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The United States of Leland (2003)

R  |   |  Crime, Drama, Romance  |  25 March 2005 (Italy)
7.2
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Ratings: 7.2/10 from 19,184 users   Metascore: 37/100
Reviews: 103 user | 64 critic | 27 from Metacritic.com

Tells the story of a young man's experience in a juvenile detention center that touches on the tumultuous changes that befall his family and the community in which he lives.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Marybeth Fitzgerald
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Harry Pollard
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Karen Pollard
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Charlie
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Bengel
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Ryan Pollard
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Storyline

After stabbing an autistic boy, the sixteen year old troubled and pessimist Leland P. Fitzgerald is sent to a juvenile detention. His teacher and aspirant writer Pearl Madison gets close and tries to understand him, first with intention of writing a book, and later becoming his friend. Leland slowly discloses his sad vision of world. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

boy | book | writer | teacher | author | See All (168) »

Taglines:

Crime. Confusion. Compassion. They're all just states of mind.

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some drug content | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

25 March 2005 (Italy)  »

Also Known As:

20 Messerstiche  »

Filming Locations:


Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$48,384 (USA) (2 April 2004)

Gross:

$343,816 (USA) (9 July 2004)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

A recurring element of the film is the fact that Leland doesn't have any contact with his father, absent ever since his childhood. Ryan Gosling never shares any scenes with Kevin Spacey and in the courtroom sequence, even though both characters are present, they're never in the same frame. See more »

Goofs

When Leland is watching the basketball game with the other inmate, the sun is shining through the window, however, the shadows outside are cast in wrong direction. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Leland: When I say I don't remember that day, I'm not lying. Wish I did, but I just don't. Sometimes the most important stuff goes away. Goes away so bad, it's like it was never there to begin with. It's funny the stuff that sticks in your head. I could tell you forward and backward about one day when I was five, and my dad bought me a stupid ice cream cone. I could tell you the flavor of the ice cream. It was pick bubblegum. Even stuff about the girl who scooped it out. Her hair was fire ...
See more »

Connections

Featured in Anatomy of a Scene: The United States of Leland (2004) See more »

Soundtracks

White
Written and Performed by Joey Waronker and Lisa Germano
Published by Emotional Wench Music/Door #1 (BMI)/Joey Waronker ?2002
By Arrangement with Natural Energy Lab
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Let it draw you in
5 February 2006 | by (Nova Scotia, Canada) – See all my reviews

There are subtleties in this film that I think a lot of people may miss if they're not careful. You really need to follow what Leland says and read his character to figure out the intended "why" the movie presents at the end. Nothing it solid, it's not definite, it's about what the individual viewer takes out of it. I think that was the plan from the get-go, people aren't meant to all understand it in the same way, it's almost about forming your own personal relationship with Leland in order to maybe feel him a little better.

The storyline is interesting but its summary could never explain what the movie really is. It's dramatic and thought provoking, a lot of heavy ideas, but the pace of the movie is almost soothing, even with its more intense scenes with yelling. I think it's probably Leland, he's just calm and almost serene, even for all of his sadness. The movie personifies Leland in a way.

Of course it is captivating and draws you in if you let it, but there are some recycled ideas. I mean, Leland has a lot of impressive dialogue, he is anything but typical, but he's not a prophet. Everything he says is not a revelation, many people I know have mentioned things he mentioned, even I have observed a few things he's observed. Leland is the unique and attractive character he is probably mostly for Ryan Gosling's portrayal.

In the end the acting is all exceptional, there are no real bad guys, there is no way to psychologically evaluate Leland, only to maybe understand him and life a little better.

Comparable to Igby Goes Down I think, not comedic, but similar in its general outlook on life.


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