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American Beauty (1999) 8.5
Ratings:
8.5/10 from 509,984 users
Metascore: 86/100
Reviews: 2,617 user | 244 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 »
Written by Mark Everett (as E) and Mickey Petralia
Performed by The Eels
Courtesy of DreamWorks Records
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
In the original script Lester enjoyed country music, much to the annoyance of Jane and Carolyn. See more »Goofs
Wooden arm chair in front of the window at Lester's end of the dining room table which appears in every other scene in the movie has disappeared so Jane can walk to that window unimpeded to look out and observe Ricky, the new neighbor boy she had just flipped off for videotaping her getting out of Angela's car and walking up to her front door. 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 »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.