From the middle-aged businessman (Kevin Spacey) forced to reevaluate his life, to the teens just on the verge of discovering who they might possibly be, this film is full of characters that actually interest you. What a concept in this day of digitally created characters and special effects.

Without revealing anything about the actual plot, let me tell you that "American Beauty" is a cautionary tale, told forthrightly and boldly. It deals with the desires, dreams, hopes, fears and fantasies of those around us on a daily basis; the secret lives of each of us; the uncharted territories of our souls that scare us for fear the water may be too deep. But fear not, fellow cinema goer, "American Beauty" is a film worth taking risks for. Go. Get your feet wet in this purifying bath of unparalleled filmaking.

From Annette Bening’s brilliant performance as yet another middle-ager uncovering who she really is, to the spectacular performances of Wes Bentley, as the weird-neighbor-boy, and Thora Birch, the cheerleader he has a trenchant for videotaping candidly, this film’s actors create a melange of characters that stand out far and above those of many offered to us by much more “accomplished” film makers. By no means, however, is Mendes inexperienced: his credits include the acclaimed Broadway revival of Cabaret and The Blue Room, with Nicole Kidman. He is known for being innovative and risk-taking, and thankfully, Mr. Mendes has not lost his edge in translating his vision to the screen.

The imagery that he uses: the flowing rose petals, the “dancing bag,” the rain-splattered windshields and those creepy Mr. Smiley bags in a certain actor’s hands as he grins behind them (to name just a few), show us a truly special director with a unique vision. Somehow managing to be seductive and repellent at once, Mendes offers his audience topics and vistas normally not found in your neighborhood movie house, yet manages to draw them in with apparent ease.

Kevin Spacey’s Oscar-caliber performance as the “creepy geek who squirts his shorts every time I bring a girlfriend home” father is unerring. His pent-up desires and frustrations from his life’s shortcomings are about to come to a head, and his family and those around him aren’t just swept up in the storm he creates, they add as much turbulence and eddies to the maelstrom themselves! The ensuing activities are unforgettable cinema that anyone with a mind for intriguing films should most certainly see. Peter Gallagher’s “real estate king” is another standout performance that deserves mentioning, but to pick any specific actors out of this cast is truly a shame, since this is one of the finest ensemble pieces of acting ever joined together on celluloid. A bold, bitter statement on our “family values,” "American Beauty" is a film not to be missed. But don’t expect to be happy about it.