American Sublime
Rating: 10 of 10 
At first, the story seemed to be satirical somehow, comedic even, and such moments are spread throughout the whole piece, the danger seeming unreal, the dissolving of the family rather told in a matter-of-fact style. In repeating a scene from the relative end of the movie right in the beginning, a kind of tension is created: By the story not seeming to arrive at such a point, and when it does, doing it rather differently than expected, this prolepsis adds to the weird atmosphere.
Kevin Spacey is even better than usual, outdoing the rest of the cast a bit, but that doesn't affect the harmony of the story as it is centered around his very character. Nobody and nothing in this movie is what it seems, and the direction provides some interesting aspects. Visually, the movie is interesting to say the least. Beautiful images and imaginative shots add to the title of the film in a manner which is decent and subtle, not a bit overblown, no cheap effects.
The retrospective narration, seen from the main character after his death adds an additional twist to the story. Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) re-discovers his life after having retreated into a virtual stasis, into a life devoid of all mystery and happiness. Just seeing his daughter's classmate, Angela, he refurnishes his life and reclaims inner peace - while around him everything is falling apart. When he dies, there is no sadness nor remorse nor fear nor anger: How can there be such things "with all the beauty in the world". Somehow, this movie puts things into another perspective, takes the focus away from all the little worries and perturbations of life. Why do we all the time consider ourselves to be so important anyway?
February 15th, 2000
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