Many of the scenes in "American Beauty" are memorable (witness the abundance of awards received and it's 8 Academy Award nominations). The key to what makes this film work is it's ability to draw the viewer in as a confidant. The audience I saw it with were mostly "boomers". The parking lot scene at the realtor's cocktail party brought unanimously knowing guffaws, nods & nudges. Who among us hasn't uttered the same plaintive cry as Kevin Spacey's "Lester": "I want the job that has the least responsibility" & "I want to look good naked".
"American Beauty" excells at providing vicarious release. Who hasn't wanted to blackmail their boss and get a golden parachute. Annette Bening's "Carolyn" is the quintessential driven working disfunctional wife and mom. Austensibly she is superficial, cold & calculating. We are allowed glimpses of her more fragile moments: if you must scream or cry, do it in the SUV where no one can hear you. When I think of this character I can't help but think of the line from Stephen Still's "Love the one you're with"( not part of this film's soundtrack)---"Carolyn" is the personification of a "rose in the fisted glove", and if you get past her 'thorns', she does have a 'petal' soft side. Like "Lester" we wonder "what happened to that girl?" I freely admit to being a shameless fan of both Ms Bening and Mr Spacey, so I knew going in they would please me. Thora Birch in the role of their daughter"Jane" captured my heart in her seamless & subtle conveyance of female teenaged angst. Co-stars Wes Bentley as "Ricky" and Mena Suvari as "Angela" equally succeed at extracting our emphathy. We've all a.known b.been c.envied d.parented or e. all of the above---type teens. The film's titular and metaphoric message is consistant throughout. Beautiful treelined blocks with meticulously manicured lawns & landscaping surrounding the perfect homes that scream American dream fulfilled, but if you "look closer"... Despite my anticipation of it, the climactic twist with next door neighbor "Marine Colonel Fitts" is well executed---and there is another unexpected plot twist after the first. Again perfectly executed: like a right hook you never see coming. Chris Cooper's work is very effective and effecting indeed. As is Allison Janney's as his wife "Barbara". The entire cast make an intriguing and poignant arrangement. The fragrance of more bouquet for Sam Mendes' feature film directorial debut is definitely in the air.
