Date of Release to Theaters: September 24, 1999

Date of Release to Video: Not yet.

Running Time: 120 Minutes

Rated: R (for violence, strong sexuality, language and drug content)

Released by: DreamWorks SKG

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Producer: Bruce Cohen, Dan Kinks

Co-Producer: Stan Wlodkowski, Alan Ball

Writer: Alan Ball

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast:

Lester Burnham: Kevin Spacey

Carolyn Burnham: Annette Bening

Jane Burnham: Thora Birch

Ricky Fitts: Wes Bentley

Angela Hayes: Mena Suvari

Colonel Fitts: Chris Cooper

Buddy Kane: Peter Gallagher

Barbara Fitts: Allison Janney

Jim #1: Scott Bakula

Jim #2: Sam Robards

I was very anxious to see American Beauty. I don't know why, but I was somewhat expecting a comedy and an enjoyable experience. I was wrong. When I left the theater with a horrible, rotten feeling in the pit of my stomach, I believed it was because it was an awful movie. It wasn't until later, after hours of playing the movie over in my head, that I realized that it wasn't the movie that was awful…it was the subject matter. Maybe it just came a bit too close to home in some ways. Are we all living lives of quiet desperation and don't even know it?

The Burnham family, like a lot families I'm afraid, is dysfunctional. Each member is very unhappy and dealing with his or her own sadness in his or her own special way. Lester (Kevin Spacey) has determined that the way to his happiness is by trying to get his youth back in all its glory. His wife, Carolyn (Annette Bening), has determined that the way to her happiness is by immersing herself in her possessions, her roses and her real estate career, which unfortunately is not as successful as she would like it to be. Their teenage daughter, Jane (Thora Birch), has determined that the way to her happiness is to stay as far away from her parents as possible. A "close-knit" family they're not. Although to the outside world they seem perfectly normal.

The Fitts family, their new neighbors, makes the Burnham family look like Beaver Cleaver's family. The father, Colonel (Chris Cooper), is an extremely macho military manly man that takes no prisoners. His wife, Barbara (Allison Janney), is about as knocked down as one can get and still be breathing. His teenage son, Ricky (Wes Bentley), is desperately trying to cope in a family full of psychological problems. Put the two families together and something's got to give.

These two families and Jane's friend, Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari), are totally on the edge. And what's scary in watching American Beauty is that it makes it easy to see how close the everyday John and Jane Doe are to that very same edge…too close for comfort.

Maybe if people would stop being so obsessively concerned with desperately trying to make themselves happy at all costs and try to make others happy instead, happiness will sling-shot back to them. A little too Disney or Hallmark? Well, what can I say? I like easy answers.

Although I prefer feel-good movies, I have to admit that American Beauty is truly a masterpiece. The comedy and tragedy were woven together so beautifully that sometimes you couldn't distinguish one from the other. The movie was written, directed and acted so well that it literally made me feel sick to my stomach. That last sentence might not sound like it, but it really was a compliment.

If you want to see a movie that makes you think long and hard about life and all it's ups and downs, I recommend you go see American Beauty. It's worth the upset stomach.

Grade: A-

E-Mail Teri Your Thoughts! TeriCrosby@aol.com