And the Best Picture goes to....

“American Beauty”, directed by Sam Mendes and released in 1999, brilliantly critiques the American dream and the perception of an ideal life. Suburban neighborhoods are often associated with comfort, success, and happiness, but “American Beauty” reveals the underlying dissatisfaction of its characters. While those characters appear to have it all—a beautiful home, a nice car, and are the seemingly perfect family—the reality is starkly different. Their lives are filled with emptiness, unfulfilled aspirations, and fractured relationships.

The plot centers around Lester Burnham, played by Kevin Spacey, an “ordinary guy with nothing to lose” who is trapped in the monotony of suburban life. Lester is stuck in a dead-end job and finds himself in a loveless marriage with his controlling wife, Carolyn, portrayed by Annette Bening. As the story unfolds, Lester experiences a midlife crisis that sparks a personal rebellion in his quest for the happiness that has eluded him for years. It’s his obsession with his daughter’s friend, Angela, that acts as a catalyst for this transformation and eventually ends with grim circumstances.

Sam Mendes is the sixth person to walk away with a best-directing Oscar for a directorial debut, and his direction, combined with Alan Ball’s script delivers what is a very powerful, dark comedy.  The characters are well written and make this movie—Carolyn is driven to succeed in her career and maintain the image of a perfect family, yet she comes off as cold and controlling.  Their daughter, Jane (Thora Birch), grapples with typical teenage feelings of alienation and insecurity and feels disconnected from her parents.  Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley) is a mysterious and artistic neighbor who becomes Jane’s boyfriend and provides a unique perspective on life and beauty.  Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari) is Jane’s popular classmate, who maintains a sophisticated, worldly persona, yet is really a virgin and ‘boring’.  Eventually, their stories intertwine, highlighting the film’s central theme: the disillusionment beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives.

The soundtrack for this film is expertly composed, featuring jazzy, easy-listening tracks for Carolyn and a classic rock vibe for Lester, including songs like “All Along the Watchtower” and tracks by The Who. Additionally, the title theme, “Dead Already,” by Thomas Newman, with its hypnotic chimes, is bound to linger in the viewer’s head.

More than two decades after its release, “American Beauty” continues to serve as a commentary on the darker side of the American Dream and the illusion of perfection. The performances, particularly by Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening, are captivating. Despite the fact that Lester and Carolyn have come to despise each other, there was once love between them. This film explores the facade of perfection that surrounds these characters, ultimately revealing the decay that lies beneath the beautiful surface—much like the American Beauty rose itself.