Magnificent film.

Rating: 10/10 (8 April 2000)

From beginning to end, American Beauty is a joy to watch. No one movie has displayed the full array of human emotions like American Beauty does. Some of you who seem to dislike the movie have problems with some of the issues in the film, such as making a pot smoker, who lusts after a teenager, a protagonist. Perhaps the problem lies not within the film, but within your own insecurities. This film is about re-evaluating your own thoughts and emotions. It makes you think about your own nature.
Others of you out there seem to think that all of these issues have been touched upon already in other films. Normally, I'd agree that much of the subject matter in the film has been covered elsewhere already. However, it is the performances that make this look at human nature fresh and interesting. Spacey has his best performance since Verbal Kint, and I don't think Benning has had a better performance in her career.

To truly appreciate this film, don't simply try and break it down to its elements. Every movie looks the same when you pick them apart. Look at this movie as a whole. If you haven't seen it, I strongly recommend you do so. Make up your own mind about this film. Some may see it as cliched and repetitive. But I, like many others, see it as brilliant. Not the best movie I've ever seen (Not even the best movie with Kevin Spacey that I've seen (The Usual Suspects)), but certainly in my top ten of all time.