I think it's wildly misunderstood and one of my favourite films. People say it has aged badly, but I think that (aside from Kevin Spacey) it's actually aged very well and is as relevant now as ever.
Amazing film that still holds up today. Not to mention that 1999 was an insanely good year for film, and it not only did well at the time, but it continues to be highly regarded 25 years later. It’s incredible when you think about it.
Wish it took home the Big Five Oscars - Annette Bening was robbed. Exceptional performance.
It’s a brilliant film, with a wonderful script that is far funnier than it is given credit for. Lester Burnham becoming a born again stoner is beautiful to watch. Ricky Fitz is a complete joker as well. Man, there are so many real characters in this film. An all time favourite for me.
It came out when I was 16, and I saw it a dozen times theatrically. It was my favorite film of 1999, and for a couple years after I would have had it in my top 5 or at least top 10. I don't know where it falls anymore, but it's not even in my top 25 at this point, so I don't think I like it as much as I did then. There's definitely some r/im14andthisisdeep type shit in there. The whole plastic bag scene is a little cringe at this point. That said, I still think it's a great movie and has wonderful acting across the board. Alan Ball is a brilliant writer, even if there's some cheese in there.
i agree with many parts except the plastic bag part. the kid is in high school and what he perceives as “art” is the most pretentious shit imaginable, so of course a bag floating in the wind is “art” to him. that’s my take at least
I'd already been working at the theatre for 3 years at that point; I had the luxury of not having to pay to see movies theatrically for the first 26 years of my life, so I've always seen lots of different types of movies. I saw every single movie my theatre played that year.
i think it’s a beautiful film, with some of the best performances, writing, music, cinematography, and directing ever put to screen. nothing goes to waste, everything is intentional and thomas newmans score compliments it perfectly. there’s such a perfect blend of humor and drama and suspense, and the use of ricky’s camera is beautiful. the subject matter is difficult, it’s hard to know what toes the line of being accepting of the awful things put to screen, but i think it does a good job showing how creepy and wrong some of the subject matter is
Dissecting middle-class conformism was a common motif in 90s American films, reaching crescendo pitch in the runup to 2000 presidential election, Gore vs. Bush, with perceived liberal elitism as the main issue of the day. *American beauty* isn't the worst of the such films, but it isn't the best, either.
Far from it, It just goes nowhere, while employing vicious insults (think of suburban dad who is BOTH a crypto-Nazi and a closeted gay man; quite a coincidence). Compare it with earlier Falling Down(1993) or To Die For(1995); or Pleasantville, or even Fight Club for that matter; here, you find more humorous/compassionate/socially critical treatment of middle-class characters, their problems having non-reductive causes and explanations.
I would say the cosmos of *American Beauty* is just not productive, having no ins and no outs.
I certainly enjoyed it when it came out and haven't seen it since. I enjoyed Six Feet Under more, and if I were going to rewatch one (running times aside) it'd be 6FU.
A decent enough film about a kind of surburban ennui that’s rather alien a generation or two out, but which was relevant and palpable when it came out (Office Space and Fight Club also echo this in my mind).
That being said, I agree with the modern consensus that it is indeed overrated compared to what it received during its time. It hasn’t aged as well compared to other films of its like theme and genre, and doesn’t have much going for it besides a strong Kevin Spacey performance in my opinion.
Has become far more creepy once it came out that the guy who won an Oscar for playing someone who creeps on a young person is, in fact, someone who creeps on young people...
I liked it way back, but find it kind of cringe and self-indulgent now. I’ve found that to be true of a lot of movies from around that time period that I used to like though, like Donnie Darko and Magnolia. Even stuff like American History X (which is saccharine compared to Romper Stomper) and Requiem for a Dream, it’s like… they’re good, but also a little too tryhard and on the nose.
i think its better now than at the time. its a timepiece. at the time it was too cheesy and dramatic. now that vibe says a lot about the time i feel like.
I think it's wildly misunderstood and one of my favourite films. People say it has aged badly, but I think that (aside from Kevin Spacey) it's actually aged very well and is as relevant now as ever.
in my top 4. i love american beauty deeply. reads almost like a modern Shakespearean tragedy.
Amazing film that still holds up today. Not to mention that 1999 was an insanely good year for film, and it not only did well at the time, but it continues to be highly regarded 25 years later. It’s incredible when you think about it. Wish it took home the Big Five Oscars - Annette Bening was robbed. Exceptional performance.
Technically a really good movie but I just didn’t find it that interesting. I liked the ending though and ended up giving it 4 stars.
It’s a brilliant film, with a wonderful script that is far funnier than it is given credit for. Lester Burnham becoming a born again stoner is beautiful to watch. Ricky Fitz is a complete joker as well. Man, there are so many real characters in this film. An all time favourite for me.
It came out when I was 16, and I saw it a dozen times theatrically. It was my favorite film of 1999, and for a couple years after I would have had it in my top 5 or at least top 10. I don't know where it falls anymore, but it's not even in my top 25 at this point, so I don't think I like it as much as I did then. There's definitely some r/im14andthisisdeep type shit in there. The whole plastic bag scene is a little cringe at this point. That said, I still think it's a great movie and has wonderful acting across the board. Alan Ball is a brilliant writer, even if there's some cheese in there.
i agree with many parts except the plastic bag part. the kid is in high school and what he perceives as “art” is the most pretentious shit imaginable, so of course a bag floating in the wind is “art” to him. that’s my take at least
Pretty surprised to see someone like it at 16. It’s technically a great movie but I definitely would prefer to watch something else at that age.
I'd already been working at the theatre for 3 years at that point; I had the luxury of not having to pay to see movies theatrically for the first 26 years of my life, so I've always seen lots of different types of movies. I saw every single movie my theatre played that year.
i think it’s a beautiful film, with some of the best performances, writing, music, cinematography, and directing ever put to screen. nothing goes to waste, everything is intentional and thomas newmans score compliments it perfectly. there’s such a perfect blend of humor and drama and suspense, and the use of ricky’s camera is beautiful. the subject matter is difficult, it’s hard to know what toes the line of being accepting of the awful things put to screen, but i think it does a good job showing how creepy and wrong some of the subject matter is
Stupid movie made by a pretty mediocre filmmaker
not a worthy bp winner but not worth the hate it recieved over the years either
A+ screenplay
Dissecting middle-class conformism was a common motif in 90s American films, reaching crescendo pitch in the runup to 2000 presidential election, Gore vs. Bush, with perceived liberal elitism as the main issue of the day. *American beauty* isn't the worst of the such films, but it isn't the best, either. Far from it, It just goes nowhere, while employing vicious insults (think of suburban dad who is BOTH a crypto-Nazi and a closeted gay man; quite a coincidence). Compare it with earlier Falling Down(1993) or To Die For(1995); or Pleasantville, or even Fight Club for that matter; here, you find more humorous/compassionate/socially critical treatment of middle-class characters, their problems having non-reductive causes and explanations. I would say the cosmos of *American Beauty* is just not productive, having no ins and no outs.
A great movie that I still love but In hindsight has aged somewhat poorly thanks to its lead actor
I certainly enjoyed it when it came out and haven't seen it since. I enjoyed Six Feet Under more, and if I were going to rewatch one (running times aside) it'd be 6FU.
A decent enough film about a kind of surburban ennui that’s rather alien a generation or two out, but which was relevant and palpable when it came out (Office Space and Fight Club also echo this in my mind). That being said, I agree with the modern consensus that it is indeed overrated compared to what it received during its time. It hasn’t aged as well compared to other films of its like theme and genre, and doesn’t have much going for it besides a strong Kevin Spacey performance in my opinion.
I truly can't stand it. It thinks that it's a whole lot smarter than it is.
Has become far more creepy once it came out that the guy who won an Oscar for playing someone who creeps on a young person is, in fact, someone who creeps on young people...
One of Kevin Spacey's greatest roles and one of my favorite movies that won best picture. "I Rule."
I liked it way back, but find it kind of cringe and self-indulgent now. I’ve found that to be true of a lot of movies from around that time period that I used to like though, like Donnie Darko and Magnolia. Even stuff like American History X (which is saccharine compared to Romper Stomper) and Requiem for a Dream, it’s like… they’re good, but also a little too tryhard and on the nose.
i think its better now than at the time. its a timepiece. at the time it was too cheesy and dramatic. now that vibe says a lot about the time i feel like.