Cinema Montreal

My favourite movie of all time. It has been for almost 10 years. It, to me, is a perfect movie.

It was a good movie I could watch a few times, great lines and scenes as well as cast. That said, I don't know if it will go down in history as one of the stronger oscar winners, but it's really fun to watch.

Kevin Spacey's marvelous acting makes u feel that the movie is extraordinary. He did a splendid job. I became a great fan to him after watching this movie. His acting was cool... and nothing special abt the movie.

A story within a story--- I saw this a few years ago now --- but the family problems are the same.

I thought that this movie was fantastic. The way in which it was filmed was beautiful and; as always; casting Kevin Spacey was the perfect choice. He always portrays his characters in such a way that he makes you believe that he IS that person and not an actor playing a role.

This movie will indeed go down in history as a masterpiece. LOVED ITS witty humor and painful reality of unfulfilled desires, repressed needs and shattered hopes. If you haven't seen it... Where have you been? It's a must see.

Hey I would play in that movie any day! Hihihihi! LOVED Spacey ever since I watch that movie!

This movie is a master piece! It is so thoughtful, humorous, and hurtfully true. I love it so much I am glad I own it because I never get tired of watching it everytime I watch it see more and more why I love it so much.

A masterpiece. That's it. For once, a hollowood movie deserved the 5 oscars it got.

[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
I enjoyed the movie and even though I must have read the reviews when it first came out, I felt the characters tried to cope with life in their own way. Who is to say which was the right way? Big houses, important jobs should not take preidence over family caring. Even though the families handled life from different angles. Who was right or wrong and Keven Spacy did not have to die to make a point. Wasn't he going to try to put his life, his children and son's life back together?

If you did not understand this movie watch it over- and over. It is worth it. If you still don't understand the complexity of this masterpiece; you will always have Disney to fall back on. (! ) a true classic, probably the best movie produced the last 40 years. How can anything of today reflect on all aspects of society better than american beauty does? I enjoyed both Spacey and benning, but as a teenager, it was the excellent view on Birch, Bentley and Suvari's characters that really caught me. Nothing short of brilliant!

It's the type of film where you either love it or hate it; understand the message at hand, or get lost and find it stupid. Its my all-time favorite movie and it has really made me think about what is beneat the surface in many aspects of life. Kevin Spacey does an especially great job as Lester Burnham, and the rest of the cast as well, is awesome. It is full of black humor, witty dialogue and narration. It is spectacular and nothing I say will do it justice, just see it and think for yourself!

I thought that it was a great movie, makes you think. It is a little weird but interesting.

Acting - 9.2 entertaining - 9.0 originality - 9.4.

Wow, thats all I can really say!

Either the story-line sucks or not. Kevin Spacey has an amazing/powerful presence on screen that obligates you to watch.

An excellent look at the dysfunctional family.

[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
Just when I thought classic and timeless films were a thing of the past, along comes American Beauty. This is a slice of Americana that George Bush wants to hide from us. This is the modern Greek tragedy. There is the intact anti-hero in the character of Kevin Spacey, who gives his most remarkable performance ever, and all the other characters that surround him are all purposefully and poetically there to contribute to an impeccable climax. This is not a movie about a dysfunctional family. The term dysfunctional would alienate them as one in a very few families. In fact, every character in the movie is dysfunctional. So it is either the story of Lester Burnham's average family, or of a dysfunctional society---probably both. The greatest thing about this movie is that it tells its story in spite of Hollywood. It is so surprising that it got nominated in so many categories for the mere fact that it is so anti-Hollywood. Our main character has a mid-life crisis which leads him into doing activities deemed normal for his situation. We see the world through his eyes, as he narrates the story to us. We also veer away from his narration and get a glimpse of the world which he feels so uncomfortable in. We sympathise with Lester. After all, his wife is a bitch, his neighbour is an as****le, and so many others are playing their prescribed roles. He is sick of not being himself from the minute he was born until now. And we see that he is the most honest person in the film. Honesty and truth are two things that we need to hide in order to have any power in this world. Lester weakens in the eyes of everyone, yet he is so much more powerful in his eyes---and ours. But he is not a hero. He is quite flawed. And his feelings and desires are skewed sometimes due to his decades of repression. Lester finds his epiphany a bit too late. Although, when we hear him narrating the movie, we know he is happy and that he will not diaappoint himself at the end. This is a film of emotions. It also shows us that perhaps it is better to hide our emotions. Revealing may be hazardous to our health. There has not been a film as good as this since American Beauty came out and I have placed it on my top ten all-time greatest movies list.

All I can say is "You won awards for that".

Fantastic film. Spacey is amazing.

It's a master piece, really this movie is a excellent prove of the beauty of things... Thomas Newman and Sam Mendes the BESTS in Hollywood...

I missed seeing this movie in the theatres and so just saw it on DVD. I thought the movie was absolutely one of the best I've ever seen. Having lived in America for a number of years before "coming to my senses" and returning to Canada (Canada rocks!), I can see so many of the subtle details of the movie as being reflective of actual life in America today, which thankfully have not yet penetrated the Canadian mainstream way of life. Don't get me wrong -- Americans are not all leading these kind of strange life, but there is definitely a different culture and attitudes in the U. S. as compared to Canada, even though outwardly our cultures appear very similar. Excellent film, unexpected ending, great acting (with the exception of Benning, who was lacking focus in my opinion), and overall mesmerizing to watch. A must-see in my opinion.

An instant masterpiece! The originality of the scenario is amazing! A very nice artistic movie!

It was one of the best thrillers I've ever seen!

Kevin Spacey at his best.

I did not undedrstand the movie at all and it was not interesting from the begining itself. I have not paid much attention while watching this movie. It was boring to me. I don't no what it will be to others.

Pretty good movie.

John Spacey: talking in a monotone and moving your eyes with a slight headshake for 2 1/2 hours is not acting. To the people who praise this film: please watch something that was not made to sell to people wanting to be deep. It is an insulting arthouse imitation and while some ideas were good it is a laugh and a half. Please think if you do watch it- don't let it spell out the meaning for you.

Started out really good. Kept you interested until the end which sucked. Acting was very good. Great story but it seemed like they ran out of time and just ended it. Ending ruined movie.

Intellectually challenging and fun to watch at the same time. A great combination.

Amazing, one of the best, artistic, and sterling performances from Spacey, Benning. I can watch this over and over.

Excellent drama, probably the best I've seen in years. I enjoyed how unpredictable the end was. Also it really had a lot to say about how beautiful life really is if you 'look closer', while at the same time demonstrating how cynical and desperate people can be. I thought Kevin Spacey really did an awesome acting job in this one. One reason is because he goes against all norms that we expect from current movies. Truly a masterpiece.

Brilliant direction, fascinating script, appropriate actors; all in all, a real winner. American beauty is my all time favorite film.

Brilliant storytelling. Challenges our traditional notion of a "happy ending".

Our whole family agreed this was the best movie we've seen for years! Sad, weird; with realism, fantasy. Its thought -provoking. Not for the narrow-minded. Definitely deserved the Academy award.

I love it! It's one of my favorite movie. It's so sad but it's still pretty funny.

The actors and actresses in this movie did an excellent job, though I personally did not like the plot. I felt it was very demeaning to males in midlife!

A little out of the ordinary, but entertaining never the less.

[ATTENTION: This review reveals content of the movie.]
A classic, there are many comments that highlight the pluses of this movie. I would only add that the movie strikes a chord in so many different ways in confronting our fake suburban societies and pseudo external happiness. From a 12 step perspective I find it interesting that almost all the characters found sincerity and happiness/enlightment only after letting it all go after a personal tragedy including Lester who obvioulsy was sincerely happy the moment before he was killed. What do we want? Why can't we recognize the beauty of this world in it's simpliest forms and waste so much time and pain on the external things that control and ruin us?

While the story was different, very interesting, I found it shocking that adults would rave about a movie showing an aging old pervert lusting after a LITTLE GIRL! This is the kind of movie that would have one blaming any relationship that might result on the flirtaious child, ignoring her infatuation or other immature reasons for paying the slighest attention to this old goat. The rest was great! The sex scene between the two adults was fine!.. but I guess the nudity and young child/old goat relationsship is what drew people to the movie... what a perverted society. (I went on a free pass and had no idea...)

Absoultely amazing movie!! If you haven't seen it yet, hurry up and watch it! And don't forget to "look closer"...

I never felt so ripped off after attending a movie! I still can't believe there was any hype about this movie that accomplished nothing. It's one of those non sense movies that tries to pretend it is there to make you think but yet all the while it is really going no where... This movie was so predictable- but then again what else could you expect from a movie so full of Cliches. You had the psycho who is homophobic because he doesn’t want to deal with his own gay feelings, too many suburbia cliches, army stereotypes, the white picket fence, the blond cheerleader, the superficial Rich people Cliches, the list is enormous. Besides that- the acting was nothing spectacular, most people in the theatre couldn't figure out if Annette Bening was trying to laugh or cry at one point. There was absolutely Zero character development. Infact these were the most one dimensional characters I have ever seen. The most deep moment in this movie was watching a plastic bag float around in the wind. Whatever message this film was trying to convey- it did a poor job. We already know things aren’t what they seem in life and that suburbia isn’t perfect. This movie is so shallow that the depth it trys to portrait really doesn’t work. If you feel like watching a movie about a man going through a mid life crisis who deals with it by smoking pot and trying to have sex with an underage girl this movie is for you! I expected something this trashy from Hollywood, I’m just a little surprised at the Oscars.

I thought this movie was excellent and worthy of the acclaim it received.

I really don't get the hype that was made over this movie. It was enjoyable enough but nothing extraordinary.

An excellent artistic look at man's struggle with demons of mid-life crisis. It made me uncomfortable. Which means it had real value. I’d see it again.

An exceptional movie! Well deserving of all the attention it received. Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening play a married couple going through a mid-life crisis in their marriage as well as personally. Scott Bakula (Enterprise) plays one half of a gay couple living next door, although not explored as much as I would have liked, the irony is they seem to have the perfect "marriage" that Keving Spacey is seeking. A must see movie of our generation!!

A very entertaining movie, but not as good as I was expecting after all the hype it received!

Very good movie.. far from boring. The ending was quite surprising. Highly recommended.