 American Beauty was widely considered the best film of 1999 by the American press . It received overwhelming praise , chiefly for Spacey , Mendes and Ball . Variety reported that " no other 1999 movie has benefited from such universal raves . " It was the best @-@ received title at the Toronto International Film Festival ( TIFF ) , where it won the People 's Choice award after a ballot of the festival 's audiences . TIFF 's director , Piers Handling , said , " American Beauty was the buzz of the festival , the film most talked @-@ about . " 
 American Beauty was widely considered the best film of 1999 by the American press . It received overwhelming praise , chiefly for Spacey , Mendes and Ball . Variety reported that " no other 1999 movie <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>has</mark></a> benefited from such universal raves . " It was the best @-@ received title at the Toronto International Film Festival ( TIFF ) , where it won the People <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>Choice award after a ballot of the festival <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>audiences . TIFF <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>director , Piers Handling , said , " American Beauty was the buzz of the festival , the film most talked @-@ about . " 
American Beauty was widely considered da best film of 1999 by the American press . It received overwhelming praise , chiefly for Spacey , Mendes and Ball . Variety reported dat " no other 1999 movie done benefited from such universal raves . " It was tdabest @-@ received title at the Toronto International Film Festival ( TIFF ) , where it won the People  Choice award after a ballot of thdaestival  audiences . TIFF  director , Piers Handling , said , " American Beauty was the buzz of the festival , the film most talked @-@ bout . "