Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

hyped garbage

Fresh and Exciting

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Though this is supposed to be an "indie", the producers must have been very well connected to get such A list talent to work on a C list movie. It is one of those movies based on a trope that the public loves: teens doing horrific stuff. Are they evil, is our society to blame for making such nice boys into monsters? It just draws us in, along with the alleged narcissism of the title, which was plain stupid.Leland kills a retarded kid, the brother of his erstwhile junkie girl friend and her phony "picture perfect" white suburban family. He is a smart, seemingly pleasant guy full of all sorts of insights that his rude self centered neglectful novelist Kevin Spacey dad gave him. The writer mucks out of the moral angle of this by conveniently having the titular character mentally "black out" at the time of the murder, even though he wasn't a druggie.I compare this to the River's Edge. While that movie was clumsy and had some hammy acting and bad plot elements, it connected with me and many of my time because it showed the dark side of drugs, out of control teens etc in suburbia. Nor did they try to sugar coat the killer, he was a pig. But he was "saved" by an older, hipper killer. But the old one leg biker killer was morally superior to his younger protégé because he at least loved his girlfriend that he shot dead for no real reason. US of L was superior to that movie on a technical and acting level but it was kind of cheap and exploitative. Ryan Gosling is a good actor but his puppy dog man-boy act involved spouting all sorts of random insights about the human condition. His character just didn't connect too well.There was no resolution, no real catharsis. The ending was all pat and cheap. For instance: wasn't Pearl, the wise caring black guy stock character, responsible because he neglected his duties?

Being a fan of Ryan Gosling's work (The Notebook, Half-Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl...) I had to view this film. I believe this film is under-appreciated. Hopefully more will be enticed to view the excellence that surrounds this film, from its all-star cast to the very meaning of the film.The story revolves around the murder of a mentally challenged kid who happens to have a rather large family. The murderer understands others want to know one thing, "why?", and he shares his story to his teacher in jail. The story also involves the remorse both families go through, particularly the victim's family.The film is enjoyable, unique, but dark. It sort of reminded me of the Donnie Darko atmosphere, where the main character is apathetic. The film works together perfectly, but it is a bit tedious at times, which elevated my appreciation of the film.The only part I was completely confused about was when Leland received a pencil and a book... a pencil to a murderer who stabbed the victim... (No this isn't a spoiler, this is the very basis of the film) Altogether, this film works, it's something that should not be overlooked.Don Cheadle, Ryan Gosling, Chris Klein, Jena Malone, Lena Olin, Kevin Spacey, Michelle Williams, Martin Donovan... must I go on? Look at that awesome cast... all acted well, but in particular, Ryan Gosling and Chris Klein.Enjoy this film for what it is, and enjoy the darkness, but keep in mind the message isn't to do dark things, it simply explains why dark events occur. Appreciate the message, whether you're a pessimist or an optimist, you'll enjoy it.

OK, so there's this kid who had a not-so-great life and, like, did this bad thing. He goes to a kiddie-jail and makes friends with his teacher. His teacher does some good things, but he also does some bad thing, too. But not, like, as bad as the things the kid did, but, like, still bad things. And then some, like, stuff happens, and like, you never really find out why. It's there just to be there. Like, the end. Garbage. Total garbage. Anybody who says this is a movie worth watching forgot how to see junk when it's staring them in the face.

"The United States Of Leland" is one of those movies where you're almost afraid to admit that it did nothing for you. Don't be. How could you feel any other way when the characters keep saying profane things ("there's so much sadness in the world") that are supposed to be really moving and deep.Not only because of the presence of Kevin Spacey and Jena Malone does this movie feel like a mixture of "American Beauty" and "Donnie Darko". In fact, if you took Donnie Darko with his constant blank expression and put him in "American Beauty" this movie would be the outcome. Really, the parallels are stunning and I'm amazed that Kevin Spacey would want to star in a movie that similar again.As in "American Beauty", at the beginning of "Leland" we learn that a murder has happened and the story is being told in retrospect. The line that I quoted above about the sadness in the world is being repeated a few times and it's more than just a little reminiscent of "There's so much beauty in the world" as said in "American Beauty" by annoying-guy-with-a-hat-and-a-camera, another one of those blank faced teenage characters that some people in Hollywood seem to think represents today's youth so poignantly. Hell, the similarities even go as far as both movies referencing the U.S.A in their title.At the end of the day "The United States Of Leland" is nothing but a poor rehash of other movies that weren't that great in the first place. It's trying hard to move you, but fails to do so. Instead the makers annoy with their perception of the problems in modern society. As Denis Leary once put it: "Life sucks, get a f.... helmet!"