Critic Reviews

American Beauty (1999) Rank 2 Reviews

Expert Review Summary

Movie critics combined give American Beauty (1999) a score of 3.3941 out of 4

based on (357) reviews

Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating

Excellent

(190)

Very Good

(149)

Good

(11)

Fair

(7)

Poor

(0)

Reviews by Score:

ShowBIZ Data (--)

...read the complete American Beauty movie review at ShowBIZ Data (--)

Jam! Movies (Bob Thompson)

Moves from mirthful to moody and to downright overwrought near the climax. ...read the complete American Beauty movie review at Jam! Movies (Bob Thompson)

Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)

There is nothing beautiful in this American Beauty . ...read the complete American Beauty movie review at Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)

eFilmCritic (Jack Sommersby)

Kevin Spacey's wonderful performance as a frustrated suburbanite looking to reinvent his pathetic, docile existence is the only valid reason to expose yourself to something as annoyingly overstated and criminally overrated as American Beauty. Spacey's ...read the complete American Beauty movie review at eFilmCritic (Jack Sommersby)

DVD Journal

Kevin Spacey (he won an Oscar) stars as Lester Burnham, a burned-out copywriter treading water in the suffocating mid-life dysfunction of placid suburbia. His wife (Annette Bening â�� also a winner) is a shrill, hysterical harpy, equal parts Martha ...read the complete American Beauty movie review at DVD Journal

THE WEEKLY MOVIE REVIEW

In the film, there are no truly likable characters, except for maybe Kevin Spacey, but even thatâ��s a stretch. I donâ��t consider becoming a self-centered, dope smoker a real plus. And I didnâ��t buy his characterâ��s quick turnaround at the end either. ...read the complete American Beauty movie review at THE WEEKLY MOVIE REVIEW

Draxblog Movie Reviews

The script, written by Alan Ball, chronicles the last year in life of Lester Durnham (played by Kevin Spacey), 42-year old man who becomes increasingly unhappy with his life in seemingly idyllic middle-class suburb. He is becoming estranged from his ...read the complete American Beauty movie review at Draxblog Movie Reviews

UTK Daily Beacon (Nick Tipton)

A family of three - one happy dad, mom and daughter - in a big white house with a pretty red door in the "ideal" family neighborhood. Look closer. Dad is in a constant, deep depression. Mom displays a constant perfect image on the outside when she ...read the complete American Beauty movie review at UTK Daily Beacon (Nick Tipton)

Off-screen

Basterebbe questa frase e il giudizio sul film sarebbe risolto. Ma il melodramma American Beauty Ã¨ appunto un melodramma e propria di questo genere, ibrido figliastro tormentato del cinema, Ã¨ la capacitÃ di mischiare le carte e di far apparire â��oro ...read the complete American Beauty movie review at Off-screen

Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)

Presents problems for parents: one hero is an unpunished drug dealer, another a successful blackmailer. One father is a murderer; one mother catatonic, another an adulteress. ...read the complete American Beauty movie review at Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)

James Bowman

Follow your bliss, middle-aged America! Quit your job, speak your mind, buy that muscle car youâ��ve always wanted. Start smoking pot again. Buff up and start an affair with a teenage girl. You may die for it, but you will die happy. Where have we ...read the complete American Beauty movie review at James Bowman