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American Beauty (1999)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Release Date:
1 October 1999 (USA)
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Tagline:
... look closer
Plot:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Friendship
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Fast Food Restaurant
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Lust
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Hate
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Rose
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Awards:
Won 5 Oscars.
Another 83 wins
&
74 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(429 articles)
Shelf Life: Fight Club
(From Cinematical. 25 November 2009, 9:15 AM, PST)
1999: A Look Back, Pt. 3
(From JoBlo. 25 November 2009, 1:48 AM, PST)
(From Cinematical. 25 November 2009, 9:15 AM, PST)
1999: A Look Back, Pt. 3
(From JoBlo. 25 November 2009, 1:48 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Beautiful...
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Kevin Spacey | ... | Lester Burnham |
 | Annette Bening | ... | Carolyn Burnham |
 | Thora Birch | ... | Jane Burnham |
 | Wes Bentley | ... | Ricky Fitts |
 | Mena Suvari | ... | Angela Hayes |
 | Chris Cooper | ... | Col. Frank Fitts, USMC |
 | Peter Gallagher | ... | Buddy Kane |
 | Allison Janney | ... | Barbara Fitts |
 | Scott Bakula | ... | Jim Olmeyer |
 | Sam Robards | ... | Jim Berkley |
 | Barry Del Sherman | ... | Brad Dupree |
 | Ara Celi | ... | Sale House Woman #1 |
 | John Cho | ... | Sale House Man #1 |
| Fort Atkinson | ... | Sale House Man #2 |
| Sue Casey | ... | Sale House Woman #2 |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong sexuality, language, violence and drug content.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
122 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Colombia:18 |
Malaysia:(Banned) |
Mexico:C |
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) |
Canada:14A (British Columbia) |
Canada:18A (Alberta) |
Canada:AA (Ontario) |
Canada:PA (Manitoba) |
France:-12 |
Denmark:15 |
Brazil:18 |
Netherlands:12 (re-rating) |
Argentina:18 |
Australia:MA |
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Chile:18 |
Finland:K-14 |
Germany:12 (bw) (original rating) |
Germany:16 (bw) (re-rating) |
Hong Kong:III |
Iceland:14 (original rating) |
Iceland:16 (video rating) |
India:A |
Ireland:18 |
Israel:PG |
Italy:VM14 |
Japan:R-18 |
Netherlands:16 |
New Zealand:R16 |
Norway:15 |
Peru:18 |
Poland:15 |
Portugal:M/16 |
South Korea:18 |
Spain:18 |
Sweden:15 |
Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:18 |
USA:R (certificate #36807) |
Philippines:R-18 |
Singapore:R(A) |
Singapore:M18 (DVD rating)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The end credits extend special thanks to "Dr. Bill & Alice." This is a reference to Eyes Wide Shut (1999), whose female lead, Nicole Kidman, appeared on stage in The Blue Room, also directed by Sam Mendes.
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Goofs:
Continuity: When Ricky Fitts walks from the house to Colonel Fitts washing his SUV, the garden hose is relatively straight. Later shots (Lester jogs up to and introduces himself to Ricky's father) reveal it to be serpentine.
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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?
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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?
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Soundtrack:
Open The Door
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FAQ
A Note Regarding SpoilersHow old was Jane supposed to be?
Is this movie based on a novel?
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Probably the best film of 1999. This dark comedy drama marks two fantastic feature film debuts with Alan Ball as writer and Sam Mendes as director (both winning oscars for their sterling efforts).
Kevin Spacey plays Lester Burnham, a man on the brink of a mid-life crisis, who suddenly becomes obsessed with one of his teenage daughters friends played by Mena Suvari. His daughter (Thora Birch) is, as Lester tells us; "a typical teenager. Angry, insecure, confused...". And his wife Caroline (Annette Bening) has an obsession of her own, her public appearance.
Life starts off on a downer for the Burnhams and their new neighbours the Fitts despite their lives looking good from the outside.
As life begins to improve (with most of the main characters finding what they think is love or new relationships) it soon all comes crashing down in the climactic final day.
The writing is nothing short of brilliant and made even more amazing by knowing that it comes from a first time feature film screen writer Alan Ball (who had had years of prior experience writing TV sitcoms - not that you'd be able to guess from the tone of this film).
The directing is on a par with the writing and Sam Mendes manages to get some brilliant performances from the great cast, who are all faultless. No doubt Mendes' theatre directing past played a huge part in directing the actors so well.
Another person worthy of a mention is the late director of photography Conrad L. Hall, another one of the five oscar recipients for this film.
All the elements in this film gel perfectly together to make one superb masterpiece. Not one person, either cast or crew, steals this film or does anymore than anyone else to make this film what it is. Truly an ensemble effort. 10/10.