Tag: Alan Ball

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American Beauty- 25th Anniversary

John Stark

25 years ago, Sam Mendes took a screenplay from Alan Ball, and directed a simple film about peeling off the shine of suburbia. This went on to win a bunch of Oscars, including Best Picture, forever cementing itself in film history. But in the 25 years since, it has suffered from the passage of time. Some feel like it feels just too 1999. is this really middle class suburbia? Do mom and dad actually earn enough for this lifestyle? Is this just a modern Lolita, or a response to the reflective teen nightmare that was Columbine? Is this an early … Continue reading American Beauty- 25th Anniversary

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Uncle Frank

John Stark

Starring: Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Peter Macdissi, Steve Zahn, Judy Greer, Margo Martindale, Lois Smith, Stephen Root, and Colton Ryan. Directed By: Alan Ball Where I Watched It: Amazon English Audio Description Available?: Yes Description Provided By: The Media Access Group narrated By: Adrienne Barbeau The Plot: Told as a coming of age story from a young female’s perspective (Lillis), she talks about her opportunity to go to college at the same school where her beloved Uncle Frank (Law) teaches. For some reason she’s not quite sure of, Frank has never quite fit in with the family, especially her grandfather … Continue reading Uncle Frank