‘Leland’
shines in character
By Maritza Diaz
On-line Forty-Niner
Leland
P. Fitzgerald views the world through a
different perspective than the rest of us.
He deeply cares for the people in his life
and projects an aura of innocence that makes
people just want to give him a hug. Leland
P. Fitzgerald is also a murderer.
“The United States of Leland,” written by
newcomer Matthew Ryan Hoge, explores the
emotional effects Leland’s actions on his
family, and the family of the victim. The
film offers a cast made up of gifted actors
such as Kevin Spacey (The Life of David
Gale,) Lena Olin (Chocolat,) and Don Cheadle
(Ocean’s 11.) However, the unknown actor
Ryan Gosling (Murder by Numbers) is that
truly shines in the role of Leland.
The movie opens with the murder of Ryan,
a mentally challenged teenager who is the
brother of Leland’s girlfriend Becky (Jena
Malone.) Leland is arrested and taken to
a juvenile detention center where he meets
Pearl Madison (Cheadle.) Pearl, a teacher,
and an aspiring writer become friends with
Leland in an attempt to write a book about
him.
The relationship between Leland and Pearl
allows the actors to explore their character’s
emotional struggle in doing the right thing
when they knew it is wrong. Gosling and
Cheadle play off of each other very well.
Gosling does an excellent job in carrying
the movie. He manages to make Leland appear
harmless and innocent, even though he is
a convicted killer. He makes the character
likeable and lets the audience sympathize
for him. Gosling’s constant biting of his
lower lip makes Leland appear like a lost
child who just wants to go home. That subtle
act makes Leland appear as more than just
a killer.
Spacey and Olin are great as they played
Leland’s divorced parents and do a wonderful
job in expressing their character’s grief
over their son. Their roles are rather small,
but offer the audience a chance to see that
they are victims of this crime as well.
Hoge does a good job in contrasting Leland’s
point of view with that of the other characters.
His technique in interweaving flashbacks
of Leland’s life in the throughout the movie
is not confusing or out of place, and does
an excellent job in exploring the character
of Leland.
“The United States of Leland” will open
later this year.
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