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The United States of
Leland
Directed by: Matthew Ryan Hoge
Starring: Ryan Gosling
Genre:
Drama/Independent
Run Time: 108
min.
Release Date:
January 2003
On The Web:
Unofficial Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Why do people do
good and bad things? What purpose do they serve? The "why" question is
pondered to a fatalistic ending in THE UNITED STATES OF LELAND,
starring Ryan Gosling (LARS
AND THE REAL GIRL) as the emotionally detached Leland P.
Fitzgerald.
Leland is introduced to us during a terrible scene in which a young
retarded boy lay stabbed to death on a grassy playground. It appears
that Leland has had some sort of mental breakdown, as he stabbed the boy
and then himself, "just to see what it felt like." But as the movie
progresses we see plenty of emotional distance from the other
characters, too. Leland’s own father Albert (Kevin
Spacey,
SUPERMAN RETURNS) hasn’t had much contact with Leland since he
was eight years old. Leland’s previous girlfriend Becky (Jena
Malone, INTO THE
WILD)
zones out by shooting heroin and isolating herself away from her family.
Even Leland’s mother Marybeth (Lena
Olin,
CASANOVA)
simply slips in and checks on Leland occasionally, only asking if he’s
"okay" even when it’s evident he’s not.
The only one interested in Leland turns out to be a teacher at the
prison where he’s held after the murder. But even the teacher, Mr. Pearl
Madison (Don
Cheadle, CRASH),
is only occupied with Leland as a way to break out of his writing slump
(he’s a would-be author with serious blockage problems).
Leland questions the "why" of everything around him, and it’s an
interesting message that gets pulled from the film. Why is it you’re
considered "only human" when you do something wrong and not something
right? Like pulling a little kid from a burning building. Why don’t we
show emotions in equal measure when someone dies? These are tough
questions that trickle out of the film.
The downside is that the movie doesn’t give us a good reason for
Cheadle’s character to be enraptured with Leland so early and so quickly
(considering that’s a large portion of the film, it’s pretty
significant). And most viewers won’t like the incredibly slow pace, as
well as the occasionally stilted line delivery. But that’s it.
The cast is excellent, from Spacey’s spacey father to the embittered and
lost Malone, the characters were fairly riveting to watch, even though
all that happens is some intense dialogue throughout.
In the end, it’ll all depend on your expectations and mindset. If you’re
expecting something that moves along at a good clip, forget it. If
you’re in the mood for action, blood, and fights, don’t even think about
it. But if you’re ready for some deep contemplation, The United
States of Leland is right up your alley.
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Image from The United
States of Leland
DVD cost: $8.95
Purchase:
Amazon.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
The weekend gross for the
movie on its opening weekend in the U.S. was $31. Mainly because it
opened only on one screen in the entire country.
Movie Quote: "When
I say I don't remember that day, I'm not lying. I wish I did, but I just
don't. Sometimes the most important stuff goes away. Goes away so bad
it's like it was never there to begin with."
Other Actors/Actresses
from The United States of Leland
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