 Maslin felt that Mendes directed with " terrific visual flair " , saying his minimalist style balanced " the mordant and bright " and that he evoked the " delicate , eroticized power @-@ playing vignettes " of his theater work . Jackson said Mendes ' theatrical roots rarely showed , and that the " most remarkable " aspect was that Spacey 's performance did not overshadow the film . He said that Mendes worked the script 's intricacies smoothly , to the ensemble 's strengths , and staged the tonal shifts skillfully . McCarthy believed American Beauty a " stunning card of introduction " for film débutantes Mendes and Ball . He said Mendes ' " sure hand " was " as precise and controlled " as his theater work . McCarthy cited Hall 's involvement as fortunate for Mendes , as the cinematographer was " unsurpassed " at conveying the themes of a work . Turan agreed that Mendes ' choice of collaborators was " shrewd " , naming Hall and Newman in particular . Turan suggested that American Beauty may have benefited from Mendes ' inexperience , as his " anything 's possible daring " made him attempt beats that more seasoned directors might have avoided . Turan felt that Mendes ' accomplishment was to " capture and enhance [ the ] duality " of Ball 's script — the simultaneously " caricatured [ ... ] and painfully real " characters . Hentzi , while critical of many of Mendes and Ball 's choices , admitted the film showed off their " considerable talents " . 
 Maslin felt that Mendes directed with " terrific visual flair " , saying his minimalist style balanced " the mordant and bright " and that he evoked the " delicate , eroticized power @-@ playing vignettes " of his theater work . Jackson said Mendes <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'</mark></a>theatrical roots rarely showed , and that the " most remarkable " aspect was that Spacey <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>performance did not overshadow <a href='None' title='3'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>film</mark></a> . He said that Mendes worked the script <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>intricacies smoothly , to the ensemble <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>strengths , and staged the tonal shifts skillfully . McCarthy believed American Beauty a " stunning card of introduction " for film débutantes Mendes and Ball . He said Mendes ' " sure hand " was " as precise and controlled " as his theater work . McCarthy cited Hall <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>involvement as fortunate for Mendes , as the cinematographer was " unsurpassed " at conveying the themes of a work . Turan agreed that Mendes <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'</mark></a>choice of collaborators was " shrewd " , naming Hall and Newman in particular . Turan suggested that American Beauty may <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>have</mark></a> benefited from Mendes <a href='null_genetive' title='10'><mark>'</mark></a>inexperience , as his " anything <a href='null_genetive' title='11'><mark>'s</mark></a>possible daring " made him attempt beats <a href='null_relcl' title='12'><mark>that</mark></a>more seasoned directors might <a href='been_done' title='13'><mark>have</mark></a> avoided . Turan felt that Mendes <a href='null_genetive' title='14'><mark>'</mark></a>accomplishment was to " capture and enhance [ the ] duality " of Ball <a href='null_genetive' title='15'><mark>'s</mark></a>script — the simultaneously " caricatured [ ... ] and painfully real " characters . Hentzi , while critical of many of Mendes and Ball <a href='null_genetive' title='16'><mark>'s</mark></a>choices , admitted the film showed off their " considerable talents " . 
Maslin felt that Mendes directed with " terrific visual flair " , saying his minimalist style balanced " the mordant and bright " and that he evoked the " delicate , eroticized power @-@ playing vignettes " of his theater work . Jackson said Mendes  theatrical roots rarely showed , and dat the " most remarkable " aspect was tdatSpacey  performance did not overshadow no film . He said that Mendes worked the script  intricacies smoothly , to da ensemble  strengths , and staged the tonal shifts skillfully . McCarthy believed American Beauty a " stunning card of introduction " for film débutantes Mendes and Ball . He said Mendes ' " sure hand " was " as precise and controlled " as his theater wrk . McCarthy cited Hall  involvement as fortunate for Mendes , as tdacinematographer was " unsurpassed " at conveying thdahemes of a wwrk. Turan agreed that Mendes  choice of collaborators was " shrewd " , naming Hall and Newman in particular . Turan suggested thdatmerican Beauty may done benefited from Mendes  inexperience , as his " anything  possible daring " made em attempt beats more seasoned directors might done avoided . Turan felt thadatndes  accomplishment was to " capture and enhance [ thedaduality " of Ball  script — the simultaneously " caricatured [ ... ] and painfully real " characters . Hentzi , while critical of many of Mendes and Ball  choices , admitted the film showed offf their " considerable talents " .