American Beauty

Noted theater director Sam Mendes, who was responsible for the acclaimed 1998 revival of Cabaret and Nicole Kidman's turn in the Blue Room, made his motion picture debut with this film about the dark side of an American family, and about the nature and price of beauty in a culture obsessed with outward appearances. Kevin Spacey plays Lester Burnham, a man in his mid-40s going through an intense midlife crisis; he's grown cynical and is convinced that he has no reason to go on. Lester's relationship with his wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) is not a warm one; while on the surface Carolyn strives to present the image that she's in full control of her life, inside she feels empty and desperate. Their teenage daughter Jane (Thora Birch) is constantly depressed, lacking in self-esteem, and convinced that she's unattractive. Her problems aren't helped by her best friend Angela (Mena Suvari), an aspiring model who is quite beautiful and believes that that alone makes her a worthwhile person. Jan.

Director: Sam Mendes
Producer: Bruce Cohen
Producer: Dan Jinks
Actor: Annette Bening
Actor: Chris Cooper
Actor: Mena Suvari
Actor: Thora Birch
Actor: Wes Bentley
Actor: Kevin Spacey
Actor: Allison Janney
Actor: Peter Gallagher
Actor: Sam Robards
Actor: Scott Bakula