Wikipedia:Today's featured article/March 26, 2010

American Beauty is a 1999 drama film directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball. Kevin Spacey stars as Lester Burnham, a middle-aged office worker who has a midlife crisis when he becomes infatuated with his daughter's best friend; Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Wes Bentley, Chris Cooper and Allison Janney also feature. Described as a satire of American notions of beauty and personal satisfaction, the film explores themes of romantic and paternal love, sexuality, beauty, materialism, self-liberation and redemption. American Beauty was Mendes' film directorial debut and Ball's first film screenplay. DreamWorks bought his spec script for $250,000 and financed the $15 million production. Courted by the studio after a run of successful theater productions, Mendes was nevertheless only given the job after several "A-list" directors turned it down. Released in late 1999, American Beauty was the best-reviewed American film of the year and grossed over $350 million worldwide. At the 2000 Academy Awards, the film won five of its eight nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (for Spacey). The film was nominated for and won many other awards and honors, mainly for the direction, writing and acting. (more...)

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