American Beauty represents the potential of American film. An intelligent, suspenseful, funny, charming, and intensely significant character driven movie, American Beauty shines. Its poignant and accurate portrayal of all the facets of suburbia in an American microcosm, the film explores self-knowledge and the transformation of self as well as smoking pot at 40. American Beauty is Sam Mendes' masterpiece. I would love to single out Kevin Spacey's absolutely masterful performance, but the truth is that every character deserved an Oscar. It should be required for every American to see this movie. Particularly as a teen, the portrayal of what it means to come of age (and back again) is brilliant. The power of the movie lies in its ability to take countless themes and ideas and piece them together as one. You will never think about your life in the same way again.