 Maslin felt that <unk> directed with " terrific visual <unk> " , saying his <unk> style balanced " the <unk> and bright " and that he evoked the " delicate , <unk> power @-@ playing vignettes " of his theater work . Jackson said <unk> ' theatrical roots rarely showed , and that the " most remarkable " aspect was that Spacey 's performance did not overshadow the film . He said that <unk> worked the script 's <unk> smoothly , to the ensemble 's strengths , and staged the tonal shifts <unk> . McCarthy believed American Beauty a " stunning card of introduction " for film <unk> <unk> and Ball . He said <unk> ' " sure hand " was " as precise and controlled " as his theater work . McCarthy cited Hall 's involvement as fortunate for <unk> , as the cinematographer was " <unk> " at conveying the themes of a work . <unk> agreed that <unk> ' choice of collaborators was " <unk> " , naming Hall and Newman in particular . <unk> suggested that American Beauty may have benefited from <unk> ' inexperience , as his " anything 's possible daring " made him attempt beats that more <unk> directors might have avoided . <unk> felt that <unk> ' accomplishment was to " capture and enhance [ the ] <unk> " of Ball 's script — the simultaneously " <unk> [ ... ] and <unk> real " characters . <unk> , while critical of many of <unk> and Ball 's choices , admitted the film showed off their " considerable talents " . 
