The United States of Leland (2002)

34% of critics liked it
(89 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(29,423 ratings)

Produced by Kevin Spacey, The United States of Leland is a psychological drama concerning the aftereffects of a brutal murder. It's also the first big-studio theatrical release for writer/director Matthew Ryan Hoge, whose previous work consists of the independent comedy Self Storage. Ryan Gosling… More Produced by Kevin Spacey, The United States of Leland is a psychological drama concerning the aftereffects of a brutal murder. It's also the first big-studio theatrical release for writer/director Matthew Ryan Hoge, whose previous work consists of the independent comedy Self Storage. Ryan Gosling plays Leland, an imprisoned teenager doing time for the stabbing murder of a disabled boy. Prison writing teacher Pearl Madison (Don Cheadle) gets caught up in the story with the intention of making a book out of it, especially when he finds out that Leland's father is the famous novelist Albert Fitzgerald (Spacey). Pearl's investigation uncovers some of the details and effects of the murder for everyone involved, including the victim's parents, Harry (Martin Donovan) and Karen Pollard (Ann Magnuson). Jena Malone plays Becky, the teenage junkie who is both Leland's ex-girlfriend and the victim's sister. The situation also complicates the relationship between Becky's older sister, Jennifer (Michelle Williams), and her sensitive boyfriend, Allen (Chris Klein). The United States of Leland premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Matthew Ryan Hoge
Written By: Matthew Ryan Hoge
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Apr 2, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Sep 7, 2004
Studio: Paramount Classics

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
An intriguing movie about how badly we really want to know the unknowable, what makes kids kill other kids.
, Houston Chronicle
A sidetracking subplot about Madison's adulterous fling with a co-worker goes nowhere; it is one of several unsatisfying, tertiary plot strands.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
The entire film is like that -- moments of good actors giving halfhearted performances.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
Isn't it sad that a boy like this could feel so lost that he had to kill someone? Well, maybe. But isn't it sadder that someone's dead?
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
It's neither an insightful nor well-made film.
Mike Ervin, Chicago Reader
[Hoge] spends an awful lot of time trying to get us to understand Leland and almost none trying to get us to understand his victim.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Uneven drama that's too intense for kids.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
"The United States Of Leland" deftly points out dilemmas in current American ideology that frequently escalate into tragedy.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Hoge seems to take delight in the fact that the film's conclusion is so frustratingly vague, whereas in fact it's both annoying and disappointing.
Dragan Antulov, Draxblog Movie Reviews
Kevin Spacey, who produced the film, is wasted in completely unnecessary role.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Powerful and provocative--if perhaps a bit subdued.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
... the ultimate result is like one of those college rock songs that hint at a depth that just isn't there.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A muddled and uninteresting psychological melodrama.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
As self-centered as its title, The United States of Leland is-to quote the great Brittany Murphy-"music to cut your wrists" to.
Shirley Sealy, Film Journal International
What action there is in this movie takes forever to get going -- or maybe it just seems like forever because all of these characters are so unlikeable and unfathomable, and the dialogue between them is so trite and dumb.
Jeffrey Bruner, Des Moines Register
An exasperating film about teen violence and suburban dysfunction that wears its confusion like a badge of honor.
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
The drama makes us yearn to discover the reason Leland killed the boy, but the point of the movie isn't to grant us a big revealment.
Gary Mairs, culturevulture.net
It's tidy in all the least important ways, with all the questions that don't demand answers explained and all those that do left open.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: Don Cheadle, Ryan Gosling, Chris Klein, Jena Malone, Lena Olin, Kevin Spacey, Michelle Williams, Martin Donovan, Ann Magnuson, Kerry Washington, Sherilyn Fenn, Nick Kokich, Sheeri Rappaport Director: Matthew Ryan Hoge Summary: Teenager Leland Fitzgerald appears to have… More
Cast: Don Cheadle, Ryan Gosling, Chris Klein, Jena Malone, Lena Olin, Kevin Spacey, Michelle Williams, Martin Donovan, Ann Magnuson, Kerry Washington, Sherilyn Fenn, Nick Kokich, Sheeri Rappaport Director: Matthew Ryan Hoge Summary: Teenager Leland Fitzgerald appears to have everything going for him, including a famous writer father. So, what drove him to kill? It's up to a teacher who works with inmates to unearth the anger and fear lurking beneath Leland's unruffled surface. My Thoughts: "I think this is the film that really had me start paying more attention to Ryan Gosling, who is now a big favorite of mine. He plays such a complicated troubled soul in this film. His performance will make you take notice of him if you have yet to. I got very wrapped up in the story and these character's. It is an unconventional story that delivers an intense look inside a family full of tragedy. Leland Fitzgerald is quite insightful and the things he says are really thought provoking. It's just a really great film." Leland: "I think there are two ways you can see the world. You either see the sadness that's behind everything or you choose to keep it all out." Leland: "The worst part is knowing that there is goodness in people. Mostly it stays deep down and buried. Maybe we don't have God because we're scared of the bad stuff. Maybe we're really scared of the good stuff. Because if there's no God, well, that means it's inside of us and we could be good all the time if we wanted. So when we do bad things, it'd be because we want to or because we have to. Or maybe we just need the bad stuff to remind us what the good stuff is in the first place."
Lady D

There is something about Ryan Gosling that attracts films of a Psychological nature. Whilst the topic of this film, could so easily have appeared an open and shut case, we delve into a much deeper psyche in an almost Devil's Advocate view of the events. This one could open up… More
There is something about Ryan Gosling that attracts films of a Psychological nature. Whilst the topic of this film, could so easily have appeared an open and shut case, we delve into a much deeper psyche in an almost Devil's Advocate view of the events. This one could open up to discussion and debate about the rights and wrongs etc etc, another good role for the talented young Actor.
Leigh R

Interesting movie. Sometimes hard to keep my attention on it, but it was alright.
Dan S

At times its a compelling movie. The main problem I had with it is that it doesn't know how to end and it doesn't really provide an explanation as to why Leland did what he did. For some reason however, I was interested in most of the needless subplots, I don't know… More
At times its a compelling movie. The main problem I had with it is that it doesn't know how to end and it doesn't really provide an explanation as to why Leland did what he did. For some reason however, I was interested in most of the needless subplots, I don't know why. Gosling is terrific, with Cheadle and Spacey being equally solid.
E.J. B

The movie doesn't even realize how serious the situation is. It just exploits it to depict some cheap, unrealistic, pretentious notion of what the filmmakers think teen angst is.
Christopher H

Leland is a straightforward drama, putting all the cards on the table and allowing you to see the aftermath of unexplainable death in its truest form. http://proofinpicture.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/united-states-of-leland/
Jay R

Much better then I had anticipated, great cast and Ryan Gosling is brilliant as usual. The ending was a little drawn out though, and lost the necessary punch that it could have had. Still, good film overall.
George K

I'm a huge Kevin Spacey fan and I like Don Cheadle. But this is Ryan Gosling's movie.
Lovable M

I felt the main character lacked likability and that made the movie less interesting.
Sunil J

How can you not love Ryan Gosling??
Leo L

A good film.
Laurence C

Thoroughly moving and will possibly get you thinking about certain choices you've made in your life.