Lester is informed by his supervisor that he is to be laid off Lester blackmails him into giving him an indulgent severance package and starts working at a drive-through restaurant. Carolyn begins an affair with married business rival Buddy Kane. He starts having sexual fantasies about her in which red rose petals are a recurring motif. Frank reveals his animus towards homosexuality later when angrily discussing the encounter with Ricky.ĭuring a dance routine at a school basketball game, Lester becomes infatuated with Jane's cheerleader friend, Angela.

Gay couple Jim Olmeyer and Jim Berkley, also neighbors to the Burnhams, welcome the Fitts family. Strict disciplinarian Frank has previously had Ricky committed to a psychiatric hospital and sent to military academy. Ricky documents the world around him with a camcorder, collecting recordings on videotape in his bedroom, while using his part-time catering jobs as a front for dealing cannabis.

Retired US Marine colonel Frank Fitts, his near-catatonic wife Barbara, and their teenage son Ricky move in next door. Their 16-year-old daughter, Jane, abhors her parents and has low self esteem. Middle-aged executive Lester Burnham hates his job and is unhappily married to neurotic and ambitious real estate broker Carolyn.

Retrospective reviews have been more negative, criticizing its screenplay, social commentary, and parallels between the film's protagonist and allegations of sexual misconduct against Spacey. The film was nominated for and won many other awards and honors, mainly for directing, writing, and acting. At the 72nd Academy Awards, the film won several Oscars, including Best Picture, along with Best Director for Mendes, Best Actor for Spacey, Best Original Screenplay for Ball and Best Cinematography for Hall. DreamWorks launched a major campaign to increase American Beauty 's chances of Oscar success following its controversial Best Picture snubs for Saving Private Ryan (1998) the previous year. Reviewers praised most aspects of the production, with particular emphasis on Mendes, Spacey and Ball criticism tended to focus on the familiarity of the characters and setting. Released in North America on September 17, 1999, American Beauty received widespread critical and popular acclaim it was the second-best-reviewed American film of the year behind Being John Malkovich and grossed over $350 million worldwide against its $15-million budget. Academics have described the film as satirizing how beauty and personal satisfaction are perceived by the American middle class further analysis has focused on the film's explorations of romantic and paternal love, sexuality, materialism, self-liberation, and redemption. Wes Bentley, Chris Cooper, and Allison Janney co-star. Annette Bening stars as Lester's materialistic wife, Carolyn, and Thora Birch plays their insecure daughter, Jane. Kevin Spacey stars as Lester Burnham, an advertising executive who has a midlife crisis when he becomes infatuated with his teenage daughter's best friend, played by Mena Suvari. American Beauty is a 1999 American black comedy-drama film written by Alan Ball and directed by Sam Mendes in his directorial debut.

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