American Beauty is a 1999 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Sam Mendes. It stars Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Eric Stoltz, and Thora Birch. The film was the first produced in Mendes’ directorial career. A sequel was released in 2000, also titled American Beauty (2000).
It’s rare that we look back at a movie made more than 20 years ago and say, “Wow, this is why so many people use a computer.” But in 1999, American Beauty was an entire generation of young people—and the world around them—to which we can trace the roots of today’s connectivity.
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Runtime: 2h 2m
Release Year: 1999
IMDB Rating: 8.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Contents
The storyline of American Beauty
The American Beauty 1999 is a US drama film directed by Sam Mendes. The screenplay was written by Alan Ball and the story was about Kevin Spacey’s character Lester Burnham who wanted to be more than just another guy at work. It won five Academy Awards including Outstanding Cinematography, Best Editing, Original Score, and Audience Favorite (Barry Del Sherman).
David (Kevin Spacey), a successful advertising executive, is experiencing personal and professional difficulties. He is divorcing his wife and has feelings of emptiness. One day, he meets married woman Betty (Annette Bening) at a shopping mall who instantly attracts him.
They soon begin spending time together, enjoying each other’s company while ignoring the mundanities of life.
Betty tells David she wants to divorce her husband, but David is worried about losing her. David also befriends Lester (Eric Stoltz), who lets him borrow some marijuana from his supply. When Betty finds out, she gets upset and breaks up with David.
David then begins to date Lydia (Thora Birch), a girl he meets at the gym. Lydia is a superficial person who is interested in David for his money. She tells him she is pregnant and wants to marry him, but he breaks up with her because of his feelings for Betty.
David begins to relax and enjoy life again when Lester dies of AIDS-related complications. With Lester gone, David feels guilty about the marijuana that he borrowed from him and decides to repay Lester’s debt by giving back some gifts. The story goes on.
Short Review of American Beauty
American Beauty is an excellent film that tells the story of a man who realizes he has been living a life without purpose. Kevin Spacey gives an Oscar-winning performance as Lester Burnham, and Annette Bening also shines in her role. The cinematography and editing are both highly praised, while the original score by Barry Del Sherman is also highly acclaimed. This really is a timeless masterpiece that deserves to be seen by everyone.
Popular Reviews
“American Beauty” is a 1999 American drama film written and directed by Sam Mendes. The film stars Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Wes Bentley, and Peter Gallagher.
It tells the story of Lester Burnham, a suburban dad who begins to question the superficiality and banality of his life after witnessing the death of his close friend. Mendes won both an Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture at the 2000 Academy Awards.
American Beauty is generally praised as one of the greatest films ever made, with particular acclaim for Spacey’s performance as Lester Burnham. Reviewers note that Mendes deliberately structures the film around naturalistic performances that hinge on believable character development and emotion, and the result is a powerful and moving film.
Recent reviews
Review by David-
- The best thing about this movie is that it ends with a surprise twist. I was expecting to see it, but the ending surprised me. It’s not much of a plot and is pretty predictable, but it has a good message. I also like that it’s set in the 90s because it makes the characters more relatable.
- The acting is great and Sam Mendes directed it really well. The cinematography is nice too – everything seems to fit together perfectly.
- I think some people might find this movie a little slow at first, but stick with it because once you get into it, you won’t want to stop watching!
Review by The_Gentleman-
This movie is absolutely fantastic. It’s very funny and will keep you entertained for the entire two hours of its runtime. It has a great cast, who all seem to be having a blast playing their parts. If you’re a fan of any of these actors, I highly recommend watching this film.
Why the Movie American Beauty Is So Famous?
American Beauty is a highly acclaimed film that has been praised by many critics for its excellent acting, cinematography, editing, and original score. The story revolves around a man named Lester Burnham who begins to realize that he has been living a life without purpose. This thoughtfulness and introspection are what make the movie so revered and popular with fans.
This movie also has a lot of universal appeals because it is about the human condition and the things that tend to keep us from reaching our full potential. Therefore, American Beauty can be enjoyed by anyone who wants to take a look at their own life and try to figure out what might be holding them back.
Finally, the visuals in American Beauty are simply stunning. The scenes of Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening walking through neighborhoods in Baltimore are especially memorable. All in all, American Beauty is a truly remarkable film that should not be missed by any fan of cinema.
Why you should watch American Beauty
If you are looking for a film that will challenge and inspire you, then American Beauty is definitely the movie for you. The story revolves around a man named Lester Burnham who begins to realize that he has been living a life without purpose. This thoughtfulness and introspection are what make the film so revered and popular with fans.
American Beauty also has a lot of universal appeals because it is about the human condition and the things that tend to keep us from reaching our full potential. Therefore, the movie can be enjoyed by anyone who wants to take a look at their own life and try to figure out what might be holding them back.
In addition, the visuals in American Beauty are simply stunning. The scenes of Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening walking through neighborhoods in Baltimore are especially memorable.
The performance of the cast and crew
The acting in American beauty is great. The cast and crew put a lot of work into making the movie look great, and it pays off in spades. Every scene feels like a piece of art, and you can’t help but be impressed by how well everything comes together.
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey’s portrayal of Lester Burnham is excellent. He gives an Oscar-winning performance that makes him one of the most memorable and acclaimed actors in Hollywood history.
American beauty chronicles the transformation of Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), a middle-class suburbanite, into Kevin spacey, an unrepentant teen drug dealer. The film won five academy awards and received 91 nominations during its theatrical run with 109 million tickets sold in the United States.
Annette Bening
Annette Bening also shines as Betty, giving a strong performance that enhances the believability and realism of her character.
Thora Birch
Thora Birch plays Sandra, Lester’s girlfriend. Her performance is good but not great.
Chris Cooper
Chris Cooper is also excellent as Lester’s best friend, Jeffrey. His performance helps to create a strong emotional connection between the audience and the characters.
Mena Suvari
Though Mena Suvari was relatively unknown, she is an actress of great talent who impressed with her performance while working on the film.
The movie’s director, Sam Mendes had worked on Mena Suvari in several previous projects and this proved to be a good thing for him as he made a name for himself by directing mena Suvari in other films like “thirteen” and “American Beauty”.
The Direction and Writing
After directing the acclaimed film Pulp Fiction, director Sam Mendes learned how to use his camera in a way that captured both the beauty of Los Angeles and its darkness. He also wrote an excellent screenplay that balances humorous moments with intense emotional drama.
The cinematography and editing are both stunning, while the original score by Barry Del Sherman is highly praised (it has been compared to John Williams’ work on Star Wars). All in all, American Beauty is a highly acclaimed and well-loved movie that deserves to be seen by everyone.
American Beauty Awards Won
– Best Picture
– Director: Sam Mendes
– Screenplay: Sam Mendes
– Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki
– Editing: Thelma Schoonmaker
Conclusion
If you are looking for an inspiring and challenging movie that will stay with you long after you finish watching it, then American Beauty is a perfect choice. It is a film that will push you to think about your life and how to improve it.
The visuals are stunning, the cast and crew are outstanding, and the performance of all involved makes American Beauty one of the most memorable movies of all time.
The movie American Beauty is a good example of how one should not compare yourself to others. A lot of people think that they are like the characters in the movie, but the truth is that everyone has their own personality and characteristics.
FAQs
What Is American Beauty?
American Beauty is a 1999 film written and directed by Sam Mendes. The story follows the lives of Jeffrey Beaumont (Casey Affleck) and his wife, Topaz (Gwyneth Paltrow), in their small town in Pennsylvania during the early 1990s.
Is American Beauty Worth Watching?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as everyone’s opinion on the film will be different. However, some general points that could be made about American Beauty are that it is a well-made and touching drama that explores the psychological effects of suburban life on a young man. It is also thought-provoking and can be discussed at length.
How Old Was the Girl in American Beauty?
The girl in American Beauty is approximately 16 years old. She is played by Thora Birch. Thora Birch did a marvelous job while she was playing the role.
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