# American Beauty (1999)

### reviewed by
Frankie Paiva

    American Beauty (R) ****
    Starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening
    Directed by Sam Mendes
    A Review by Frankie Paiva

NOTE: Throughout this review I will designate parts of the film that deserve Oscar nominations with a @.

I think that if any of us have learned a lesson from all of the movies that have come out during this past year it's that too much hype is a bad thing. Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace was hyped since last November for being one of the biggest motion picture events ever. The film turned out to be just a bad marketing scam designed to continue the cash flow to George Lucas's bank account. How about Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me? While the sequel to the hit original was funny, it was also packed full of bathroom humor that was gross and un-appealing. Or for an even better example, how about The Blair Witch Project, a little film that was supposed to be one of the scariest ever that barely even brought out a fright. The next heavily hyped film is American Beauty, being praised as the best film of the year with millions of Oscar nominations coming it's way. I was hesitant at first, but finally I'm here to review a film that lives up to it's hype.

Lester Burnham (Spacey @) is living in a middle class neighborhood with his control freak wife Carolyn, (Bening @) she's a real estate agent who is competing with Buddy Kane, (Peter Gallagher) the "King" of real estate. Lester finds his life boring, his teenage daughter Jane (Thora Birch @) hates him, his job is leaving him un-satisfied, and he's beginning to have some type of an identity crisis. That all changes when he sees Jane's friend Angela, (Mena Suvari @) he wants her and will do anything to get her.

So he begins working out in the garage to impress her. Lifting weights and smoking the drugs that are supplied by his next door neighbor Ricky (Wes Bently @) who Jane soon falls in love with. Ricky films every he sees with a digital camera he bought with his drug money. As Lester finds what he wants in life, his family begins to fall apart, Carolyn gets the "royal treatment" from Buddy Kane, and Jane hates him even more because he's in love with Angela.

But it's not only the excellent acting and witty screenplay (@) that make American Beauty what it is, it's the message that it contains. Here is a film so wonderful that it truly deserves to be seen by every American. If this isn't a Best Picture (@) winner, I don't know what is. Everything about American Beauty is interesting and I could easily see this film again and again. The film does however have one flaw, yes, I'm perfectly aware that this is an edgy, and experimental film, but it has a little too much sex and a little too much drug use. Both of these things prevents people like me from seeing the picture, but I'm sure it's good that they are there. So go and see this film now, whatever junk you were considering to go see, drop it. You must see this film now. What are you still reading this for? It's like your not even listening to me...you must stop reading now. Go to the theater and view American Beauty which gets **** stars.

The Young-Uns: Ouch, this great film features loads of objectionable content. Lots and lots of sex talk occurs along with a sex scene and two long views of two different character's breasts. Drug use also rates as a high, people smoke pot in at least six scenes. Violence also rates as an extreme because of a bloody shooting and a man beating up his son. Also, bad attitudes fill up the entire picture. Good Age: 17 & Up

A Review by Frankie Paiva The 12 Year-Old Movie Reviewer E-Mail me at SwpStke@aol.com Visit my website at http://expage.com/page/teenagemoviecritic

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