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The United States of Leland
Has any one seen this yet? If not check it out. I just watched it yesterday, and thought it was incredible.
Basically it's about this teenager, Lelan P. Fitzgerald (Ryan Gosling), who for some reason kills this mentally handicapped kid, and what happens to him and the families surrounding the incident in the aftermath. The story partly unfolds through Lelan's conversations with his teacher in prison played by Don Cheadle, who is trying to get the real story out of Leland so as to write a book about him.
The film deals with some serious topics like how important the role of parenthood and guardianship (as well as guidance) is for growing people. This is shown through Leland's non-existant relationship with his father (Kevin Spacey), the relationships that develop while he's in prison between him and the teacher, and also between Leland and another troubled young man. Another issue brought up is how we deal with mistakes in our past, and whether it is enough for us just to recognize the difference between right and wrong of those mistakes. Is it even possible to make right the things which we've done wrong? What constitutes right and wrong? Is it right for us the audience to sympathize with Leland after he has committed such a horrific act? Even if he can't even explain why?
Great perfomances all around from every principal actor in the film. This includes Chris Klein. Yes, that's right the guy who was in American Pie 1 & 2 and starred in Rollerball. I didn't even think it was humanly possible for this to occur, but director Matthew Ryan Hoge squeezed one out of him. All in all I thought it was terrific. Beware, though, this one's a cryer. I was a mess after watching this yesterday, and I never expected it.
Has any one seen this yet? If not check it out. I just watched it yesterday, and thought it was incredible.
Basically it's about this teenager, Lelan P. Fitzgerald (Ryan Gosling), who for some reason kills this mentally handicapped kid, and what happens to him and the families surrounding the incident in the aftermath. The story partly unfolds through Lelan's conversations with his teacher in prison played by Don Cheadle, who is trying to get the real story out of Leland so as to write a book about him.
The film deals with some serious topics like how important the role of parenthood and guardianship (as well as guidance) is for growing people. This is shown through Leland's non-existant relationship with his father (Kevin Spacey), the relationships that develop while he's in prison between him and the teacher, and also between Leland and another troubled young man. Another issue brought up is how we deal with mistakes in our past, and whether it is enough for us just to recognize the difference between right and wrong of those mistakes. Is it even possible to make right the things which we've done wrong? What constitutes right and wrong? Is it right for us the audience to sympathize with Leland after he has committed such a horrific act? Even if he can't even explain why?
Great perfomances all around from every principal actor in the film. This includes Chris Klein. Yes, that's right the guy who was in American Pie 1 & 2 and starred in Rollerball. I didn't even think it was humanly possible for this to occur, but director Matthew Ryan Hoge squeezed one out of him. All in all I thought it was terrific. Beware, though, this one's a cryer. I was a mess after watching this yesterday, and I never expected it.
