’’American Beauty’’ is a totally unforgettable movie. It rightfully won 5 Oscars and 6 Baftas, including Best Picture in each. I was not too enthusiastic about seeing it, but I was dragged kicking and screaming into the cinema; and they had to drag me kicking and screaming out of it because I wanted to stay and watch it again. I knew that I had to get it as soon as it came out on DVD because I loved it so much.
It tells the story of Lester Burnham, a fortysomething ad-exec played with panache by Kevin Spacey, his Ice Queen of a wife, Carolyn (Annette Benning) and his daughter, Jane. Lester goes through something of an awakening as to how his life has progressed and takes his life back into his own hands. The plot is hysterically funny, disturbingly dark and heartbreaking sad, and it is this shift in mood from one moment to the next that makes this film the masterpiece it is.
It is hard to write anything that does justice to this gorgeous piece of cinematic excellence (the carrier bag scene is oh so beautiful!)...so as I’ve said before and I’ll no doubt say again, just watch it!