Review of American Beauty (1999) by Stefan G — 24 Nov 2013

I was simply amazed at how much of a masterpiece this film is. It's basically a darker, sexier, and ultimately more mature look at American life in the suburbs, or at least how we've come to view it.

The acting is incredible, and the characters are so realistic, that it's actually totally believable, especially when it comes to some of the dialogue. The story is a very well-crafted deconstruction of the façade that people put up when they want to keep up with the Joneses, and it conveys the message of "beauty is skin deep" more powerfully and more effectively than anything else I've ever seen.

The film is full of vivid imagery, all of which conveys the various metaphors expressed throughout the film, and the drama is powerful and abundant. Overall, I think that not only is this film a classic, but I think I've found the magnum opus of the 90's.