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American Beauty (1999) 8.5
Ratings:
8.5/10 from 498,667 users
Metascore: 86/100
Reviews: 2,612 user | 242 critic | 33 from Metacritic.com Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation for his daughter's attractive friend. Director:Sam MendesWriter:Alan Ball |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Kevin Spacey | ... | ||
| Annette Bening | ... | ||
| Thora Birch | ... | ||
| Wes Bentley | ... | ||
| Mena Suvari | ... | ||
| Chris Cooper | ... | ||
| Peter Gallagher | ... | ||
| Allison Janney | ... | ||
| Scott Bakula | ... | ||
| Sam Robards | ... | ||
| Barry Del Sherman | ... | ||
| Ara Celi | ... |
Sale House Woman #1
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| John Cho | ... |
Sale House Man #1
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Fort Atkinson | ... |
Sale House Man #2
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Sue Casey | ... |
Sale House Woman #2
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Lester and Carolyn Burnham are on the outside, a perfect husband and wife, in a perfect house, in a perfect neighborhood. But inside, Lester is slipping deeper and deeper into a hopeless depression. He finally snaps when he becomes infatuated with one of his daughter's friends. Meanwhile, his daughter Jane is developing a happy friendship with a shy boy-next-door named Ricky, who lives with a homophobic father. Written by Jessie Skinner <eietherbinge@hotmail.com>
Taglines:
... look closerGenres:
DramaMotion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for strong sexuality, language, violence and drug content | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
1 October 1999 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Belleza americana See more »Box Office
Budget:
$15,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
£425,558 (UK) (28 January 2000)Gross:
AUD 11,029,726 (Australia) (15 December 2000)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Jane Burnham: I need a father who's a role model, not some horny geek-boy who's gonna spray his shorts whenever I bring a girlfriend home from school. What a lame-o. Someone really should just put him out of his misery.
Ricky Fitts: Want me to kill him for you?
Jane Burnham: Yeah. Would you?
See more »
Discusses Production Design See more »
Written by Mark Everett (as E) and Mickey Petralia
Performed by The Eels
Courtesy of DreamWorks Records
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
According to his Oscar speech, Alan Ball was sitting at the World Trade Center plaza when he saw a paper bag floating in the wind and was inspired by it to write the film, which was originally conceived as a stage play. See more »Goofs
When Carolyn slaps Jane in the face, Carolyn can be seen yelling at Jane, from behind, even though the soundtrack is silent. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Jane Burnham: I need a father who's a role model, not some horny geek-boy who's gonna spray his shorts whenever I bring a girlfriend home from school. What a lame-o. Someone really should just put him out of his misery.
Ricky Fitts: Want me to kill him for you?
Jane Burnham: Yeah. Would you?
See more »
Crazy Credits
thanks to all at the Donmar Warehouse in London and Dr. Bill and Alice See more »Connections
Featured in Masters of Production: The Hidden Art of Hollywood (2004)Discusses Production Design See more »
Soundtracks
"Cancer For The Cure"Written by Mark Everett (as E) and Mickey Petralia
Performed by The Eels
Courtesy of DreamWorks Records
See more »
The intention is so clear that everything else falls into place, perfectly. Kevin Spacey's suburban husband and father reminded me of his character in "The Ref" and that could only be a good thing. Annette Bening and her giggle works wonders here. Their marriage is a tabloid version of a "Who's Afraid To Virginia Woolf" Which means very close to someone we know. The biggest surprises in the film. besides the amazing dexterity of Sam Mendes at his first outing behind the camera, are West Bentley. Chris Cooper, Thora Brch and Allison Janney. As I'm writing this 8 years after its first release, the Oscars and the whole hullabaloo, I'm very surprised that West Bentley hasn't become a major star. He is amazing in "American Beauty" the complexities of his character are based on recognizable human stands, the hardest to face up to and I went where he went. Thora Birch is lovely as the object of his attention and the film, I believe, is here to say.