Starring:
Year of Release: 2003
Rated: R
Director: Matthew Ryan Hoge
Approx. Running Time: 108 minutes
Format(s): DVD
My Rating: 2 stars (Out of 5)
Trailer:
From Back Cover:
"LIKE IN THE BEDROOM! This is a deeply affecting film!"
-Laurie Sandall, GLAMOUR
After seemingly ordinary 15-year-old Leland (Ryan Gosling) stuns his quiet suburban community with a chilling crime, he is sent to juvenile hall where he meets Pearl (Don Cheadle), a teacher and aspiring writer who dreams of making Leland's compelling story into a book. As Pearl digs deeper into Leland's life and the people caught up in it - his mother (Lena Olin), his famous writer-father (Kevin Spacey), and his troubled girlfriend (Jena Malone) - he uncovers Leland's disturbing motive. The tables soon turn when the enigmatic teen forces Pearl to examine his own morally questionable behavior. Climaxing with a shocking collision of violence, understanding, and hope, Leland will take you to state you never imagined. With an ensemble cast that also includes Chris Klein and Michelle Williams, The United States Of Leland is "sure to be controversial!" -Susannah Gora, PREMIERE
My Comments:
I know this movie is supposed to be really deep and thought-provoking and all that, but really the best way I can describe it is "awkward." The main character of Leland is supposed to be this really sensitive guy, but mostly he comes off as being practically devoid of all emotion and the rest of the characters all fall into the "not good or bad enough for me to give a shit" category. As a result, I found myself rather bored with this film. Which is a real shame, considering the cast.
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U
Rated R (MPAA)
2 Stars
2003 (Year of Release)
Drama
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