film: american beauty

[indelibleface]

Film: American Beauty

I searched for a thread on this movie, and I was surprised it doesn't exist yet...

This film touched me deeply when I first saw it. Ever since, it's been, oddly enough, my feel good movie. If I'm ever sad, depressed, or lost, I'll throw in American Beauty and, by the end of the film, I'll rediscover why I love life, as corny as it sounds. :D It's just something about the story of these people who learn to shed their fears and insecurities and finally pursue in life what they really want that really hits me in the right way. American Beauty just reminds me of how beautiful everything really is.

The supporting performances are all pretty decent, but Kevin Spacey just steals the show for me. He's the most quotable guy in the movie, and the things he says wouldn't be quite as quotable if it wasn't for his perfect deadpan delivery.

I had always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn't a second at all, it stretches on forever, like an ocean of time...

For me, it was lying on my back at Boy Scout camp, watching falling stars...

And yellow leaves, from the maple trees, that lined my street...

Or my grandmother's hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper...

And the first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird...

And Janie... And Janie...

And... Carolyn.

I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me...

But it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst...

And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life...

You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry...

You will someday.

 

[L2R]

exceptional film
a rare beauty

 

[psychetool]

"I had always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn't a second at all, it stretches on forever, like an ocean of time... For me, it was lying on my back at Boy Scout camp, watching falling stars... And yellow leaves, from the maple trees, that lined my street... Or my grandmother's hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper... And the first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird... And Janie... And Janie... And... Carolyn. I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life... You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... you will someday. "

Is my email signature :D

 

[basix]

Yeah its an awesome movie, always cheers me up and is my default movie I watch if Im coming down or cant sleep or whatever.

 

[wanderlust]

i cannot believe there isn't a thread on this either.
*poll added

 

[brian-amp]

I was meaning to rent this movie the other day because of the lasting impression it left on me. Good movie.

 

[7zark7]

Superb film - one of my favorites. The performances from Kevin Spacey and Mena Suvari are excellent. To be fair, everyone is good in this movie.

It's also very poignant. The fact that it is loaded with emotion and feeling means a lot. I haven't seen many other films that had such an effect on me.

Five stars!


EDIT: Watched it again this evening and realised that I had forgot how good themusic score is throughout the movie.The piano is almost haunting and does a brilliant job of portraying the beauty of the film...

 

[mariacallas]

Excellent movie. I have the DVD.

Our marriage is just for show. A commercial for how normal we are when we're anything but.

 

[PinholeStar]

One of my very favourite films.

It's perfectly judged in every way. Stunningly restrained ensemble acting (from Kevin Spacey & Chris Cooper in particular), a wonderful script that combines pathos with sharp wit, & perhaps the best cinematography of Conrad Hall's career - it was listening to his commentary on the DVD that made me see this aspect of film in a whole new light (no pun intended).

I remember when I first saw it, it had a profound effect on me at the time, & still moves me every time I watch it.

A 5-star movie if ever there was one.

 

[Pander Bear]

It really pains me to post this, because I've met alot of people whom I respect who love the crap out of American Beauty, but I have to. I have to everytime I hear someone say they love it. More often than not, it leads to me getting ostracized for the better part of an evening, but here it goes.

American Beauty is a smart movie for stupid people. Its pedestrian and over the top. Its absurd and saccharine.

Everybody go find their stones to throw now.

 

[michael]

it falls short for me, too. i just couldn't begin to care about any of the characters or what happens to them.

SAY I'M THE KING OF REAL ESTATE!

 

[Diego Blunt]

i think it is a fucken fantastic movie personally. i truly identified with Kevin Spacey's character and think it is a socially significant film given the continued tendency towards absurdly long and stupid work hours at shitty status/ego-building jobs. I've done quite a bit of study in Labour Economics and urge any of you "rat-racers" out there to take the realisations in this movie seriously. i also liked the manner in which it portrayed drug use/dealing

That said, some of the movie was just contrived bullshit ... like the red motif and the plastic bag swirling around etc. ...