 American Beauty is a 1999 American drama film directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball . Kevin Spacey stars as Lester Burnham , a 42 @-@ year @-@ old advertising executive who has a midlife crisis when he becomes infatuated with his teenaged daughter 's best friend , Angela ( Mena Suvari ) . Annette Bening co @-@ stars as Lester 's materialistic wife , Carolyn , and Thora Birch plays their insecure daughter , Jane . Wes Bentley , Chris Cooper , and Allison Janney also feature . The film is described by academics as a satire of American middle @-@ class notions of beauty and personal satisfaction ; analysis has focused on the film 's explorations of romantic , and paternal love , sexuality , beauty , materialism , self @-@ liberation , and redemption . 
 American Beauty <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>a 1999 American drama film directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball . Kevin Spacey <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>stars</mark></a> as Lester Burnham , a 42 @-@ year @-@ old advertising executive <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='got' title='4'><mark>has</mark></a> a midlife crisis when he <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>becomes</mark></a> infatuated with his teenaged daughter <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>best friend , Angela ( Mena Suvari ) . Annette Bening <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>co</mark></a> @-@ stars as Lester <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>materialistic wife , Carolyn , and Thora Birch <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>plays</mark></a> their insecure daughter , Jane . Wes Bentley , Chris Cooper , and Allison Janney also feature . The film is described by academics as a satire of American middle @-@ class notions of beauty and personal satisfaction ; analysis <a href='been_done' title='10'><mark>has</mark></a> focused on the film <a href='null_genetive' title='11'><mark>'s</mark></a>explorations of romantic , and paternal love , sexuality , beauty , materialism , self @-@ liberation , and redemption . 
American Beauty a 1999 American drama film directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball . Kevin Spacey star as Lester Burnham , a 42 @-@ year @-@ old advertising executive got a midlife crisis when he become infatuated w/ his teenaged daughter  best friend , Angela ( Mena Suvari ) . Annette Bening coed @-@ stars as Lester  materialistic wife , Carolyn , and Thora Birch play their insecure daughter , Jane . Wes Bentley , Chris Cooper , and Allison Janney also feature . The film is described by academics as a satire of American middle @-@ class notions of beauty and personal satisfaction ; analysis done focused on the film  explorations of romantic , and paternal love , sexuality , beauty , materialism , self @-@ liberation , and redemption .