American Beauty

1999 "Look closer."

American Beauty

8.3 | 2h2m | R | en | Drama

Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.

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8.3 | 2h2m | R | en | Drama | More Info

Released: September. 15,1999 | Released Producted By: DreamWorks Pictures , Jinks/Cohen Company Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:

Synopsis

Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.

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The movie is currently not available onine

Cast

Kevin Spacey , Annette Bening , Thora Birch

Director

Molly Click

Producted By

DreamWorks Pictures , Jinks/Cohen Company

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Trailers & Images

Cast

Kevin Spacey

as Lester Burnham

The Man Who Drew God Once Upon a Time in Croatia Billionaire Boys Club Baby Driver Rebel in the Rye Elvis & Nixon Nine Lives Horrible Bosses 2 NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage

Annette Bening

as Carolyn Burnham

Death on the Nile Jerry & Marge Go Large Georgetown The Report Hope Gap Captain Marvel Life Itself The Seagull Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

Thora Birch

as Jane Burnham

13 Minutes Above Suspicion In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover The Last Black Man in San Francisco Kindred Spirits The Etruscan Smile Affairs of State The Competition Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash

Reviews

arnoud_debest The tagline "A sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend." does not do this film any justice. Went into it expecting a decent well-put together film about life in American suburbs but this film is so much more than that!This film has a great recipe. Beautifully shot - the cinematography is brilliant, amazing soundtrack, good acting, and a story which you couldn't possibly predict. Ingredients which make a film more than worthwhile to watch. What I especially appreciate about this film though and why it in my opinion is something extra is how it perfectly bit by bit unravels the human psyche. Food for thought is provided. I put off watching this for so many years and wish I saw it sooner, 10/10.

darrenyaates How good is American Beauty? Well, it depends on how emotionally you enjoy being drained. Also, I feel this movie is massively overrated because the whole disjointed dysfunctional family aspect is way overplayed. I could not take Spacey seriously as a character- why did he start smoking pot and working out, suddenly? Why is the wife unhappy and if they are unhappy than why not get a divorce? Despite 1999 being one of the best year for American Cinema I can't believe this one won all the awards and accolades. Regardless, you can judge for yourself but in my opinion American Beauty has not aged well at all.

julianajackson The directing style is without a doubt exceptionally original and eye-catching. The storyline as well conveys uniqueness and necessary plot elements such as imhanced character development by the climax of the film. HOWEVER, the story continues to feel wrong and misleading of morality as the main character, a grown man, is fantasizing about a young girl. She is, although beautiful, very young. I believe the movie would have been best if she was just slightly older, and at least AN ADULT! She could have remained innocent and naive and then perhaps the romanticizing of pedophilla wouldn't be so prominent in the film industry. This idea of a man falling in love with a younger woman is not at all a story that lacks interest. It is, however, a story that leaves room for human decency. American Beauty is not that type of story though. American Beauty is a man falling for a young GIRL who is his daughter's best friend. This film screams an uncomfortable and uneasy tone with in a person who has even the slightest sense of right and wrong. It is because of this constant moral disturbance in the audience that leads the viewer to no longer sympathize with the main character which of course keeps the film from completing its main objective.

innsil This is another freeing film, similar to fight club in a lot of ways thematically. The only draw backs are the public image of Spacey has been (fairly or not) smeared at the time of writing this, & "True Beauty" would have been a better title - or anything that doesnt shove our Americaness in everyone's face all the time. But that is a minor point. And loving art - not the artist - Spacey is amazing! The whole cast is. It is a film that can change your life, reminding us of the power we have & the choices we make each and every day to stay w/i the system. It is worth seeing for that alone. Inspiring film for if you are feeling caught in a rut.