Rating: 
Summary: Everything is going to be ok
Review: "The United States of Leland" is such a touching movie. It is disturbing and sad and even a little bit hopeful. Ryan Gosling is wonderful as Leland. He seems awkward and almost childish, but so brilliant. I just love Ryan Gosling. I think he has the most beautiful face. This was a great movie. Watch it.
Rating: 
Summary: Can "Why" actually be answered?
Review: "Why" is open to everyone! "The United States of Leland" is about Leland P. Fitzgerald; a teenager who just killed his girlfriend's mentally challenged younger brother. How does this affect everyone around Leland? This movie explores those different points of view.
The United States of Leland is written and directed by Matthew Ryan Hoge. Don Cheadle (Pearl) and Ryan Gosling (Leland) are the major actors. Pearl is a writer/teacher with aspirations of writing another novel that is actually read by someone this time. He meets Leland in a youth detention center. Pearl befriends Leland hoping to get what no other person could get a "Why!"
Ryan Gosling does an outstanding portrayal of Leland. Leland leaves you thinking about your own father. And leaves unanswered questions in your own head: How can a seemingly "good" kid be a cold-blooded killer? How come he can't remember the murder?
Kevin Spacey plays Leland's fatherless father (Albert T. Fitzgerald) and best-selling author. Mr. Spacey also is part of the production company for this movie. (Tigger Street Productions) Albert cares little about his son Leland, but is trying to get his next bestseller out of him.
Do I dare to categorize this as an artsy movie! I guess it depends on what the definition of an artsy movie is. Does it make you think after seeing it? Does it answer life's questions?
Can a movie do that? All I know is that it got me thinking.
What is replaying in my head from this movie; "To be a writer someone has to actually read your sh$t!" Pearl says.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Work
Review: Contrary to what any random self-proclaimed person of thought would try to spout, this film is glorious. It's full of various thoughts drawn together, and it provides a unique story that is provoking. To begin to summarize the story wouldn't do it justice, at least not in my words. Highly recommended, from the same producer of Requiem for A Dream and Waking Life.Various people claim to be offended by the movie, though if one can be truly morally offended by a movie, they clearly have more significant issues to deal with.(... ) And any number of therapists my try to refute various pointsi n the film, but they, as many others, apparently missed the train en route to receiving their little ol' diplomas. Top notch film, definitely worth seeing.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie
Review: I enjoyed this film. While some parts of the film are a bit slow, the cast comes together wonderfully. I think the mis-reviews don't understand that the dullness in some of the characters is not bad acting, its the awe from the crime. Spacey managed to pull off a cute performance, and even, are you ready for this? Chris Klein had his best performance yet. That is a directing accomplishment on its own. Best movie I've seen so far this year, and can't wait for the DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Kevin Spacey's Sequel to American Beauty
Review: I have rarely witnessed such depth of thought and feeling in an American film. This one made every other American film I have seen recently seem superficial. Kevin Spacey seems to be on the brink of being the premier artistic commentator on suburban family values. What a fresh approach to try to explore the deep thread of unhappiness within the American Dream. Teenage Leland's motivation for killing the unfortunate child (for whom he has the greatest sympathy)is not anger, which is cable TV's perpetual answer, but sadness, sadness at the human condition. This movie puts me into Dostoyevsky's world and I never expected this in American film. Every character is sympathetic because their real and not conventional feelings are revealed. I have not seen such astonishing humanity in a long time, if ever. Maybe in Boys Don't Cry but this film does not have the lurid overtones, just the quiet but overwhelming feel of humanity denied in a materialistic American culture.
Rating:
Summary: Ryan Gosling will compete with Johnny Depp
Review: I predict that the 2005 Oscar race will invovle at leats these 3 men- Johnny Depp for Finding Neverland ( just by speculation), Jamie Foxx for Ray and Ryan Gosling for USoL. Now since nobody gives johnny depp the credit he deserves (Edward Scissorhands, Benny and Joon) he won't win because of the fact that ray charles has just since passed and the movie will be sooooo touchy-feely that the academy wont resist, but Gosling should win. His performance captivated me and when i left the theater, i had myself (a die-hard Johnny Depp fan of over10 years) questioning whether i should start being more of a Gosling fan. He should have won for the Believer, too. If you like johnny depp, you will like the quirkiness of Gosling and his baby-face!
Rating:
Summary: Teenage Sociopathic Murder
Review: I would be most interested in knowing what a panel of psychologists or psychiatrists thinks about Leland in this film. The second time I viewed this film, I felt more positively towards Leland, since he does at least apologize towards the end. I do know this is the second film in which I have seen Ryan Gosling play a juvenile delinquent, a.k.a. murderer, the other being "Murder By Numbers." My first inclination is to believe he is playing a sociopath in this film, a person who feels no remorse for his actions,particularly due to his suave, glib philosophizing with the social worker Pearl about the nature of man which occupies so much of the film's script. For example, he says that earthquakes bring out the best in people.
Sociopaths are well known for this trait, as well as for being manipulative or conning, and showing no remorse, shame, or guilt (he says he doesn't remember the murder of the autistic child); this is straight from a psychologist's symptomatology. Unfortunately Leland is killed before we have the chance to find out what a psychologist thinks. Certainly he is a rich kid; certainly he leaves Becky, who claims she needs him. This analysis leaves out quite a bit from the film, including Leland's dad and mother (his writer dad sends Leland money for independent travel) , Pearl the aspiring writer and social worker (who has both a steady girlfriend in L.A. and one of a more temporary variety in Phoenix),who objects to Leland's father's behavior; and Becky the drug addict and her family, which includes parents, older sister and her boyfriend, and the murder victim Ryan.
Rating:
Summary: A fresh perspective on teenage life.
Review: I've read the reviews and there seems to be a lot of different views on this movie- it's understandable. Movies are in fact, an art form and not all art is meant for everyone. Not everyone can see the same thing or appreciate the same art; it's different for everyone, it's a different experience for everyone.
Some people can see American Beauty as a masterpiece of a film with subtle beauty while others can see it as garbage and totally unbrilliant. To each his/her own. Art is art, the experience is differnt for everyone.
With that said, my personal encounter with this film was totally amazing.
The main character Leland played by Ryan Gosling was brilliantly cast. His emotionless expressions and his total diconnection with the world and the reality around him is amazingly executed.
This movie works on many levels and mixes so many emotions. Amazon's review that the director offers "No easy answers" is totally accurate. There is no easy end to this film, it will leave you thinking and asking questions about the film and the people that surround you.
The reason I love these films so much is because I simple can't help but admire the thought and insight it takes to make them. To see past the barriers people put up, the fronts used to protect us from the truth of things, it makes you really wonder about the same ethics and mannerisms we use everyday.
It's a self-discovery type of thing too, where hopefully it can open your mind up to different aspects of things going on.
This story can't be really summed up here, it's an experience. The basics is he commits a murder, and the movie tries to explain why he did. But again, offers no answer to this question. It's something you come to on your own. But it does offer a fresh and new perspective on depression in teenage life. Not many movies can pull that off. The only other movie I've seen to really portray teenagers views and thoughts accuratly was Homeroom.
It's powerful and moving, it's a real masterpiece in my eye.
Don't let reviews sway your decision on seeing this movie, it's something you have to watch on your own accord.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: If you like deep movies, you'll love this one. Very interesting but confusing at times. I loved it!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting
Review: This film is perfectly acted, especially by Don Cheadle who reminded me of the reasons I first had for loving him. The dialogue is almost always outstanding, and the characters are true. I was pleased to see the teenage brain portrayed as something to marvel and wonder about. It was interesting to see the way actions produce reactions which lead to more actions over and over again but in an up-close and more clarified form than one usually sees in everyday life. The film provides a lot of internal conflict for any viewer. Example: Should we hate Leland for what he did? Are we comfortable with calling him a murderer? Do we sympathize with him?
In all, this is a film worth watching even if for nothing else than the chance to witness some amazing performances and perhaps even ask yourself a question or two.
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