American Beauty

DreamWorks Distribution | Release Date: September 15, 1999

8.7	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 1219 Ratings

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[Anonymous]Apr 17, 2004

The acting is completely pedestrian. Kevin Spacey is as good an actor as my next door neighbor. The philosophical ideas behind it are hardly deep or meaningful. There is nothing redeeming about it, and all of the characters are completely The acting is completely pedestrian. Kevin Spacey is as good an actor as my next door neighbor. The philosophical ideas behind it are hardly deep or meaningful. There is nothing redeeming about it, and all of the characters are completely devoid of any qualities that make me care for them in any way. It was a totally average film. The only reason I give it a 3 is because the cinematography was fairly well done. Not Hitchcock, Woody Allen or Bergman, but not bad either.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful

'garmanAug 13, 2009

Entertaining in the way of a freak show. As irresistible a view as an accident scene. Hollywood cynicism par excellence. I made it through the movie without losing my dinner, but nearly lost it watching them all gush in the ludicrously named Entertaining in the way of a freak show. As irresistible a view as an accident scene. Hollywood cynicism par excellence. I made it through the movie without losing my dinner, but nearly lost it watching them all gush in the ludicrously named "Behind the Scenes Featurette".… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful

MarshallM.Oct 30, 2005

I do not know why the critics liked it so much! sure, there's some decent acting, but the charaters are all bad people and they are hard to like. i DO agree with ken B., they're just trying to see how far they can go, pushing the I do not know why the critics liked it so much! sure, there's some decent acting, but the charaters are all bad people and they are hard to like. i DO agree with ken B., they're just trying to see how far they can go, pushing the limits is what gets u oscar nominations.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful

chrislJun 5, 2009

A really awful overblown and pompous film with very poor directing extremely awkward dialogue, and terrible acting. Kevin Spacey in particular was really tight and bland in his role.

1 of 7 users found this helpful

ScraperSep 13, 2018

It's always interesting to see a movie about someone who let's go of societal norms, starts living for themselves, telling people what they really think with reckless abandon. We all daydream about acting like that. What really turns me offIt's always interesting to see a movie about someone who let's go of societal norms, starts living for themselves, telling people what they really think with reckless abandon. We all daydream about acting like that. What really turns me off about American Beauty is the way every antagonist is portrayed as a complete idiot. There's no subtlety to anyone's character. The guy who hates gay people is Hitler and his wife is a mute. Jane's friend isn't promiscuous, she's a total whore. Their friendship is baffling. Lester's wife is so materialistic that she shoots him in the head. Everything is over the top and trying to hold the mirror to society in one breath. It comes off as really preachy and righteous.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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akshatmahajanJun 17, 2021

When I came to know that "The Sixth Sense" lose Oscar to this movie, I had great expectations for this movie. After watching, I can say that it is too much overrated.
Movie's plot was simple, boring and over-dramatic. The direction was good.When I came to know that "The Sixth Sense" lose Oscar to this movie, I had great expectations for this movie. After watching, I can say that it is too much overrated.
Movie's plot was simple, boring and over-dramatic. The direction was good. The movie's pacing could have been improved. Only thing I liked about this movie was the acting of Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham.
Overall, would not recommend. You may watch it if you like overrated movies which undeservingly won Oscars.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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