Number 26

American Beauty (1999) - Sam Mendes

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Sam Roberts, Annette Bening
Director: Sam Mendes
Certificate:

American Beauty is a beautifully dark, funny look at the last moments in a bored man’s life.

It's a story about how a midlife crisis can utterly free a man.

Right from the opening scene we are told, by himself, that in less than a year Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) will be dead.

Straight away this is one of the things I loved about this film. You know the end right from the start. Just not the way it comes to be.

This leads you down a sometimes surreal path of funny shocking moments from a (we're told) normal life.

Complete with a hauntingly fitting yet seemingly out of place soundtrack.

And bam! You've got yourself a winner. A 5 time Oscar Winner.

If you haven't seen this film yet, do yourself a favour and watch it. You'll feel more complete as a person if you do.

4.5/5