American Beauty

American Beauty is a 1999 drama film that explores themes of romantic and paternal love, freedom, sexuality, beauty, self-liberation, existentialism, the search for happiness, and family against the backdrop of modern American suburbia. The film was the screen debut for writer Alan Ball and director Sam Mendes and starred Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening; all four were nominated for Oscars. In 2000 it won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) is a 42-year-old man living in the suburbs. His wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) is an ambitious realtor; his daughter Jane (Thora Birch) is an average teenager but is unhappy with her physical appearance.

Dissatisfied with his average life and sexually frustrated by his wife, Lester finds motivation for transforming himself after meeting Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari), Jane's best friend and classmate. Angela, a beautiful, confident, and supposedly promiscuous cheerleader who aspires to be a model, captivates Lester the moment he sees her perform a school dance routine, and he develops an obvious crush on her, much to Jane's embarrassment. Angela, however, finds Lester "sweet" and later comments to Jane that if he were more muscular, she would have sex with him, which Lester overhears. He starts an intensive workout regimen.

Meanwhile, Colonel Frank Fitts, USMC (Chris Cooper), his emotionally-detached wife Barbara (Allison Janney), and their introspective, drug-dealing son Ricky (Wes Bentley) moves next door to the Burnhams. Jane begins to notice Ricky videotaping her through her bedroom window, which secretly flatters her.