The United States of Leland

6.9

4,108

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Original title: The United States of Leland
Year: 2003
Running time: 108 min.
Country: United States
Director: Matthew Ryan Hoge
Screenwriter: Matthew Ryan Hoge
Music: Jeremy Enigk
Cinematography: James Glennon
Cast: Don Cheadle, Ryan Gosling, Chris Klein, Jena Malone, Lena Olin, Kevin Spacey, Michelle Williams, Ann Magnuson, Martin Donovan, Sherilyn Fenn, Yolonda Ross, Maria Arce, Matt Malloy, Ron Canada, Michael Peña, Dell Yount, Melanie LoraSee 4 More
Producer: Media 8 Entertainment, Trigger Street Productions. Distributor: Paramount Classics
Genre: Drama | Crime. Prison Drama. Independent Film (US)
Synopsis: Leland Fitzgerald (Ryan Gosling) commits a crime that shocks the soul of his community. As the son of a world-renowned author (Kevin Spacey) and because his motive is a genuine mystery, the boy becomes a touchstone for controversy. In pursuing "the reason why," aspiring writer Pearl Madison (Don Cheadle) sees the chance for a career-making book.

Awards: 2003: Sundance Film Festival: Nominated for Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic

Critics' reviews

"The real question raised by 'The United States of Leland' is not why, but how. How, that is, did so many talented actors find their way to this dreary and derivative study in suburban dysfunction?"

A. O. Scott: The New York Times
"[It] seems to be on everybody's side. It's a moral muddle (...) There are two perfectly crafted performances in the movie (…) Rating: ★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"An overly plotted but beautifully acted movie. The script has the overheated, overblown, over-everything feel of an actor's exercise extravaganza (...) But the individual moments (...) are sensitive and moving"

Nell Minow: Common Sense Media
"'The United States of Leland' is tedious yet infuriating (...) Nothing in the movie comes to life"

Owen Gleiberman: Entertainment Weekly
"I don’t know what’s more insufferable: the incessant, nails-on-chalkboard pitch of Gosling’s trite narration (...) or the fact that no one in the film has a natural conversation (…) Rating: ½ (out of 4)"

Ed Gonzalez: Slant

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