Leo (2002)
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43% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
57% of users liked it
(979 ratings)
A literary drama offering the parallel tales of two wounded souls, director Mehdi Norowzian's tale of redemption and the struggle to find one's place in life finds an ex-convict's correspondence with a young boy offering hope for the future despite the fact that the boy has yet to find… More A literary drama offering the parallel tales of two wounded souls, director Mehdi Norowzian's tale of redemption and the struggle to find one's place in life finds an ex-convict's correspondence with a young boy offering hope for the future despite the fact that the boy has yet to find his own place in the world. Believing that her husband has been unfaithful, Mary Bloom (Elisabeth Shue) embarks on an affair with a young handyman (Justin Chambers) that results in her pregnancy. Racked with guilt when her husband dies in a car accident shortly thereafter, Mary begins to hate her son, Leo (Davis Sweat), leaving the youngster hungering for affection. Assigned correspondence with a convict for a class project, the withdrawn Leo begins to form a close bond with Stephen (Joseph Fiennes), who increasingly relies on his communication with Leo as a form of cathartic repentance. When Stephen is released from jail, he gets a job at a diner where concerned co-workers Vic (Sam Shepard) and Caroline (Deborah Unger) attempt to help him establish himself on the outside. Simultaneously brutalized by local drunk Horace (Dennis Hopper), Stephen decides to leave the diner and search for the boy whose letters carried him through his darkest days. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Mehdi Norowzian
- Written By
- Amir Tadjedin, Massy Tadjedin
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 2002 Wide
- Studio
- First Look Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter
A well-written drama of psychological depth but diminishing returns.
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Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
The plot simmers along nicely, dipping and weaving between the two storylines with grace and style.
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Joe Utichi, FilmFocus
Newcomer Mehdi Norowzian delivers a flawed film that is nonetheless entertaining.
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Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
it will have even art house regulars rolling their eyes.
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Kevin Courrier, Boxoffice Magazine
An overheated pot-boiler that plays like ersatz William Faulkner.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Mary Stuart Masterson
as Brynne
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Elisabeth Shue
as Mary Bloom
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Deborah Kara Unger
as Caroline
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Jake Weber
as Ben Bloom
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Dennis Hopper
as Horace
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Sam Shepard
as Vic
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Joseph Fiennes
as Stephen
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Justin Chambers
as Ryan
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Gil Johnson
as Gil
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Davis Sweat
as Leo

