The United States of Leland (2003)

Leland P. Fitzgerald (Ryan Gosling) is sad-misguided soul. When he stabs and kills his ex-girlfriend's retarded younger brother, it leaves the community in shock. No one, not even Leland, can explain why. Enter Pearl Madison (Don Cheadle). Pearl, the detention center's teacher and aspiring novelist is fascinated by this mild-mannered, soft-spoken boy. It's in Pearl quest to befriend the boy and determine what makes him tick, that he discovers Leland's motivation for the killing.

The United States of Leland is a monotonous, self-indulgent movie that makes you want to punch the kid next door. Yes, that kid.

Director Matthew Ryan Hoge has a mess-terpiece on his hands. While I {truly} understand the point he's trying to make, he doesn't make me care. Young Ryan Gosling is fascinating to watch, but the movie is pitiful. The {non}supporting cast is a who's who of misfits: Kevin Spacey, Lena Olin, Michelle Williams, Jena Malone, Chris Klein, and Don Cheadle.

There are no redeeming quailities in The United States of Leland. Let me spoil it for you. The director implies that Becky (Malone) breaking it off with Leland pushes Leland over the edge. He was already on the edge because of his non-existent relationship with his famous author and prick father (Spacey). In an additional subplot, Allen (Klein) gets himself sent to the same detendtion center as Leland in order to avenge the brother's murder so that the older sister, Julie (Williams) will get back with him.

The United States of Leland is a pretensious metaphor for crap.