|
|
American Beauty
on DVD (1999)
|
|
| Starring: |
Kevin Spacey, Sam Roberts, Annette Bening, Wes Bentley, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher, Chris Cooper, Scott Bakula |
| Director: |
Sam Mendes |
| Studio: |
DREAMWORKS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time: |
117 mins |
| Certificate: |
 |
| Collections: |
100 must-see movies |
| User collections: |
" Can You Afford To Miss These ? " . . ., Stef's Top 100 - A Miscellany, Films that make you think and feel, Over rated films, Films to think about, Great DVD's, classics top ten, Best Films in the History of the World, ever.., Memorable Movies That Touch Soul, Make Laugh or Cry, OVERRATED / UNDERRATED |
| Genres: |
Drama |
| Languages: |
English |
| Released: |
27/11/2000
|
Brief synopsis of American Beauty
AMERICAN BEAUTY tells the story of Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), a suburban father who snaps when he becomes disgusted with his stale, repetitive existence. Burnham lets us know in voice-over from the film's opening that this is the day he dies (using the SUNSET BOULEVARD flashback approach), a technique that adds an inevitable tension to the proceedings and keeps the story moving forward at all times. On a whim, Lester quits his job and begins a regression into young adulthood, lifting weights, smoking pot, doing nothing, and discovering the overflowing sexuality of his 16-year-old daughter's best friend, Angela (Mena Suvari). His wife, Carolyn (Annette Bening), has her own midlife crisis of sorts. A real estate agent, she experiences a youthful awakening when super-agent Buddy Kane (Peter Gallagher) seduces her repeatedly. Meanwhile, Jane (Thora Birch), the Burnhams' daughter, is pursued by Ricky (Wes Bentley), the mysterious boy next door who carries a video camera around with him at all times. When Ricky's militaristic father, Colonel Fitts (Chris Cooper), discovers something potentially horrifying on one of his tapes, and when Carolyn's rage for Lester's actions boils over, the time bomb finally explodes.
|
Related
Critics Reviews
Radio Times
British theatre director Sam Mendes made an astonishing film debut with this sublime black comedy about midlife crises, starring Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening as a bored couple in suburban America. The sexually frustrated Bening begins an affair with estate agent Peter Gallagher; Spacey, meanwhile, fantasises about Mena Suvari, a teenage friend of his daughter's. Their disparate needs make for a comic tragedy of misunderstanding that combines acute observations with side-splitting scenarios. This truly outstanding film (on which Steven Spielberg acted as an uncredited producer) deservedly picked up a clutch of Oscars, including best picture, best director and best actor for Spacey.
Halliwell's Film Guide
A terrific, biting comedy of a man dealing, in an adolescent way, with a midlife crisis and the aridities of the life he and those around him are living; it manages not only to expose the inanities of a conformist society, but also to suggest an alternati
Box Office
"...AMERICAN BEAUTY is that rare instance where all the elements of a movie -- story, setting, acting, shot construction -- come together to convey its message..."
See all 6 Critics Reviews »
Members Reviews
Reviews Voted Most Helpful
Most Recent Reviews
|
|
