The United States of Leland (2002)
- Starring:
- Ryan Gosling, Don Cheadle, (more)
- Director(s):
- Matthew Ryan Hoge
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Independent Films, Drama
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Produced by Kevin Spacey, The United States of Leland is a psychological drama concerning the aftereffects of a brutal murder. It's also the first big-studio theatrical release for writer/director Matthew Ryan Hoge, whose previous work consists of the independent comedy Self Storage. Ryan Gosling plays Leland, an imprisoned teenager doing time for the stabbing murder of a disabled boy. Prison writing teacher Pearl Madison (Don Cheadle) gets caught up in the story with the intention of making a book out of it, especially when he finds out that Leland's father is the famous novelist Albert Fitzgerald (Spacey). Pearl's investigation uncovers some of the details and effects of the murder for everyone involved, including the victim's parents, Harry (Martin Donovan) and Karen Pollard (Ann Magnuson). Jena Malone plays Becky, the teenage junkie who is both Leland's ex-girlfriend and the victim's sister. The situation also complicates the relationship between Becky's older sister, Jennifer (Michelle Williams), and her sensitive boyfriend, Allen (Chris Klein). The United States of Leland premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 104 mins
Complete Cast:
- Don Cheadle - Pearl Madison
- Chris Klein - Allen Hughes
- Lena Olin - Marybeth Fitzgerald
- Michelle Williams - Jennifer Pollard
- Ann Magnuson - Karen Pollard
- Sherilyn Fenn - Mrs. Calderon
- Michael Welch
- Nick Kokich - Kevin
- Maria Arce - Bethany
- Alec Medlock - Young Leland
- Ryan Gosling - Leland Fitzgerald
- Jena Malone - Becky
- Kevin Spacey - Albert Fitzgerald
- Martin Donovan - Harry Pollard
- Kerry Washington - Ayesha
- Sheeri Rappaport
- Yolonda Ross - Miranda
- Jason Peck
- Randall Bosley - Sheriff Donaldson
- Ryan Malgarini
- Director(s):
- Matthew Ryan Hoge
- Writer(s):
- Matthew Ryan Hoge
- Producer(s):
- Jonah Smith, Palmer West, Bernie Morris
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Drug Content, Adult Situations, Profanity)
- Categories:
- Independent Films, Drama
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