It's just a gorgeous film in every sense of the word...beautifully scripted, acted and scored.
The paper bag scene is almost like a mise en abyme.
Haunting is a much overused word, but is the only suitable adjective here.
Evidence that movie makers do not have to kowtow to Tinseltown's money men.Bruce (10 out of 10 )
I laugh, I cry. One of the most touching movies ever! PERFECT in every way. For once I totally agreed with the Academy!carly (10 out of 10 )
Amazing.
Touching.
Doal (10 out of 10 )
What a film!Robert (9 out of 10 )
A well made film, Kevin Spacey does a great job as Lester. The acting is pretty much flawless. A little on the strange side, artsy fartsy mostly. Yet a moving film about beauty, love and life.ry (10 out of 10 )
One of the best films I have never seen. The fact that I can praise a film so highly based only on its script says a lot about the writer Alan Ball, especially considering it was his debut screenplay. I intend to buy the actual film now, I only hope the actors do not spoil it for me.gerhard (10 out of 10 )
Perfect!Tshego-vee (10 out of 10 )
I would really like to thank the actors for doing such a great JOB! And thanks to the crew who relly put a lot of effort and time .
AWESOME MOVIE!Emz (10 out of 10 )
I agree with most of these comments! This is my favorite film ever! Simply flawless! They could not have picked finer actors and actresses to play the parts! Kevin Spacy. INSPIRATIONAL!yogi99 (10 out of 10 )
Wow! I can't think of a single bad thing about this movie or this script. This is the kind of movie that will change your life. Nothing but praise for everyone involved with this masterpiece.Marty Morgan (10 out of 10 )
The greatest film ever!Nicole (10 out of 10 )
Beautiful and perfect don't even begin to describe this film and all its wonder. Kevin Spacey is wonderful and Annette Benning is great. Wes Bently also does a grand job of forcing me to "look closer". If you haven't seen this movie yet- do yourself a favor and see it. You will look at life differently and see beauty in everything. As Kevin Spacey's character Lester Burnham said "... And I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life..." After this you will know what he meant, and you'll feel the same way.Samuel; (10 out of 10 )
I totally agreed with the academy EXCEPT that Newman's original, trailblazing and brilliant score lost to the polished, pretty, and completely 'safe' score for 'Cider House Rules'. Almost threw a brick@ my TV.chris (10 out of 10 )
Perfection in it's perfect form. For any of you out there who are struggling screenwriters like myself, reading this script will help you out immensely. The action lines are flawlessly visual and perfect, you can see everything Alan Ball is trying to show you with the utmost clarity. All the right things happen in all the right places, there's zero exposition, perfect dialog, this is without a doubt one of the single greatest scripts ever written in the entire history of film.Max Manfre (10 out of 10 )
I love American Beauty. You'll laugh and cry at the same time. There's not too many directors who can make a film like this. Kevin Spacey toltally changed his whole image and rebelled. The moral to the story is "Life is too short, so enjoy it while you can." Alina (10 out of 10 )
Can a well-paid job and a big house in the suburbs bring happiness? How many of us, after reaching a critical age, start questioning life and examining whether we are happy or not?
How can we define happiness?
There are a lot of things I am not certain of, but one thing I know for sure is that this movie is as real as life itself. Kind of frightening once you start thinking about it.
Joseph (10 out of 10 )
A film that deals with the problems of society, with humour and sadness. A truly illuminating and beautiful picture with one of the best scripts ever written. Every shot has a purpose, the music adds to the complex ideas operating in the picture, and the cast is seperb. This is an american classic.Clare (10 out of 10 )
Only Alan Ball. This truly is a life changing film. I have seen this film on countless occasions and could still not begin to describe the degree of comfort and grattitude it gives to me. American Beauty is a film so layered, so personal, so relevant and so familier to its audience, that I have noticed different viewers focus on various different aspects of the narritive or of the character observations. It is almost impossible to overstate the attention to detail, thus, making it almost impossible to do it justice in a single review. I will sing the praise of American Beauty and say with assurance; it is the best film I have ever seen. Everybody involved should be thoroughly proud. The acting is flawless. Kevin Spacey. What to say? Kevin Spacey is phoenomenal (for want of a better word- he is the best. Annette Benning is spectacular, and the younger perfomers are absolutely astonishing- the plastic bag overwhelms and moves me to tears with every viewing. Sam Mendes did an incredible job of effectuating such a poignant masterpiece. The concept "look closer" is one of uncompromising importance. American Beauty taught me to open my eyes and see the beauty that exists everywhere.emma (2 out of 10 )
I am totally intrigued by all these comments. This film is anything but beautiful. The two families shown are so depressing and sad, with all their hidden secrets. I don't live in a suburb but I cannot believe that people who in theory live in paradise are so miserable and harsh. What's to like? Good acting and directing cannot rescue a view of humanity which is so cynical and nasty. Horrible film, nearly left the cinema before the end.
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