American Beauty

Written by: Alan Ball Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher, Wes Bentley, Chris Cooper A stunning success. Mendes, working from Alan Ball's brilliant script, peels the top layer off of the suburban American dream, inch by excruciating inch. All of the actors are outstanding (though Bening struggles a bit with the thinnest role), but Kevin Spacey, who is finally achieving the acclaim he deserves, simply ignites the screen. I cannot imagine anyone playing this part better. There are some thematic similarities to P.T. Anderson's “Magnolia” (i.e. the complications that can ensue when lives intersect) but what makes “American Beauty” the superior picture is its relentless (albeit dark) sense of humor. It is funny, terrifying in some ways, and ultimately heartbreaking. Even the ending leaves room for ambiguity: has Spacey's character truly achieved peace, or has he realized the folly of his actions? I favor the former, but that is for the viewer to decide, and that is what ultimately makes this a picture for grownups. Is the movie perfect? No, but it's pretty damn close. The best of the year, in my view. (2/5/00)