Review of American Beauty (1999) by Jeremy F — 09 Feb 2013

This is my favorite Kevin Spacey movie and role. Narrowly beating out The Usual Suspects. Not only was his acting phenomenal,but so was his physical and emotional transformation throughout the movie. He starts off in the movie isolated,miserable,overweight and discontent. Then through questionable influence(and only through fantasy sequences)he finds the inspiration to change his midlife crisis.

Anette Benning plays her best role to date as well. As his emotionally unstable wife. She deals with her own midlife crisis as well. She starts having an affair with a colleague that she idolizes. I think this movie perfectly balances the satirical humor of the stereotypical dysfunctional family and cynicism that hasn't been matched by anything else I've seen.

Sam Mendes has gone on to a versatile directing career,but he'll never top his directorial debut.