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American Beauty

American Beauty is a 1999 American psychological dark comedy-drama film written by Alan Ball and directed by Sam Mendes in his feature directorial debut. 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. Annette Bening stars as Lester's materialistic wife, Carolyn, and Thora Birch plays their insecure daughter, Jane. Wes Bentley, Chris Cooper, and Allison Janney co-star. 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 and self-liberation.

Plot

Lester Burnham, a middle-aged media executive in suburbia, despises his job and is unhappily married to neurotic, status-obsessed Carolyn, a real estate salesperson. Their 16-year-old daughter and only child, Jane, resents her parents and has low self-esteem. Retired Marine colonel Frank Fitts, his near-catatonic wife Barbara, and their teenage son Ricky move in next door. Ricky documents the world around him with a camcorder, collecting recordings on videotape in his bedroom, as he finds beauty in unexpected places and things. To pay for supplies, he deals marijuana, using his part-time catering jobs as a front. A strict and abusive disciplinarian, Frank previously had Ricky sent to a psychiatric hospital and military school. Gay couple Jim Olmeyer and Jim Berkley, also neighbors, welcome the Fitts family, angering the homophobic Frank.

Awards

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    author
    award Academy Award for Best Actor Academy Award for Best Cinematography Academy Award for Best Director Academy Award for Best Picture Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay Amanda Award for Best Foreign Feature Film BAFTA Award for Best Film Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film National Board of Review Award for Best Film National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
    contentLocation California
    director Sam Mendes
    editor Christopher Greenbury Tariq Anwar
    events culture of the United States dysfunctional family role social convention virginity
    genre action comedy-drama romance
    keywords basketball game catatonic cheerlead clothe coach collect discover drive even family photograph fast food restaurant gay gay couple gun shooting homophobia homophobic kill marine married military academy military school murder new york city only child pontiac firebird psychiatric hospital real estate record retire shooting range smoke tease teenage son united states marine corps work out
    musicBy Thomas Newman
    nomination Academy Award for Best Actor Academy Award for Best Actress Academy Award for Best Cinematography Academy Award for Best Director Academy Award for Best Film Editing Academy Award for Best Original Score Academy Award for Best Picture Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay European Film Award for Best Non-European Film
    producer Bruce Cohen Dan Jinks
    productionCompany Jinks/Cohen Company
    publisher DreamWorks Pictures
    recordedAt Long Beach
    theme black comedy romantic drama satirical spy teen drama teen romance