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American Beauty [2000]

starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari
directed by: Sam Mendes

Release Date November 27, 2000
Lester Burnham's (Spacey) life is reawaken when he meets Angela Hayes (Suvari).

This 1999 Oscar winning picture is regarded as Mendes' finest and with a fine realistic styled direction it is easy to see why.

Dramas can often be ruined when a can of clichés is opened but Mendes keeps a grounded direction all the way through and uses a variety of techniques to achieve the ultimate shocking effect. From a simple but effective sweeping shot of the suburban residency to the artistic and now infamous fantasy sequences, Mendes maintains the realism in the film's context.

Alan Ball's Oscar winning script is superb. The conciseness of the character's lives is easy and relaxing to watch which, given the complexity ... Read More: