American Beauty

Name: American Beauty
Genre: Drama
Released: September 15, 1999
Duration: 122 min
Rating: 84
Cast: Annette Bening, Kevin Spacey

1999

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Universal acclaim based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 1139 Ratings

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9.0

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9.0	User Score Universal acclaim based on 1139 Ratings

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American Beauty

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Movie Details & Credits

DreamWorks Distribution | Release Date: September 15, 1999 | R

Starring: Annette Bening, Kevin Spacey

Summary: Provoked by forbidden passions, Lester Burnham (Spacey) decides to make a few changes in his rut of a life, changes that are less midlife crisis than adolescence reborn. The freer he gets, the happier he gets, which is even more maddening to his wife, Carolyn (Bening), and daughter Jane (Birch) --especially when he turns his lustful gazeProvoked by forbidden passions, Lester Burnham (Spacey) decides to make a few changes in his rut of a life, changes that are less midlife crisis than adolescence reborn. The freer he gets, the happier he gets, which is even more maddening to his wife, Carolyn (Bening), and daughter Jane (Birch) --especially when he turns his lustful gaze toward Jane's friend, the sultry Angela (Suvari). (Dreamworks SKG)… Expand

Director: Sam Mendes

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 122 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Rod Dreher

A flat-out masterpiece, surely the best movie of the year; indeed, an all-time classic.

100

Jay Carr

Spacey is diamond-brilliant in a role that plays as if custom-made for him. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

Spacey, an actor who embodies intelligence in his eyes and voice, is the right choice for Lester Burnham. Read full review

Marc Savlov

A brilliant, exhilarating piece of filmmaking. It may even be the best mainstream film of the year thus far. Read full review

Shawn Levy

Though excellent in many ways, American Beauty is, finally, an uneasy mix of assured technique and simplistic satire.

Maitland McDonagh

Black comedy of the deepest, richest darkness laid over an aching meditation on the atrophy of dreams. Read full review

Josh Larsen

The deeper American Beauty tries to get, the shallower it reveals itself to be. Read full review

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User Reviews

SusanN.

Jul 27, 2008

A film I could watch over and over and never get tired of. A film to see before you die.

7 of 8 users found this helpful

eva3si0n

Oct 10, 2021

American Beauty is an example of a very rare movie that will always be relevant. First of all, this is the best role of Kevin Spacey in his career, one of the most successful films of the filmmaker's debuts and the best film by Sam Mendes. A simple but very realistic story. Also a crazyAmerican Beauty is an example of a very rare movie that will always be relevant. First of all, this is the best role of Kevin Spacey in his career, one of the most successful films of the filmmaker's debuts and the best film by Sam Mendes. A simple but very realistic story. Also a crazy ending. This film can be advised to everyone, it is suitable for any generation of people.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JakeB.

Aug 9, 2006

A beautiful piece of work by first time director Sam Mendes. Easily one of the most accomplished film debuts in the history of cinema. The story centers around a man named Lester Burnham (the wonderful Oscar winning Kevin Spacey) a man who has lost passion in his life. His wife Caroline A beautiful piece of work by first time director Sam Mendes. Easily one of the most accomplished film debuts in the history of cinema. The story centers around a man named Lester Burnham (the wonderful Oscar winning Kevin Spacey) a man who has lost passion in his life. His wife Caroline (Annette Benning in an equally stunning performance) is a workaholic real estate agent. Both are frustrated with their marriage which is basically just for show. Sexually frustrated Lest lusts for one of his daughter's (Thora Birch) girlfriends,Anglea (Menna Suvari). This lust begins Lester's search for happiness in life, so he quits his job and begins to flip burgers just like when he was a kid. Caroline is very frustrated with the fact that she has to be the breadwinner of the family and has an affair. Meanwhile the boy next door, Ricky is videotaping the Burnhams the daughter Jane in particular. The two strike a chord with each other and begin a romantic relationship. Ricky's father, Frank is a homophobe who suspect Ricky is homosexual because he is spending some time with Lester, of course this is not true. All Ricky is doing is scoring Lester some drugs. As the story progresses Lester gets used to Angela, and Angela starts to warm up to Lester. There are some wonderfully, gut busting scenes involving razor sharp deliveries by both Benning and Spacey. Both give brilliant performances. Many film play the : SUBURBIA AINT SO PERFECT! card, this one gets it right. Overall: A+… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

Wavy_Yeezy

May 23, 2019

Amazing movie. It's supposed to be sad but it's actually pretty funny. And it's very sad too.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

beingryanjude

Apr 23, 2015

The extent of this film's brilliance is quite overwhelming. You have a film centered on mid-life crisis--mixed with incredibly dark humor, irony and symbolism. American Beauty begins as a slow burn and quickly ignites into a thrilling and deep look at society and relationships.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Aug 13, 2014

American Beauty may be a tad overhyped, but it is very good all the same. Kevin Spacey is fantastic as is the rest of the cast. Everybody really embodies their character thanks to great casting all around. The direction from Sam Mendes is great and it is amazing to think that this was hisAmerican Beauty may be a tad overhyped, but it is very good all the same. Kevin Spacey is fantastic as is the rest of the cast. Everybody really embodies their character thanks to great casting all around. The direction from Sam Mendes is great and it is amazing to think that this was his debut. The script is very good. It is witty and dark at the same time. It is hard to place my finger on what the film is about. It is not overly complex, but there are so many things that are going on, that you cannot really say what this one is about in a sentence without leaving out a ton of information. But, I will try. Ultimately, to me, American Beauty is about life and the facade's we all put up around our lives to project an image of what we want we to be, rather than what we truly are. However, even in saying that, it leaves you a lot of the topics discussed, such as self-liberation, sexuality, and love. Yet, I think my simplistic sentence briefly covers all of those to some degree, as they all deal with pretending things are not what they are. In addition, I really love the title. There are so many different meanings behind "American Beauty", whether it be the roses that are shown throughout the film, Mena Suvari's character, the beauty of the American Dream, or many other things. The film is not overly complicated, but has so many different plausible interpretations that it a fun film to dissect. American Beauty is a truly great work that is fun to watch and fun to discuss thanks to great acting, direction, and writing.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

chrisl

Jun 5, 2009

A really awful overblown and pompous film with very poor directing extremely awkward dialogue, and terrible acting. Kevin Spacey in particular was really tight and bland in his role.

1 of 7 users found this helpful

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11	#11 Best Movie of 1999
5	#5 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
14	#14 Most Shared Movie of 1999