American Beauty is a 1999 American black comedy-drama film written by Alan Ball and directed by Sam Mendes. The film stars Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari, and Chris Cooper. It tells the story of Lester Burnham (Spacey), a middle-aged father who becomes infatuated with his daughter's best friend, Angela Hayes (Suvari), and begins to re-evaluate his life.
American Beauty was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $350 million worldwide against a production budget of $15 million. It received eight nominations at the 72nd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Spacey), Best Supporting Actor (Cooper), and Best Supporting Actress (Bening), and won five, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing.
The film has been praised for its performances, direction, writing, and cinematography, but it has also been criticized for its dark and disturbing themes, including infidelity, sexual abuse, and drug use. As a result, some parents may be concerned about whether or not American Beauty is appropriate for their children to watch.
American Beauty Parents Guide
Important Points:
- Sexual Content: Strong
- Nudity: Brief
- Drug Use: Frequent
- Violence: Moderate
- Language: Strong
- Themes: Dark and Disturbing
- Overall Rating: R
Parents should be aware that American Beauty is a film with mature themes and content that is not suitable for younger children.