★Fun Fun FACTORY★

　　一直想看一直错过的名片，嗯，不亏是当年的最佳影片，故事讲得非常顺，也是个看似死亡作为结尾，却有个要好好活下去的中心。Kevin Spacey还得了最佳男主角，从平庸的中产阶级无用男到为了追求不可能的对象而奋进的肌肉男，确实是飞跃性的。最后死亡的独白突然有种美恐凶宅的感觉：被杀不会怨恨，回忆的都是美好。

　　典型的住在郊区的中产阶级Burnham家，有没用的公司职员父亲Lester，强势的房产中介母亲Carolyn，以及处于成长微妙期间的高中生女儿Jane。隔壁有一对Gay情侣，还有新搬来的军人Fitts一家。在观看女儿的啦啦队表演时，Lester迷上了啦啦队女孩Angela，各种幻想，就是海报上著名的果女与花瓣。听说Angela喜欢肌肉男，Lester突然有了重新塑造自己的动力，加上公司正裁员，狠狠敲了一笔之后离职了，在快餐店找了份打工，开始了新生活。而隔壁管得很严的Frank却有个爱拍录像像个变态的儿子Ricky，被Lester发现在卖大麻，成了买家。Ricky骗过父亲的尿检，还赚了不少钱，却迷恋上了偷拍Jane。在Angela的鼓励下，Jane开始同Ricky接触，发现人其实蛮可靠的，两个自觉是不正常的怪少年开始正式男女朋友关系了。Carolyn觉得老公渐渐不受控制，还自X，更是大吵一架。不过自己也跟房产中介之王Buddy搞外遇，还在快餐店被抓奸了，但Lester却一脸不在乎了……Buddy当然不想离婚的，马上找借口结束了关系。

　　Frank发现儿子不太正常，偷偷看到了Ricky去Lester家，误以为儿子是卖身……痛打了Ricky之后，Ricky干脆认了，离家出走，并要带走Jane，Jane在临走之时，称Angela不过也是无聊的普通人。Frank伤心之余，找到Lester求安慰，居然kiss，原来是隐藏的Gay啊，还咒过隔壁那对……不过Lester推开了，称被误会了。Angela诱惑了Lester，总算追到不可能的对象之后，Lester却因为Angela是处女而停手了，还安慰了姑娘……正巧处于她成长的微妙时间点上，Lester还是很清醒的，但当他走过走廊，却被一枪爆头了。愤怒回家的Carolyn躲在橱里哭，想通了的Ricky和Jane发现的尸体。不过下手的应该是Frank，浑身是血地回家，并且他的收藏里少了把枪……Lester在死亡一瞬间回忆了美好的事物，并说虽然死了却很快乐，因为世上美好的事物那么多……

以上

American Beauty (1999 film) 美国丽人

American Beauty is a 1999 American drama film, directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball. Kevin Spacey stars as Lester Burnham, an office worker who has a midlife crisis when he becomes infatuated with his teenage daughter's best friend, Angela (Mena Suvari). Annette Bening co-stars as Lester's materialistic wife, Carolyn, and Thora Birch plays their insecure daughter, Jane. Wes Bentley, Chris Cooper and Allison Janney also feature. The film has been described by academics as a satire of American middle class notions of beauty and personal satisfaction; analysis has focused on the film's explorations of romantic and paternal love, sexuality, beauty, materialism, self-liberation, and redemption.

Ball began writing American Beauty as a play in the early 1990s, partly inspired by the media circus around the Amy Fisher trial in 1992. He shelved the play after realizing the story would not work on stage. After several years as a television screenwriter, Ball revived the idea in 1997 when attempting to break into the film industry. The modified script had a cynical outlook that was influenced by Ball's frustrating tenures writing for several sitcoms. Producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen took American Beauty to DreamWorks; the then-fledgling film studio bought Ball's script for $250,000, outbidding several other production bodies. DreamWorks financed the $15 million production and served as its North American distributor. American Beauty marked acclaimed theater director Mendes' film debut; courted after his successful productions of the musicals Oliver! and Cabaret, Mendes was nevertheless only given the job after twenty others were considered and several "A-list" directors turned down the opportunity.

Spacey was Mendes' first choice for the role of Lester, even though DreamWorks had urged the director to consider better-known actors; similarly, the studio suggested several actors for the role of Carolyn until Mendes offered the part to 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. Mendes' dominant style was deliberate and composed; he made extensive use of static shots and slow pans and zooms to generate tension. Cinematographer Conrad Hall complemented Mendes' style with peaceful shot compositions to contrast with the turbulent on-screen events. During editing, Mendes made several changes that gave the film a less cynical tone than the script.

Released in North America on September 15, 1999, American Beauty was positively received by critics and audiences; it was the best-reviewed American film of the year and grossed over $350 million worldwide. Reviewers praised most aspects of the production, with particular emphasis on Mendes, Spacey and Ball; criticism focused on the familiarity of the characters and setting. DreamWorks launched a major campaign to increase American Beauty‍ 's chances of Academy Award success; at the 72nd Academy Awards the following year, the film won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (for Spacey), Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography. It was nominated for and won many other awards and honors, mainly for the direction, writing and acting.

Storyline

Lester and Carolyn Burnham are on the outside, a perfect husband and wife, in a perfect house, in a perfect neighborhood. But inside, Lester is slipping deeper and deeper into a hopeless depression. He finally snaps when he becomes infatuated with one of his daughter's friends. Meanwhile, his daughter Jane is developing a happy friendship with a shy boy-next-door named Ricky, who lives with an abusive father. Written by Jessie Skinner <eietherbinge@hotmail.com>

CAST

Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham

Annette Bening as Carolyn Burnham

Mena Suvari as Angela Hayes

Thora Birch as Jane Burnham

Wes Bentley as Ricky Fitts

Chris Cooper as Col. Frank Fitts

Allison Janney as Barbara Fitts

Peter Gallagher as Buddy Kane

STAFF

Directed by Sam Mendes

Produced by Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks

Written by Alan Ball

Music by Thomas Newman

Cinematography: Conrad Hall

Edited by Tariq Anwar, Christopher Greenbury

Production company: Jinks/Cohen Company

Distributed by DreamWorks Pictures

Release dates: September 8, 1999 (Los Angeles premiere), September 17, 1999 (United States, limited)

Running time: 121 minutes

Country: United States

Language: English

Budget: $15 million

Box office: $356,296,601