The United States of Leland

Leland sees sadness in everyone, so he kills a retard. A journalist thinks it's a profound statement and asks him why he did it: "Sometimes things happen because they happen." is Leland's answer. In the end Leland-narrator dies because Matthew Ryan Hoge is a big fan of American Beauty and it makes the movie feel meaningful. Truly the worst movie I have ever seen.

Killing autistic kids is okay, because, you know, we're all just human.

I wanted this to be better than it was. The cast is so very good, but the film felt somewhat hollow. It wanted to make a point, but the point it wanted to make was too trite and small and has been made better elsewhere. Too bad. It could've been good -- but it really wasn't.

A strong movie, taking a quiet, non-sensational approach to a disturbed young man. Simply and subtly shot, this is a film that allows you to pick your interpretation and understand it accordingly. Excellent performances throughout don't throw the problems or messages of the film in your face, but provide engaging and realistic reactions. This film tackles a difficult subject with some style and sensitivity, without pulling any punches.

When (inevitably white) boys inexplicably kill someone, we make movies trying to understand them and empathize with them. Such an unfortunate waste of time.

Hi my name is Ryan Gosling, welcome to my most pretentious film.

Possibly it is worse (or better, though I don't think so) than this score, been a while since I saw it.

Isn't that good as I hoped. Very good cast but that's not enough. I'm so bored.

W4E1P1S1V1M1R2. I watched this in the height of my most pretentious years, so, since I loved it, I wouldn't be surprised if many of the reviews are right that this is pretentious nonsense. Like "Shattered Glass," I largely liked it mostly because it was generally unknown and "thinky." But I still recall many of the scenes, and what a cast.

I thought this was pretty good. It was interesting enough, and Ryan Gosling carries the film nicely especially with his narration. It raises some interesting points and ends up being a nice character study of a troubled young man.

My ex only refers to Ryan Gosling as Leland no matter what role Ryan Gosling plays. Obviously he isn't Canadian and knows nothing about Ryan Gosling's TV career prior to the making of this movie. That being said this movie was pretty terrible. I noticed in the comments that someone said the movie felt hollow. I agree 100%. Bland. Un-anything good.

Far be it for me to disagree with people calling this the worst movie they've ever seen. They're wrong. I'll gladly admit I don't know how it managed to be so good, it seems like it should be pretty awful. Then you find out the people who dislike it liked Donnie Darko and Zoolander and it makes sense.

"Sundance twaddle of the highest degree." - Ed Gonzalez

Weird kid knifes a mentally handicapped kid to death.Then there's a load of tosh and nonsense and 'insight'.Held up by it's cast

Good film.

This movie was Donnie Darko without all the interesting stuff.

Walls and twigs

Okay Movie

A simple story told well, with the slow unveiling of the facts making this an engrossing experience for the most part. Then the last 20 minutes or so arrive, the conclusion's rushed, minor characters are unveiled to be superfluous or nothing more than empty devices to move the plot along, and you start to wonder if the whole experience was a waste of your time.

I don't understand how films like this get the green light. The script is beyond banal. It feels like it was written by a twelve year old. There's nothing creative or remarkable about it at all. It's cliche and dull. Its only saving grace is the cast, but even they can't make this film worth watching.

castı merak uyandırdığı için izledim, yer yer sıkıldığım için fazla yüksek puan vermek gelmiyor içimden ama anlattığı şey muhteşemdi.