American Beauty (1999), Sam Mendes

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Genre: Drama
Overall Rating:

(out of 5)

So... I love this movie.  Just watching the trailer got me all worked up.  I first saw this movie many years ago, and yet it seems at least once a month since something has reminded me of it.  This movie is beautiful... and if you haven't seen it yet, you better get yo ass to BlockBuster stat.

The Story:

(out of 5)

1 Point: Interesting

2 Points: Original

1 Point: Unpredictable

1 Point: OMGZ

A typical, suburban father starts to realize the patheticness of his own life.  His mid-life crisis consists of quitting his job with a bang, buying a sports car, getting a job at a local fast food restaurant, experimenting with drugs with his new teenage neighbor, and fantasizing about his daughter's best friend. 

Characters:

(out of 5)

1 Point: Well-Played

1 Point: Original

1 Point: Relatable

1 Point: Emotional Attachment

1 Point: OMGZ

Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacy): The suburbanite going through his mid-life crisis.  Spacey is a god.

Carolyn Burnham (Annette Bening): Lester's wife, who deals with her depressing marriage in a more active and sexual way.
Jane Burnham (Thora Birch): Lester and Carolyn's daughter, a not so popular girl who is best friends with a pretty and sexual blonde.  
Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley): The Burnham's new neighbor, he takes an interest in beauty most people don't see (including that within Jane).

Believability:

(out of 5)

1 Point: No Disbelief

1 Point: Well-Explained

1 Point: Characters Fit Conceivably

1 Point: Not Foolishly Omniscient

1 Point: OMGZ

Nothing is far-fetched.  I'm sure this type of thing happens time and time again.  

Weight:

(out of 5)
1 Point: Relatable Lives
1 Point: Relatable Choices
1 Point: "Wow" Moments
1 Point: Lasting
1 Point: OMGZ

This movie will stay with you til the end of eternity.  Its beautiful, weighty, gorgeous, relatable... you will see yourself or those close to you in many of these characters.

Visual:

(out of 5)
2 Points: Visual Quality
1 Point: Unique Visual Perspective
1 Point: Special Effects
1 Point: OMGZ

As goes with the title, this film is beautiful and captures the most looked over beauties of life.