American Beauty

The ads for this flick looked interesting enough, but I was not prepared for the movie I saw. Right from the start, you can tell this movie is going to be odd. But not even my twisted little mind saw all the turns in this little puppy's plot. The center of the story is an average (?) suburban family and the dynamics of their relationships with each other and those around them. Spacey sets the pace for the whole movie in the first two minutes, and where it goes from there leaves you puzzled, confused, and riveted.
Spacey lusts after his daughter's friend, who would like to shag him, too. Benning is too wrapped up in her career for anything else, except maybe a fling that will help her to rise to the top. Their daughter is a goth who just wants out of the house. The new neighbor, an ex-marine, and his family make the Addams family preferential for the next-door residents.
This movie is a classic way to show people who like each other how not to act around each other. Throughout the movie, you dislike almost all the characters at one point or another. But that is just a tribute to the excellent performances they all give. Benning is really the intensity in this movie, but there's no denying the rest of the cast step up to the plate. Spacey especially comes through with a dynamic character that you get to like more and more as time passes.
The key to this movie is the ending. You may think you've got things figured out about five minutes before the film ends, but last minute twists really add flavor and a memorable finish to an oddly presented story of dark humor. My opinion: see it. I can't guarantee you'll like it, but it will leave a mark with you.

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