worse, Thora Birch's unbelievably obnoxious Jane. The subplot concerning her and the creepy next-door kid is totally out of place and takes up waaaaaaay too much screen time. Somewhere hidden under the "Dawson's Creek" outtakes and lame New Age philosophy, there is an interesting character study going on, but we'll have to settle for just glimpses of it.