|
All-Reviews.com Movie/Video Review
American Beauty
|
  out of 4
Review by NicoleG
4 stars out of 4
|
As the lights go down and the first shot runs, you might fear to have
entrapped yourself in just another of those outworn stories in which
somebody gets to kill another member of the same family. Fortunately this
is not the case: scene after scene you will be constantly surprised by
the evolution and folds of "American Beauty". When the last shot is over
you get the mixed feeling that you have seen a very original and worthy
movie dressed up as an ordinary one. In fact the dualism original/ordinary
is often to be found in the scripture. There is the teenage girl who
would do anything not to be considered as "ordinary". The retired Marine
Officer who ruins his life and the life of others in order to stick to
his idea of being "regular". The house agent whose main interest is to
appear "special". While the main character - Lester Burnham - at the age
of 42 finds out that it is meaningless to live according to standards built
by society and by others. He gradually starts to change by listening to
his real and deeper self. He realizes, for example, that a career towards
a visible and high-responsibility job is not what he wants but what he is
supposed to want, so he quits his job and feels great about it. Lester's
journey to fulfilment and self-consciousness comes along with his
friendship to the young neighbour. This 18-year-old boy spends most of his
time filming the outside world with a video camera. Through this sort of
third eye he acknowledges the beauty of life. The whole message of the
story is that life contains a beauty which is expressed in many ways and
that people shouldn't wait until they die before finding out and
appreciating it. This message flows and grows through all the story and
it clearly comes out in the final. I think "American Beauty" is a
spiritual film in the New Age style, a good beginning of millennium film
also. I would suggest you to see it for many reasons and if you're not
in the mood to see a committed movie, you can still enjoy the comedy that's
in it. I'm sure that you won't be bored anyway.
| |
|
|
Buy movie posters!
|
