American Beauty

Sam Mendes made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed box office success American Beauty (1999). It won the Golden Globe Award, the BAFTA Award and the Academy Award for the Best Picture. The film has a very basic story line it involves Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father whose having a mid life crisis and is out of love with his wife, a man who decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his teenage daughters attractive school friend. Written by Alan Ball, who is also credited with writing and directing episodes of the HBO series True Blood and Six Foot Under, it’s a story of middle class America searching for the meaning of life. Exceptionally well made, superbly acted and subtly humorous.