More than beauty in America

by Shanna Lynn Fanelli

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Admist the rumpled bed linens and tangled masses of dark locks, the charcoal-lined lids of a young teenage girl give confirmation and authority to the "yes" that rings from a mouth whose lips had just kissed virginity good-bye. With the fuzz and static that only a home video camera can do, the opening scene and following sequence of movie in "American Beauty" ushers the audience into a world that may be all too familiar in a frighteningly clear way.

Actions speak louder than words and "American Beauty" screams from the movie screen with a voice that will not be ignored. It's a plot whose umbilical cord feeds into each character, allowing the audience to vicariously struggle with the pursuit of happiness, taste the sweat of attaining self-fulfillment and smell the sweet smoke of illegal weed and fantasy-induced rose petals. Despite the moments that induce giggles, either amused, nervous or embarrassed, this is one movie whose roses definitely have their thorns.

It only comes about when your father is a lost loser who misplaced his reasons for existence some time back in the eighties. It happens when your mother is a shell of a human being obsessed with work, perfecting each detail of a routine called life with Martha Stewart abandon. It's when your best friend is a self-absorbed, model wannabe who talks like she's been there but really hasn't done that. What's an only child in her adolesant years to do?

''American Beauty" runs deeper than the nervous breakdowns and dysfunctional family situations that inevitably leads the characters to ride a downhill road to misery-ville. It's a shock wave of two-hour, in-your-face contemplations that force some very real, very ugly and very loud, seat shifting uncomfortableness. You walk away with a lot on your mind.

Go see "American Beauty." Really see it. If you must, watch it twice. It's not a pretty sight, but true beauty is only skin deep. And baby, this movie is just that.

''The only thing that I have to say about it is although the main character died at the end, it wasn't sad because he died happy and fulfilled." - Ben Lunn.

" Yeah, the dude died stoned and making it with a teenage chick, (thumbs up.)" - Chris Nielsen.

'This movie does not even compare to the great movie, the "Messenger," the Joan of Arc story. I think it is a shame that space is being wasted on this movie review." - Stephanie Masucci.

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Self-reclusion and a trust no-one Att-i-Tude of course. Add to that a passionate hook-up with the boy next door, whose main hobby is taping anything and everything while burning messages of love into turf and evading an abusive,

Whatever your thoughts are on the movie, "American Beauty," one thing is for certain. It's going to make you think. A lot.