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Genre: Drama / Comedy
Duration: 122 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Stars: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening and Thora Birch
IMDb score:
8,4 (1.166.230)
Releasedate: 15 September 1999
American Beauty plot
"Look closer."
To the outside world, Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) seems to have a perfect life: a nice house, a good job, a beautiful wife, and a lovely daughter. In reality, however, Lester falls into a deeper and deeper depression: the relationship with his wife is low, he hardly ever talks with his daughter, and he is more than tired of his job. When he comes into contact with his new neighbor, he learns to appreciate life again: he stops working, becomes infatuated with a friend of his daughter, starts smoking weed again, and starts training.
Actors and actresses
Lester Burnham
Carolyn Burnham
Jane Burnham
Ricky Fitts
Angela Hayes
Colonel Frank Fitts
Barbara Fitts
Buddy Kane
Jim Olmeyer
Jim Berkley
Reviews & comments

IH88
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- 7917 messages
- 3023 votes
“My name is Lester Burnham. This is my neighborhood; this is my street; this is my life. I am 42 years old; in less than a year I will be dead. Of course I don't know that yet, and in a way, I am dead already.” Wat een briljante film. Sam Mendes legt hier op magnifieke wijze de ziel van sommige personages bloot en laat zien wat er achter de ogenschijnlijk happy façade schuil gaat. American Beauty speelt zich af in een goede woonwijk waar alle buurtbewoners ogenschijnlijk gelukkig wonen. Maar eenmaal achter de voordeur... Kevin Spacey is weergaloos en de avonturen van Lester vormen het hart van de film. Ongelukkig met alles in zijn leven besluit hij om alles anders aan te pakken, met alle gevolgen van dien. In het begin is het nog bijzonder grappig maar Mendes verandert moeiteloos van toon en het wordt steeds donkerder en dramatischer (zonder die zwarte humor helemaal los te laten, echt knap). De film ziet er fantastisch uit en er zitten een aantal weergaloze scènes in. Naar een scene zoals met die vliegende plastic zak zat ik ademloos te kijken. Verbijsterend mooi met de muziek erbij ook. Alle andere acteurs waren ook uitstekend met Bening en Bentley als uitschieters. American Beauty blijft een meesterwerk.
“My name is Lester Burnham. this is my neighborhood; this is my street; this is my life. I am 42 years old; in less than a year I will be dead. Of course I don't know that yet, and in a way, I am dead already.”
What a brilliant movie. Sam Mendes magnificently exposes the souls of some of the characters here and reveals what lies behind the apparently happy facade. American Beauty is set in a good residential area where all the local residents seem to live happily. But once behind the front door...
Kevin Spacey is peerless and Lester's adventures are at the heart of the film. Unhappy with everything in his life, he decides to do everything differently, with all the consequences that entails. In the beginning it is still very funny but Mendes changes tone effortlessly and it gets darker and more dramatic (without letting go of that black humor completely, really clever). The movie looks fantastic and there are some unparalleled scenes in it. I was breathlessly watching a scene like with that flying plastic bag. Amazingly beautiful with the music too. All the other actors were also excellent with Bening and Bentley being the outliers. American Beauty remains a masterpiece.


jordorientje
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- 376 messages
- 321 votes
Tja, ik weet niet zo goed wat ik er van moet vinden. Het was geen slechte film, maar ook niet dat ik helemaal overdonderd ben. Ik snapte de boodschap, maar daarmee is alles gezegd. Ik vond hem zelfs wat saai en oninteressant. Ik heb hem afgekeken, maar als je me vraagt waar ik naar heb zitten kijken: pff geen idee, aparte film. En ik hou wel van apart, maar dit was het niet voor mij. Kevin Spacey acteert verder prima en de film is verder prima in elkaar gezet, maar het heeft geen indruk bij me achter gelaten en ik zou hem niet iemand aanraden.
Well, I don't really know what to make of it. It wasn't a bad movie, but not that I'm totally blown away either. I got the message, but that's all. I even found it a bit boring and uninteresting. I watched it, but if you ask me what I've been watching: pff no idea, special film. And I do like it apart, but this wasn't for me.
Kevin Spacey's acting is fine and the film is otherwise well put together, but it didn't leave an impression on me and I wouldn't recommend him to anyone.


Onderhond
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- 86877 messages
- 11403 votes
Blijft sterk. Ondanks dat de film wel wat kritische support heeft moeten inboeten, blijft American Beauty toch hoge toppen scheren. Allicht dat het "doorsnee" publiek zich iets minder ergert aan de wat cynische humor die tegenwoordig de kritische censuur niet meer zou passeren. Zo'n kleine 20 jaar later is de film wel iets minder speciaal dan dat ik hem voor het eerst zag. Ondertussen ook wel een 10K films extra gezien, dat speelt zeker mee, maar de film zelf is toch ook wel een beetje verouderd her en daar. Al blijft Mendes wel vooral z'n momenten kiezen, die er qua cinematografie en soundtrack dan opvallend uitspringen. Acteerwerk is verder erg sterk, met een carriere-bepalende rol voor Spacey. Ook leuk dat de film wel een wijsvingertje ophoudt hier en daar, maar het ook niet té serieus neemt, met een einde dat aardig over de top gaat en vooral leuke cinema biedt. Sterke film dus, nog steeds. 4.0* en een uitgebreide review
Stays strong.
Despite the fact that the film has had to lose some critical support, American Beauty continues to score high. Probably that the "average" audience is a little less annoyed by the somewhat cynical humor that nowadays would no longer pass the critical censorship.
About 20 years later, the film is a little less special than when I first saw it. In the meantime I have also seen an extra 10K films, that certainly plays a role, but the film itself is also a bit outdated here and there. Although Mendes continues to choose his moments, which stand out remarkably in terms of cinematography and soundtrack.
Acting is also very strong, with a career-defining role for Spacey. It's also nice that the film does hold up an index finger here and there, but doesn't take it too seriously either, with an ending that goes over the top and offers nice cinema. So, still a strong film.
4.0* and a extended review

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