10 years on and American Beauty is still an iconic film.
Winning Oscars for 'Best Actor in a Leading Role', 'Best Cinematography', 'Best Director', 'Best Picture' and 'Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen' and numerous other prestigious awards, it had critics rubbing their hands in delight.
Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening's on screen relationship is fantastic. Humorous and tense at the same time; combining laughs, anger and language enough to make the best of use feel uneasy.
Thora Birch and Wes Bentley treat us to beautiful and untainted view of breaking boundaries and rules to find solace in the most unlikely of places.
Mena Suvari's performance introduces us to a seductive yet insecure teenage who users her appearance and attitude to mask the deeper insecurities she holds
American Beauty is a deep psychological thriller enhanced with unusual comedy and dark and acutely exaggerated characters. The worst of each character is portrayed, yet they remain human and touching. American suburban life is exposed with irony and cynicism.
A sarcastic, yet inspiring look behind the fronts that people and communities use to mask the truth.
The scene in which Ricky videos a plastic bag in the wind is possibly, for me, one of the most inspiring scenes in film history. With a spine-tingling soundtrack to accompany it, it is truly a scene I will never forget.
"It was one of those days when it's a minute away from snowing and there's this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it. And this bag was, like, dancing with me. Like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. And that's the day I knew there was this entire life behind things, and... this incredibly benevolent force, that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid, ever. Video's a poor excuse, I know. But it helps me remember... and I need to remember... Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in."
Kevin Spacey - 'Lester Burnham'
Annette Bening - 'Carolyn Burnham'
Thora Birch - 'Jane Burnham'
Wes Bentley - 'Ricky Fitts'
Mena Suvari - 'Angela Hayes'
American Beauty is an intelligent piece and deserves all the acclaim it has recieved and that which it will continue to receive. - 9/10
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