573. American Beauty (1999)

*The Warlock is in The Grand Wizard’s Palace. He’s wearing a black tuxedo and Gargoyle shades while holding a glass of Pepsi*

Wa: Welcome to my my father’s palace…welcome I don’t think so, but enter. Enter the palace if you dare. I’m your host The Warlock.

*Neyzor Blades is next to Warlock wearing standard attire*

N: Not the same. Its not your lair.

W: Yeah I know.

*The Grand Wizard is on his throne*

Wi: Get on with it.

Wa: Welcome back to Oscar’s Month here at Warlock’s Movie Realm. Tonight’s movie is something I’ve not only never seen before but haven’t even seen a clip. My mother claims its amazing but I’ll have to see it for myself. The winner of Best Picture of 1999, the drama known as AMERICAN BEAUTY. First the accolades, Kevin Spacey won Best Actor, Annette Bening was nominated for Best Actress, the movie won Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay, Sam Mendes won Best Director plus it was nominated for Best Editing and Best Original Score. Now for the competition, AMERICAN BEAUTY beat out The Cider House Rules, The Green Mile, The Insider and The Sixth Sense. Other movies that weren’t nominated include The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Matrix, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Toy Story 2, Fight Club, The Mummy, Star Wars: Episode 1 and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. That’s a tall order for AMERICAN BEAUTY because I love most of the movies that weren’t nominated and The Green Mile was amazing. I know someday I’ll dive into the IMDB Bottom 100 but AMERICAN BEAUTY is rated #60 on the IMDB Top 100, so at least it should be watchable.

N: This movie is supposed to be intense.

W: So what’s this mystical beast that beat out Green Mile and South Park about? Kevin Spacey falls for his daughter’s best friend….yeah, that’s the plot. I have no idea why this movie is rated as high as it is but I’m going to find out I guess. This is going to have to stun me in order for it to be better than the two movies I just mentioned. Who knows, it may just do it. So grab your popcorn, grab your drink and grab your woman because its time for AMERICAN BEAUTY.

Written by Alan Ball

Directed by Sam Mendes

Cast:

Kevin Spacey	…	Lester Burnham
	Annette Bening	…	Carolyn Burnham
	Thora Birch	…	Jane Burnham
	Wes Bentley	…	Ricky Fitts
	Mena Suvari	…	Angela Hayes
	Peter Gallagher	…	Buddy Kane
	Allison Janney	…	Barbara Fitts
	Chris Cooper	…	Colonel Fitts
	Scott Bakula	…	Jim Olmeyer
	Sam Robards	…	Jim Berkley
	Barry Del Sherman	…	Brad
	Ara Celi	…	Sale House Woman #1
	John Cho	…	Sale House Man #1
	Fort Atkinson	…	Sale House Man #2
	Sue Casey	…	Sale House Woman #2
	Kent Faulcon	…	Sale House Man #3
	Brenda Wehle	…	Sale House Women #4
	Lisa Cloud	…	Sale House Women #4
	Alison Faulk	…	Spartanette #1
	Krista Goodsitt	…	Spartanette #2
	Lily Houtkin	…	Spartanette #3
	Carolina Lancaster	…	Spartanette #4
	Mona Leah	…	Spartanette #5 (as Romana Leah)
	Chekesha Van Putten	…	Spartanette #6 (as Chekesa Van Putten)
	Emily Zachary	…	Spartanette #7
	Nancy Anderson	…	Spartanette #8
	Reshma Gajjar	…	Spartanette #9
	Stephanie Rizzo	…	Spartanette #10
	Heather Joy Sher	…	Playground Girl #1
	Chelsea Hertford	…	Playground Girl #2
	Amber Smith	…	Christy Kane
	Joel McCrary	…	Catering Boss
	Marissa Jaret Winokur	…	Mr. Smiley’s Counter Girl (Janine)
	Dennis Anderson	…	Mr. Smiley’s Manager
	Matthew Kimbrough	…	Firing Range Attendant
	Erin Cathryn Strubbe	…	Young Jane
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Thomas J Armstrong	…	Sale House Man #3 (uncredited)
	Bruce Cohen	…	Bartender (uncredited)
	Elaine Corral Kendall	…	Newscaster (uncredited)
	David C. Fisher	…	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
	James Hunter	…	Student (uncredited)
	Tom Miller	…	Advertising Executive (uncredited)
	Ronald Reagan	…	President Ronald Reagan (archive footage) (uncredited)

*Wizard reads the tag-line*

Wi: “A sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter’s best friend.”

Wa: THAT’S the plot???