The title is highly misleading, in fact much of the movie is a sad commentary about the grime in the moral fibre of modern day society and a lot less about ’beauty’.
The story starts off, simply enough, as a day in the life of Lester Burnham (Spacey) who we soon get to know - is suffering from a mid life crisis. He is antagonized at work by his boss, at home he suffers the tantrums of his overambitious wife (Bening) and he finds himself distanced from his only and teenaged daughter Jane (Thora Birch). His life changes, when one day he meets his daughter’s teenage friend (Mena Suvari) and immediately starts lusting for her. The story is not just about Lester, though. His daughter, finds emotional refuge in a ’psychotic’, peeping-tom neighbour. Lester’s wife finds other immoral ways to ’feel good’ about herself. One thing leads to another and by a curious turn of circumstances we find Lester shot to death.
What I liked most about the movie was that it talks blatantly and unabashedly about the problems afflicting modern day life - drug abuse, marital problems, prejudice against homosexuals, infidelity - and at no time does it attempt to sermonize.
Spacey gives a stunning performance as Lester Burnham, though such performances have become expected of him. However, Annete Bening as the over zealous real estate agent was a revelation. Another striking performance I felt came from Wes Bentley, as Lester’s neighbour -Ricky Fitts. His nonchalant manner and vacant stare stay with you long after the show is over (wonder why we haven’t seen much of him ever since?). The screenplay’s good, and the soundtrack amazing! The title track continues to haunt me a year after watching it.
But is it worth the 5 Oscars it got? Will it rate as a modern day classic? I don’t know. But it’s definetely worth the watch and maybe even once more...