American Beauty (1999)
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A disillusioned advertising executive experiences a profound midlife crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's friend.
The story
Lester Burnham, a middle-aged media executive in suburbia, despises his job and is unhappily married to neurotic, status-obsessed Carolyn. Their 16-year-old daughter, Jane, resents her parents and has low self-esteem. The lives of the neighbors, including a retired Marine colonel and his family, and a local gay couple, intersect with the Burnhams' lives. When Lester becomes infatuated with Jane's best friend, Angela, he begins to make drastic changes to his life, including quitting his job, changing his appearance, and experimenting with drugs. As the boundaries between the neighbors' lives blur, the characters navigate their personal frustrations and search for meaning in their mundane surroundings.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Lester Burnham, a dissatisfied advertising executive, becomes infatuated with Angela, the best friend of his daughter Jane. This spark triggers a midlife crisis, leading him to quit his job, adopt a new physical appearance, and begin using marijuana. Meanwhile, his wife Carolyn begins an affair with a real estate man. The narrative weaves in the lives of their neighbors: the stern, retired Marine Frank Fitts, whose son Ricky records the world around him, and a local gay couple. Tensions rise as Frank becomes suspicious of Ricky's activities and the couple's presence. The plot culminates in a series of revelations: Carolyn's affair is exposed, and Frank's internal turmoil leads to a confrontation. In a final, surreal sequence, Lester finds a moment of clarity and peace before being shot in the back of the head. He dies content, having finally found beauty in the world. The film ends with a narration from the deceased Lester, expressing gratitude for his experiences.
- First release year
- 1999
- Runtime (minutes)
- 122
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sam Mendes
- Writers
- Alan Ball · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kevin Spacey · Lester Burnham; Annette Bening · Carolyn; Thora Birch · Jane; Mena Suvari · Angela Hayes; Wes Bentley · Ricky; Chris Cooper · Col. Frank Fitts; Peter Gallagher · Buddy Kane; Allison Janney · Barbara Fitts
- Genres
- black comedy; psychological drama
- Themes
- midlife crisis; suburban life; beauty in the mundane
- Tone and mood
- black comedy; psychological drama
- Premise and plot tags
- suburban; midlife crisis; romance
- Reception
- The film received widespread critical and popular acclaim, becoming the second-best-reviewed American film of 1999.
- Awards and nominations
- Oscar · Best Picture · won; Oscar · Best Director · won; Oscar · Best Actor · won; Oscar · Best Original Screenplay · won; Oscar · Best Cinematography · won; British Academy Film Award · Best Film · won; British Academy Film Award · Best Actor · won; British Academy Film Award · Best Actress · won; British Academy Film Award · Best Cinematography · won; British Academy Film Award · Best Film Music · won; British Academy Film Award · Best Editing · won
- Production trivia
- The film was the second-best-reviewed American film of 1999.; The character of Lester's physique was changed during filming to reflect his transformation.; Kirsten Dunst and Sarah Michelle Gellar were both offered the role of Angela Hayes but declined.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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