Build up your Halloween Watchlist with our list of the most popular horror titles on Netflix in October.
Related lists from IMDb editors
Related lists from IMDb users
Title: American Beauty (1999)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
| 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 | |
| Peter Gallagher | ... | Buddy Kane | |
| Allison Janney | ... | Barbara Fitts | |
| Chris Cooper | ... | Colonel Fitts | |
| Scott Bakula | ... | Jim Olmeyer | |
| Sam Robards | ... | Jim Berkley | |
| Barry Del Sherman | ... | Brad | |
| Ara Celi | ... | Sale House Woman #1 | |
| John Cho | ... | Sale House Man #1 | |
 |
Fort Atkinson | ... | Sale House Man #2 |
|
|
Sue Casey | ... | Sale House Woman #2 |
After his death sometime in his forty-third year, suburbanite Lester Burnham tells of the last few weeks of his life, during which he had no idea of his imminent passing. He is a husband to real estate agent Carolyn Burnham and father to high school student Janie Burnham. Although Lester and Carolyn once loved each other, they now merely tolerate each other. Typical wallflower Janie too hates both her parents, the three who suffer individually in silence in their home life. Janie tries to steer clear of both her parents. Carolyn, relatively new to the real estate business, wants to create the persona of success to further her career, she aspiring to the professional life of Buddy Kane, the king of the real estate business in their neighborhood. Lester merely walks mindlessly through life, including at his job in advertising. His company is downsizing, and he, like all the other employees, has to justify his position to the newly hired efficiency expert to keep his job. Things change ... Written by Huggo
Looking for some great streaming picks? Check out some of the IMDb editors' favorites movies and shows to round out your Watchlist.
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.