American Beauty -- We Love This Movie

American Beauty is a 1999 American drama film, directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball. The film stars Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham, a middle-aged office worker who has a midlife crisis and becomes infatuated with his teenage daughter's best friend. Co-stars Annette Bening and Thora Birch play Lester's wife and daughter, respectively; Mena Suvari, Wes Bentley and Chris Cooper also feature. A satire of American middle class notions of beauty and personal satisfaction, the film explores materialism, conformity, sexuality and redemption. In 1998, DreamWorks acquired Ball's script for $250,000 after outbidding several other production entities. The studio financed the $15 million production and served as the North American distributor. Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen produced. American Beauty marked acclaimed theater director Mendes' film directorial debut; Mendes joined the production after 20 other directors were considered and several A-listers turned down the opportunity. It was also Ball's first produced film screenplay, after spending several years writing for television. As well as his professional frustrations, Ball cited the media circus around the Amy Fisher trial in 1992 as an influence on the story's genesis. An experienced playwright, Ball initially intended the story for the stage before recasting it for the screen.

Spacey was Mendes' first choice for the role of Lester, though DreamWorks had urged the director to consider better-known actors; similarly, the studio suggested several actors for the role of Carolyn?Lester's wife?until Mendes cast Bening without DreamWorks' knowledge. Principal photography took place between December 1998 and February 1999 on soundstages at the Warner Bros. backlot in Burbank, California and on location in Los Angeles. The film underwent several changes during editing that affected its tone and eliminated expository bookend scenes. American Beauty was positively received by critics and audiences alike; it was the best-reviewed American film of 1999 and grossed over $350 million worldwide. It won the 1999 Academy Award for Best Picture, and was nominated for and won numerous other awards and honors, mainly for the direction, writing, and acting.

Kevin Spacey (born July 26, 1959) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television. He gained critical acclaim in the early 1990s, culminating in his first Academy Award for The Usual Suspects (Best Supporting Actor), followed by a Best Actor Academy Award win for American Beauty (1999). His other starring roles in Hollywood include Seven, L.A. Confidential, Pay It Forward, and Superman Returns in a career which has eventually earned him Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Since 2003, he has been artistic director of the Old Vic theatre in London.

Annette Francine Bening (born May 29, 1958) is an American actress. Her break-through role in The Grifters was followed with critically acclaimed roles in films such as Bugsy and American Beauty. In 1992 she married American actor and director Warren Beatty, with whom she has four children.