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Mood:
- CleverContemplativeGloomyStylizedCaptivatingBitingCynicalAtmospheric more...
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Plot:
- Crumbling MarriageDysfunctional FamilyMidlife CrisisSuburban LifeDull LifeLifestyleMind and SoulSociety more...
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Genres:
- Drama
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Time/Period:
- 20th Century90s
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Place:
- Suburbs
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Praise:
- Award WinnerBlockbusterCritically AcclaimedEssentialOscar WinnerModern ClassicPrestigious Awards
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Humor:
- Satire
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Style:
- Voice Over
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Attitudes:
- Semi SeriousRealistic
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Flag:
- Brief NudityDrugs/AlcoholMild Violent ContentProfanitySexual Content
Does this gene fit American Beauty?
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American Beauty, 1999
English
USA
Profile of American Beauty
The mood of American Beauty is biting, cynical, and clever. The plot centers around a humdrum life, suburban life, and a midlife crisis. It features satire. American Beauty is a drama movie. Stylistically, it includes a voice over. In approach, it is realistic. American Beauty takes place, at least partly, in the suburbs. It happens in the 1990s. The movie is known for being a modern classic, an Oscar winner, and essential viewing. Note that American Beauty includes brief nudity, mild violent content, and drugs/alcohol.
Summary of American Beauty
AMERICAN BEAUTY tells the story of Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), a suburban father who snaps when he becomes disgusted with his stale, repetitive existence. Burnham lets us know in voice-over from the film's opening that this is the day he dies (using the SUNSET BOULEVARD flashback approach), a technique that adds an inevitable tension to the proceedings and keeps the story moving forward at all times. On a whim, Lester quits his job and begins a regression into young adulthood, lifting weights, smoking pot, doing nothing, and discovering the overflowing sexuality of his 16-year-old daughter's best friend, Angela (Mena Suvari). His wife, Carolyn (Annette Bening), has her own midlife crisis of sorts. A real estate agent, she experiences a youthful awakening when super-agent Buddy Kane (Peter Gallagher) seduces her repeatedly. Meanwhile, Jane (Thora Birch), the Burnhams' daughter, is pursued by Ricky (Wes Bentley), the mysterious boy next door who carries a video camera around with him at all times. When Ricky's militaristic father, Colonel Fitts (Chris Cooper), discovers something potentially horrifying on one of his tapes, and when Carolyn's rage for Lester's actions boils over, the time bomb finally explodes.
Details
| Language: | English |
| Country: | USA |
| Release date: | 8 September 1999 |
| Runtime: | 122 min |
| Awards: | Academy Awards |
Awards
Cast and Crew
as Lester Burnham
as Carolyn Burnham
Photos
Clips
Critics Reviews
San Francisco Chronicle
- |
- by: Edward Guthmann
The New York Times
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- by: Janet Maslin
Users Reviews
- 10.October.2009
- |
- by: Aaron
- Aaron rated this movie
8/10Great
- 20.March.2009
- |
- by: sethdellinger
- sethdellinger rated this movie
0/10
