Lester Burnham: "I had always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn't a second at all, it stretches on forever, like an ocean of time... For me, it was lying on my back at Boy Scout camp, watching falling stars... And yellow leaves, from the maple trees, that lined my street... Or my grandmother's hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper... And the first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird... And Janie... And Janie... And... Carolyn. I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life... You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... you will someday."
Lester Burnham is suffering a mid-life crisis that affects the lives of his family, which is made up of his super bitch of a wife Carolyn and rebelling daughter Jane, who hates him. Carolyn is a real estate agent, a little too wrapped up in her job, who takes on an affair with business rival Buddy Kane. Meanwhile Jane seems to fall in love with Ricky Fitts, the strange boy next door, who is a drug dealer/documentarian and lives under a roof governed by a very strict marine father and a speechless mother. Lester's mid-life crisis causes him to drastically change his life around when he quits his job and works at a fast food restaurant. He starts working out to gain the attention of Angela, a friend of Jane's, who brags about her sexual exploits every weekend. Lives change and not for the best.
American Beauty may (and should) go down as the most unparrallelled movie of its time. This movie, which could not be more difficult to explain to one who hasn't seen it, grapples the viewer from the first instance. This film succeeds not only because of the unbelievable script, but because the fact that when the film ends, you DO acknowledge the performances of the film (Benning is unbelievable), but seem to put individual performances aside to the movie itself. Few movies place you in the surreal-yet-too-real environment that this film seems to put you in. Watching this movie, you will become immersed in this family and what occurs to them, despite the fact that they seem to be the most ordinary family a mind could imagine. Whether or not Spacey deserved the Oscar should be irrelevant - the story behind this movie should be remembered for ages.
What can be said about "American Beauty" that hasn't already been said? After all this is a favorite among film-goers and critics alike. Yes, the movie about Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) a man in a mid-life crisis living with his stressed out wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) that he is sick of and his rebelling teenage daughter Jane (Thora Birch) is an awesome piece of cinema, it really is beautiful. After watching it many times, some parts of the movie doesn't feel as great as they was the first time around and that keeps the movie from getting a higher score from me. But still "American Beauty" is easily one of the best movies ever made...
Lester Burnham is an empty and undriven man with nothing but a dull job, a compulsive unloving wife and an independent daughter with whom he has no relationship whatsoever. 'American Beauty' follows the changes in Burnham's life as his obsession with his daughter's friend Angela spirals out of control. This movie is up there with the greatest dramas ever made- Spacey, Birch, Suvari and Bentley are all fantastic, the soundtrack is perfect and the story is so original, if a little too 'out there' but hey, most of the best films in the world are unrealistic. The script has its imperfections, especially in Spacey's narration, but that is one tiny thing. All in all, it is its title...
I love the idea for the story. And Kevin Spacey, and Wes Bentley are fantastic in this beautifully directed and cleverly written film. You will see things in this film I have never seen before - and the random selection of some of the processes off this film prove why Sam Mendes is such an amazing director - and Kevin Spacey's portrayal of the most bemusing of mid-life crisises is excellingly brilliant.
Didn't expect this to be my sort of thing but everything about this film was immense.
The characterisation was great and the simplest things were transformed into beautiful imagery.
The characters all go through very interesting journeys and Mendes successfully manages to convey each character without them even needing to say much at times. It's acted well too and Spacey is excellent as the father. When he gets killed you manage to feel sympathy for him despite all the terrible things he does. The character of the closet army Dad is absolutely incredible also.
To cap it all off this film has one of the greatest soundtracks ever made.
This film is unmissable and unbelievable. It will strike even the hardest shells.
This wasn't one of those movies that I would go into a rental store and be on a hunt for. It's more like one of those 'oh, I haven't seen this. Let's give it a try' things. It was twisted and a little sick, but it wasn't too bad. I liked the ending.
Lester has just caught Caroline cheating with the Real Estate King]
Carolyn Burnham: Uh, Buddy, this is my...
Lester Burnham: Her husband. We've met before, but something tells me you're going to remember me this time.
you can see why it won so many awards,a modern day classic with interesting characters
spacey,bening & cooper are amazing its a shame that bening did'nt win her oscar
didnt think i wanted to see it but when i did i couldnt talk for hours it is so awesome, and just a freth of fresh air to see a movie that is just so true to how people are in real life.
Brilliant comedy drama about a mans mid-life crisis, living in a suburban town and the things,consequences and people surrounding the man.Lester has a normal job, wife and daughter but seems a bit disillusioned by it all and when he meets his daughter's friend, Angela, it starts a chain of events that lead to a bad end for Lester. With his wife's career driven ways and his teenage daughter's often rebellious behavior seemingly going unoticed as he attempts to impress Angela and relive his youth by quitting his office job and buying a sports car,amongst other things. This is full of great performances including those by Kevin Spacey as Lester, Annette Benning, Thora Birch and Mena Suvari and is just a very good film.
Great movie, i was gunna watch double family guy but my mum forced to me watch it instead, and as much as i love family guy, it was well worth missing for this. Its one of those movies where its hard to explain why you felt it was so good (fans of donnie darko may know what i meen) but i just knew it was. Theres so many levels to it that i dont pretend i fully captured its essance, so i'll defintly watch it again some time, so if you havent seen it, change that, and soon, its well worth the time and/or money you may have to spend.
"I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me.. but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life... You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... you will someday."
by Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey)
Yes! Absolutely brilliant! It's a masterpiece. American Beauty is a reversed way of seeing beauties, and still you can see it beautiful.
It's so ironically funny in some parts, yet so inspiring. American Beauty is sure one of the best movies out there.
not brilliant or deep, as the consensus says it is. It really is a left-wing cartoon about what their view of white america is. That is, workaholic degenerates. And its portrayals as conservatives as fire-breathing semi-nazis (also christian) who would be so much more tolerant if they release their repressed homosexuality. And this is tolerance?
Excelente película en streaming de Megavideo, muy al estilo de otras como Pulp Fiction, Crash, Babel... en este caso las historias no están tan desconectadas, pero al igual que con Crash, una historia tranquila se precipíta aceleradamente. Doblada al español (España): http://www.megavideo.com/?v=Q89X606Y
A dream-scape of emotions and..flaming passions.The ultimate suburban satire (screenwriter Alan Ball went on to create the masterful series Six Feet Under) and of the films you could say aren't so bad as to winning the best picture at the Academy Awards.
NICE BUT i think not a real or true to life experience...just be yourself...that is what i realize upon finishing the story...don't put your confusion about yourself to others...
MCT:October 11, 2008
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MCT:September 9, 2008
