 Turan cited Ball 's lack of constraint when writing the film as the reason for its uniqueness , in particular the script 's subtle changes in tone . McCarthy said the script was " as fresh and distinctive " as any of its American film contemporaries , and praised how it analyzed the characters while not compromising narrative pace . He called Ball 's dialogue " tart " and said the characters — Carolyn excepted — were " deeply drawn " . One other flaw , McCarthy said , was the revelation of Col. Fitts ' homosexuality , which he said evoked " hoary Freudianism " . Jackson said the film transcended its clichéd setup to become a " wonderfully resourceful and sombre comedy " . He said that even when the film played for sitcom laughs , it did so with " unexpected nuance " . Hentzi criticized how the film made a mystery of Lester 's murder , believing it manipulative and simply a way of generating suspense . McCarthy cited the production and costume design as pluses , and said the soundtrack was good at creating " ironic counterpoint [ s ] " to the story . Hentzi concluded that American Beauty was " vital but uneven " ; he felt the film 's examination of " the ways which teenagers and adults imagine each other 's lives " was its best point , and that although Lester and Angela 's dynamic was familiar , its romantic irony stood beside " the most enduring literary treatments " of the theme , such as Lolita . Nevertheless , Hentzi believed that the film 's themes of materialism and conformity in American suburbia were " hackneyed " . McCarthy conceded that the setting was familiar , but said it merely provided the film with a " starting point " from which to tell its " subtle and acutely judged tale " . Maslin agreed ; she said that while it " takes aim at targets that are none too fresh " , and that the theme of nonconformity did not surprise , the film had its own " corrosive novelty " . Ebert awarded American Beauty four stars out of four , and Turan said it was layered , subversive , complex , and surprising , concluding it was " a hell of a picture " . 
 Turan cited Ball <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>lack of constraint when writing the film as the reason for its uniqueness , in particular the script <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>subtle changes in tone . McCarthy said the script was " as fresh and distinctive " as any of its American film contemporaries , and praised how it analyzed the characters while not compromising narrative pace . He called Ball <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>dialogue " tart " and said the characters — Carolyn excepted — <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> " deeply drawn " . One other flaw , McCarthy said , was the revelation of Col. Fitts <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'</mark></a>homosexuality , which he said evoked " hoary Freudianism " . Jackson said the film transcended its clichéd setup to become a " wonderfully resourceful and sombre comedy " . He said that even when the film played for sitcom laughs , it did so with " unexpected nuance " . Hentzi criticized how the film made a mystery of Lester <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>murder , believing it manipulative and simply a way of generating suspense . McCarthy cited the production and costume design as pluses , and said the soundtrack was good at creating " ironic counterpoint [ s ] " to the story . Hentzi concluded that American Beauty was " vital but uneven " ; he felt the film <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>examination of " the ways which teenagers and adults imagine each other <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>lives " was its best point , and that although Lester and Angela <a href='null_genetive' title='9'><mark>'s</mark></a>dynamic was familiar , its romantic irony stood beside " the most enduring literary treatments " of the theme , such as Lolita . Nevertheless , Hentzi believed that the film <a href='null_genetive' title='10'><mark>'s</mark></a>themes of materialism and conformity in American suburbia <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>were</mark></a> " hackneyed " . McCarthy conceded that the setting was familiar , but said it merely provided the film with a " starting point " from which to tell its " subtle and acutely judged tale " . Maslin agreed ; she said that while it " <a href='uninflect' title='12'><mark>takes</mark></a> aim at targets <a href='null_relcl' title='13'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='14'><mark>are</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='15'><mark>none</mark></a> too fresh " , and that the theme of nonconformity did not surprise , the film had its own " corrosive novelty " . Ebert awarded American Beauty four stars out of four , and Turan said it was layered , subversive , complex , and surprising , concluding it was " a hell of a picture " . 
Turan cited Ball  lack of constraint when writing the film as the reason for its uniqueness , in particular the script  subtle changes in tone . McCarthy said the script was " as fresh and distinctive " as any of its American film contemporaries , and praised how it analyzed da characters while not compromising narrative pace . He called Ball  dialogue " tart " and said the characters — Carolyn excepted — was " deeply drawn " . One other flaw , McCarthy said , was the revelation of Col. Fitts  homosexuality , which he said evoked " hoary Freudianism " . Jackson said the film transcended its clichéd setup to become a " wonderfully resourceful and sombre comedy " . He said dat even when the film played fir sitcom laughs , it did soo with " unexpected nuance " . Hentzi criticized how the film made a mystery of Lester  murder , believing it manipulative and simply a way of generating suspense . McCarthy cited the production and costume design as pluses , and said tdasoundtrack was good at creating " ironic counterpoint [ s ] " to the story . Hentzi concluded that American Beauty was " vital but uneven " ; he felt the film  examination of " the ways which teenagers and adults imagine each other  lives " was its best point , and tdatalthough Lester and Angela  dynamic was familiar , its romantic irony stood beside " thdaost enduring literary treatments " of thedaeme , such as Lolita . Nevertheless , Hentzi believed that the film  themes of materialism and conformity in American suburbia was " hackneyed " . McCarthy conceded thdathe settin was familiar , but said it merely provided the dam witt a " starting point " from which to tell its " subtle and acutely judged tale " . Maslin agreed ; she said that while it " take aim at targets ain't none too fresh " , and that the theme of nonconformity did not surprise , the fda had its own " corrosive novelty " . Ebert awarded American Beauty 4 stars out of four , and Turan said it was layered , subversive , complex , and surprising , concluding it was " a hell of a picture " .