A gut wrenching masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (17 January 2017)

This is one of the darkest, yet most brilliant films I've ever seen. The character of Lester is so beautifully done, building his relationship with the people around him, you have to hand it to Sam Mendes. This is his masterpiece, the spiritual equivalent of Sunset Blvd.
Emerging from the vein of infatuation of an older man for a young girl, this film somehow manages to etch the psyche of an entire generation, filled with ennui and looking for the perfect 'American Beauty'. The camera-work, by Conrad Hall, is very intimate, drawing you into the personal spaces of the characters. And it is no surprise that the poster of the film has become iconic. American Beauty is a masterpiece in its purest form.