Stars : Kevin Spacey (Lester Burnham), Annette Benning (Carolyn Burnham), Thora Birch (Jane Burnham), Wes Bentley (Ricky Fitts), Mena Suvari (Angela), Chris Cooper (Colonel Fitts), Peter Gallagher (Buddy Kane), Allison Janney (Barbara Fitts), Scott Bakula (Jim Olmeyer), Sam Robards (Jim Berkley)

Director : Sam Mendes

US Box-Office Gross : US$75 million (and still counting)

Review :

Before watching this movie, I had read numerous critics' glowing review about how this movie is one of the best about dysfunctional families ever produced in America. With all the critical accolades it had won and being the front runner in the Oscar nomination list to be soon announced, "American Beauty" had a lot to live up to. With all that hype surrounding it, "American Beauty" still managed to deliver its goods.

A tragedy, which is masked by dark comedic touches in the brilliant script written by Alan Ball, it begins with the video-taping of an attractive young girl who tells the screen that she wishes her father was dead, because he is just too embarrassing to watch and look at. Then a voice over by Kevin Spacey tells us about how he will be dead in a year's time, though he doesn't know it yet and brings us down the journey of the remaining year of his stupid miserable life.

Kevin Spacey plays Lester Burnham, who is viewed as a loser both by his "more successful" real estate agent wife, Carolyn (Annette) and his daughter, who hates him, mainly because she thinks that he doesn't care about her at all. He owns a job at a magazine that he hates, his sexless marriage and his inability to communicate with his daughter. Basically, he hates his life but like many people, choose not to do anything about it. He suffers in silence and views the events of his mundane everyday life as a down-hill plunge after his early morning masturbation in the showers.

Annette Benning plays his wife, Carolyn, a rather successful real-estate agent, blinded by material wealth. She feels ashamed about her husband and is both mentally and sexually frustrated which results in her high strung and phony behaviour. In front of her everyone, she will try to put on the smiles of a happy wife in a happy relationship, which only increases the frustration that she feels when she is lonely. She suffers breakdowns sometimes, but applies the "therapeutic" method of telling oneself that they have to be strong (from self-help tapes) or that "one becomes a victim only when he/she wants to". Though she manages to release her frustration with advice ("To be successful, one has to project the image of being successful") and an extra-marital affair with Buddy Kane (Peter Gallagher), she develops into a true victim of the modern society of materialism and pretense.

Their daughter, Jane, is a rebellious American teenager who hates her parents because she thinks that they are freaks. This is mainly the result of a lack of communication and interest shown in the upbringing of the children. With most families having a double income, the modern society had led people to believe that material goods are able to take over the place of paternal and maternal concerns, which is the biggest tragedy that is seen nowadays. She has low self-esteem, hates how she looks, and saves her money from baby-sitting so that she can get a boob job, thinking that it would help to increase her self image and possibly self esteem as well. She does not get praise for the work that she does and a compliment from Mom would be in the form of "Wow, you never screwed up once", which is not helpful in the psychological and emotional development of any child.

This is dysfunctional family number one. Dysfunctional family number two are their new neighbours, the Fitts. Ex-Marine Fascist, who still address himself by his Army ranking, Colonel Fitts, rules the household like he did in the military, with a ghostly wife (who hallucinates and stares into blank space most of the time) and a son, who takes on catering jobs as a cover for his real full time job - a drug dealer. This family operates on another "golden rule" : The power of denial. "Never underestimate the power of denial" says Ricky, because his father chooses to believe that his family would turn out all right if he transferred and applied the strict regimes of the military onto his family and that one can choose to believe what he wants to believe. That is the power of denial.

While Carolyn releases her frustration through firing guns and getting all fired up with hot wild sex with Buddy, Jane finds her outlet initially from best friend, Angela. Angela is one of the beautiful blond air heads, who focuses only on external beauty and enjoys all the attention that everyone showers upon. Beneath that beautiful exterior lies intense insecurity which needs constant reinforcing and attention, which is not uncommon in most beautiful people. She talk about having sex with guys all the time, trying to project a more worldly and mature image, while thinking that there is nothing worse in life than being ordinary. She looks for "victims" (Jane) to hang around with, so that she will always appear superior , which makes her feel better. This does not last long however, when Jane develops a liking for Ricky (who constantly films her) and showers her with the attention that she craves and loves her for what she truly is and not for what she could be. Angela does however, find an admirer in Lester (Jane's father - Kevin), who decides to change his lifestyle and be more adventurous and active, just for the prospect of being able to make have Angela, after having numerous kinky dreams about her. However, Lester does not harbour these thoughts into full reality until he realizes that there is no more hope for his wife (even when they still have the love for each other) because of her materialistic desires and substances, which had moulded her into a new person, a stranger he doesn't know or love.

The only happy couple in the neighbourhood is ironically (in straight man terms), the gay couple, Jim Olmeyer and Jim Berkley, who Lester goes for a jog with, when he decides to shape up, just for Angela. The gay couple is accepted by almost everyone except Colonel Fitts, who suffers from extreme cases of homophobia, though an issue revealed later is found uncannily to be most true in real life.

The most wonderful part about this movie, apart from its great acting from all actors is its script, which is thought provoking, quietly moving and tragic, yet funny at the same time. It's modern day drama on these two rather typical American suburban families tackles many issues like hollow marriages, where either parents stay together for the sake of their careers and image or for the sake of their children. Lack of communication, homophobia, teenage frustration and insecurity issues and the true notion of beauty are also issues presented. It is a telling tale of a true depiction of the modern society and life shaped by increasing material needs and goods. The insecurities and frustration demonstrated by the people trapped in this endless mind games, are blinded by the power of denial and the emptiness of life lingers and increases in such dysfunctional dynamics of modern lifestyles. Love, which is a basic need, no longer rules, overtaken by material instincts, which is the biggest cause of tragedy in this new world. A suspensful "Who's the murderer?" lead up to the death of Lester Burnham helps to add the finishing touches to this fabulous movie.

Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning, Chris Cooper and the rest of the young cast put in excellent performances in this well directed movie, which brings out all the issues highlighted in this movie in full glory. Kevin Spacey is a true wonder to watch - the best in the cast (even after the second time around), and his dedication to details like little expressions and watery eyes, enable us to feel truly sorry for this character that he plays. Annette Benning is so good in this movie that she truly appears like a plastic figurine, just like those phony pretentious people that we see in life so common nowadays and Colonel Fitts is just frightening as a Fascist homophobic father. The younger crew also put in unbelievable performances, aided both by the excellence of the main cast and Mendes direction.

It would not be surprising to see this movie showered with Oscar nominations when the list is being announced and I wouldn't be surprised if it wins Best Picture eventually as well. It is a wonderful movie that tackles modern day issues, not only about dysfunctional families in America alone, but with the globalization forces at work, affects most modern societies all around the world. It ends with the lesson that true beauty lies beneath, and also all around us, in life and little things that we take for granted. If only we could learn to appreciate all of them ... it could be so beautiful, we could be suffocated. What a thought.  Truly deserving of the 3 Golden Globe wins for Best Picture, Director and Screenplay, American Beauty succeeds in being altogether funny, thoroughly entertaining and extremely thought provoking. A true gem!!

SeaBuzz Rating : A+