American Beauty (1999)

Director: Sam Mendes
Screenwriter: Alan Ball
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari, Peter Gallagher, Allison Janney, Chris Cuomo Pere / Scott Bakula / Sam Robards / Barry Del Sherman / Arjo Healy / John Cho / Kent Falcao / Heather Joy Sher / Chelsea Hertford / Amber Smith / Joel McClary / Marisa Jarrett Winock / Dennis Anderson /  …
Genre: Drama / Romance / Family / Humanity
Region: United States
language: English
Release: 1999-09-08 (Los Angeles premiere) / 1999-10-01 (USA)
Length: 122 minutes
Also known as: Beautiful and Guilty (Hong Kong) / American Heart · Rose Love (Taiwan) / American Beauty / American Beauty / American Girl / Red Rose
Rating: IMDB 8.4 / Rotten Tomatoes 87%

Movie Synopsis
Like many middle-aged men, Lester (Kevin Spacey) encounters various difficulties in life. He works in an advertising company with mediocre grades, but his wife is better than him, and she looks like a strong woman. This ordinary man also has a teenage daughter Jenny (Thora Birch).
Jenny has a rebellious personality, and she still thinks it’s fun to be photographed naked by her neighbors, so she doesn’t care. She has a good classmate Angela (Mena Suvari Mena Suvari). When Lester saw the youthful Angela among the cheerleaders, everything changed. Lester fell into Aangela’s youthful and fresh breath. There was a burning sensation in his dead state of mind. At this time, his wife also had an affair with another wealthy businessman. When Lester got the young goddess in his mind, the gunshots also rang out…

“American Beauty” is a 1999 drama film directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball. The film follows the story of Lester Burnham (played by Kevin Spacey), a middle-aged suburban father who becomes disillusioned with his life and embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

As Lester navigates his own personal crisis, the film also explores the lives of his wife Carolyn (played by Annette Bening), their daughter Jane (played by Thora Birch), and their neighbors, including a teenage boy named Ricky Fitts (played by Wes Bentley) who becomes involved with Jane.

The film addresses themes such as social pressure, sexuality, beauty standards, and the search for meaning in life. It is also known for its use of symbolism, such as the recurring image of a plastic bag blowing in the wind.

“American Beauty” was a critical and commercial success, winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Spacey’s performance. The film’s exploration of suburban ennui and the American Dream struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, and it has been praised for its poignant and thought-provoking commentary on contemporary society.

However, the film has also faced criticism for its portrayal of women and its treatment of characters of color. Despite these criticisms, “American Beauty” remains a significant film of the late 1990s and a landmark of American cinema.