Sunday, November 14, 2010

The Very Good Movie American Beauty Reviewed

By Naomi Kline

The best movie in the year 2000 was the hit film American Beauty. The film captured 5 Oscars including best picture. The film's star Kevin Spacey also received an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

The story line is about a family in turmoil with everyone struggling with who they are. It is a small family consisting of a couple and their lone child, a teenage daughter. The movie chronicles their battles with each other and themselves.

Kevin Spacey plays the father Lester, and he is going through a mid-life crisis. He hates his job, his family hates him, and he is simply bored with life. His wife Carolyn is always criticizing him, and his teenage daughter Jane is rebelling against her parents. She is disgusted by how they behave.

Carolyn, who is quite the bitch, is straying from the marriage and is dissatisfied with Lester in every way. She has her own career in real estate and is a very materialistic and career driven woman. She is having an affair with a successful and married real estate man who promises to help her with her career.

Jane, their daughter, is rebelling from the fighting couple and trying to "find herself". Her best friend is a high school hottie who everyone is after, but Jane feels unsure of herself. Even her dad has the hots for her best friend.

Lester finally starts to unravel. He quits his job, starts smoking pot, gets a job at a fast food restaurant, and starts to live life for himself. He quits taking crap from his wife. He fantasizes

Jane meets Ricky, the new kid in the neighborhood, and they become close. He is weird and also has a dysfunctional family. This seems to bond the two of them together.

This sets the stage for a powerful ending, which I won't spoil for anyone who hasn't seen the film. This is a brilliant film and Kevin Spacey is at his ultimate best. American Beauty is a must see movie. - 42569

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