American Beauty
1999, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari

This was a movie that at the time I would not have rushed out to see of my own accord. Free tickets swayed my hand and I was so glad I took them up, because this proved one of those films that etched an impression into me.

The premise is simple – American couple with teenage child, marriage has gone sour and throughout the film crumbles away as the husband, Kevin Spacey, suddenly discovers he can still enjoy life (male view), experiences a mid-life crisis (female view). Splitting opinions along the male/female line is a major theme throughout this movie.

It’s also a film full of sub-plots, and in some ways I think even Spacey’s obsession with his daughter’s seemingly somewhat promiscuous friend is a sub-plot. Add in a seriously dysfunctional set of neighbours and a somewhat shocking ending (even though Spacey all but tells you about it in the first line of the film) and you have two hours you’ll want to see again. Excellent.