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The United States of Leland

  • 20032003
  • RR
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
23K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The United States of Leland (2003)
Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
50 Photos
  • Drama
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
23K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Matthew Ryan Hoge
  • Writer
    • Matthew Ryan Hoge
  • Stars
    • Ryan Gosling
    • Don Cheadle
    • Kevin Spacey
Top credits
  • Director
    • Matthew Ryan Hoge
  • Writer
    • Matthew Ryan Hoge
  • Stars
    • Ryan Gosling
    • Don Cheadle
    • Kevin Spacey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 107User reviews
    • 65Critic reviews
    • 37Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    The United States of Leland
    Trailer 2:22
    The United States of Leland

    Photos50

    Ryan Gosling at an event for The United States of Leland (2003)
    Kevin Spacey, Don Cheadle, Ryan Gosling, and Jena Malone in The United States of Leland (2003)
    The United States of Leland (2003)
    The United States of Leland (2003)
    Ryan Gosling in The United States of Leland (2003)
    Ryan Gosling and Michael Peña in The United States of Leland (2003)
    Chris Klein in The United States of Leland (2003)
    Kevin Spacey in The United States of Leland (2003)
    Ryan Gosling in The United States of Leland (2003)
    Don Cheadle in The United States of Leland (2003)
    Don Cheadle in The United States of Leland (2003)
    Jena Malone in The United States of Leland (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ryan Gosling
    Ryan Gosling
    • Leland P. Fitzgeraldas Leland P. Fitzgerald
    Don Cheadle
    Don Cheadle
    • Pearl Madisonas Pearl Madison
    Kevin Spacey
    Kevin Spacey
    • Albert T. Fitzgeraldas Albert T. Fitzgerald
    Chris Klein
    Chris Klein
    • Allen Harrisas Allen Harris
    Jena Malone
    Jena Malone
    • Becky Pollardas Becky Pollard
    Lena Olin
    Lena Olin
    • Marybeth Fitzgeraldas Marybeth Fitzgerald
    Michelle Williams
    Michelle Williams
    • Julie Pollardas Julie Pollard
    Martin Donovan
    Martin Donovan
    • Harry Pollardas Harry Pollard
    Ann Magnuson
    Ann Magnuson
    • Karen Pollardas Karen Pollard
    Kerry Washington
    Kerry Washington
    • Ayeshaas Ayesha
    Sherilyn Fenn
    Sherilyn Fenn
    • Mrs. Calderonas Mrs. Calderon
    Matt Malloy
    Matt Malloy
    • Charlieas Charlie
    Wesley Jonathan
    Wesley Jonathan
    • Bengelas Bengel
    Michael Peña
    Michael Peña
    • Guillermoas Guillermo
    Michael Welch
    Michael Welch
    • Ryan Pollardas Ryan Pollard
    Ron Canada
    Ron Canada
    • Eldenas Elden
    Troy Winbush
    Troy Winbush
    • Daveas Dave
    Nick Kokich
    • Kevinas Kevin
    • Director
      • Matthew Ryan Hoge
    • Writer
      • Matthew Ryan Hoge
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • Goofs
      In this movie, set in Arizona, all the cars shown have front and back license plates. However, in Arizona you are only issued two license plates if you have a personalized plate which none of the cars in the movie had.
    • Quotes

      Leland: It covers my eyes. It's all I can see. Say there's some kids playing baseball. All I see is the one kid they won't let play because he tells corny jokes. And no-one thinks they're funny. Or I see a boy and a girl in love and kissing, you know. I just see that they're gonna be one of those sad old couples one day who just cheats on each other and can't even look at each other in the eye. And I feel it. I feel all of their sadness. I feel it probably even worse than that sad old couple or that corny kid will ever feel it.

    • Connections
      Featured in Anatomy of a Scene: The United States of Leland (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Gigantic
      Written by Frank Black (as Black Francis) and Kim Deal

      Performed by Pixies (as The Pixies)

      Copyright 1988 Rice and Beans Music (BMI)

      Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group/4AD

      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

    User reviews107

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Depressive and Interesting Study of a Character
    After stabbing a retarded boy, the fifteen years old troubled and pessimist Leland P. Fitzgerald (Ryan Gosling) is sent to a juvenile detention. His teacher and aspirant writer Pearl Madison (Don Cheadle) 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, showing that he is a sociopath.

    "The United States of Leland" is a depressive and interesting study of a character. The low paced riveting screenplay discloses pieces of the story like a puzzle; there are excellent lines and dialogs; the performances are great, although the twenty-three years old Ryan Gosling does not convince as a fifteen years old teenager; but it seems that a part is missing to complete the puzzle and make "The United States of Leland" an unforgettable movie. The disappointing clarification of the "why" for the violent action of Leland against Ryan Pollard is not convincing or touching, indeed shows that this character is a totally deranged sociopath with a weird and sick sight of world. Further, the way Allen Harris gets Pearl's knife is ridiculous. My vote is seven.

    Title (Brazil): "O Mundo de Leland" ("The World of Leland")
    helpful•9
    7
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Feb 28, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 25, 2005 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Media 8 Entertainment
      • Paramount Classics
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Leland Birleşik Devletleri
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • MDP Worldwide
      • Media 8 Entertainment
      • Thousand Words
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $343,847
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $48,384
      • Apr 4, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $343,847
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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