American Classic
Almost a decade after seeing this in theaters, this pointed, funny, and moving Best Picture winner still packs a wallop. Director Sam Mendes and writer Alan Ball, along with ace support from the rest of the crew and an A-list cast have crafted a reflection, homage and lyrical-satircal take on American suburbia. In a glance, it's about an everyday dissatisfied husband and wife, their normal teenage daughter, the world they live in, and the events that lead up to one tragic conclusion we see time and again on the local news. What's fantastic here is the intelligence and empathy of the story. In a way, the movie's an exaggerated look at all our lives and our absurd, messy and thoroughly human predicaments. The film took home 5 Oscars (Best Pic, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography), and at the time, had its fans and detractors, some of whom thought the whole thing was overly stylized. The movie's tag line says it all. Take a closer look. There's a lot to see.