Marking the feature film directorial debut of award-winning theatre director Sam Mendes, this funny, moving and shocking journey through life in suburban America follows the trials and tribulations of Lester (Kevin Spacey) and Carolyn (Annette Bening), an upper-middle class couple whose marriage -- and lives -- are slowly unraveling. Lester's wife hates him, his daughter Jane regards him with contempt, and his boss is positioning him for the ax. So Lester decides to make a few changes in his life; the freer he gets, the happier he gets, which is even more maddening to his wife and daughter. But Lester is about to learn that the ultimate freedom comes at the ultimate price.

From beginning to startling end, American Beauty has been deemed a "flat-out masterpiece" that will entertain and challenge audiences to ...look closer for years to come.