Go see "American Beauty." See it, love it, and then tell your friends about it. Actually, I don't hafta tell you to do that because it's more than likely that you'll do it anyway. It has great acting, great writing, great directing... even the odd selection of music is great. Kevin Spacey BETTER get an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, Chris Cooper BETTER get an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Alan Ball BETTER get an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, and Sam Mendes BETTER get an Oscar nomination for Best Director. Well, it's unlikely that the movie will get so many nominations because it's way too dark for the Academy's taste, but Kevin Spacey really DOES deserve a nomination.
Much of "American Beauty" is comedy, and much of it is also tragedy. I don't mean that it's a tragedy in the way that "Romeo & Juliet" is a tragedy, though. This particular kinda tragedy seems to have more to do with the reality of the story, and the fact that many married people will live the lives that Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening's characters do in the movie. Some may be living it now. I think that this is a movie that can make some married people walk out very depressed. Hopefully, it'll save a few marriages.
Watching "American Beauty," you feel as though you're watching a play, and that's not an accident. It was written by Alan Ball and directed by Sam Mendes, and though this is the debut feature film for both of them, they've worked in Broadway plays for years. Based on the quality of this movie, they'll probably stick to feature films for some time to come.
The cast was incredible. I can't say enough about Kevin Spacey, and Annette Bening is very good as his wife. Thora Birch (the little girl in "Monkey Trouble"), who plays their daughter, is terrific. Her best friend is played well by Mena Suvari (she was recently in another "American" movie, "American Pie"... she plays that choirgirl.). Wes Bentley, the one who plays the young guy interested in Spacey's daughter, is perfect in his role. And then there's the man who plays his father. Chris Cooper is one of the best actors working today, and I think this movie will help people to realize that.
Despite a
few slow moments, "American Beauty" is a great new film made by a couple
of new guys who are definitely going places. People, watch this movie. Seriously.
Okay? Okay!