About the movie

Highly original black comedy about Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), who is suffering a midlife crisis that affects the lives of his family which is made up of his wife Carolyn and rebelling daughter Jane who hates him. Carolyn is a real estate agent a little too wrapped up in her job who takes on an affair with business rival Buddy Kane. Meanwhile Jane seems to become an infatuation with Ricky Fitts, the strange boy next door who is a drug dealer/documentarian who lives under a roof governed by a very strict marine father and a speechless mother. Lester's midlife crisis causes him to drastically change his life around when he quits his job. He starts working out to gain the attention of Angela, a friend of Jane's who brags about her sexual exploits every weekend. Lives change and not for the best.

Starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Peter Gallagher and Wes Bentley.
Produced by Sam Mendes.
Directed by Sam Mendes.

About the music

American Beauty won Newman both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations and the BAFTA Award for Achievement in Film Music. The immense critical acclaim the movie got (including the Academy Award for best movie), brought Thomas Newman in the spotlight once again, and this time with a score that combined Newman's

The soundtrack

Street date: January 2000.
Availability: in print.

At the time of the movie's release, in October 1999, Dreamworks also released a CD with songs and two tracks by Thomas Newman. Click here for more information about this album.

This score received a Golden Globe Award Nomination in January 2000 and an Academy Award Nomination in February 2000. Thomas Newman received the BAFTA Award nomination for Achievement in Film Music for this score in April 2000. This album was awarded the Grammy for "Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture" in February 2001.

Track listing

1. Dead Already (3:18)
2. Arose (1:05)
3. Power of Denial (1:43)
4. Lunch W/ the King (2:25)
5. Mental Boy (1:43)
6. Mr. Smarty-Man (1:10)
7. Root Beer (1:05)
8. American Beauty (3:05)
9. Bloodless Freak (1:39)
10. Choking The Bishop (1:51)
11. Weirdest Home Videos (2:02)
12. Structure & Discipline (3:05)
13. Spartanette (0:59)
14. Angela Undress (1:43)
15. Marine (1:34)
16. Walk Home (1:19)
17. Blood Red (0:38)
18. Any Other Name (4:06)
19. Still Dead (2:46)