The United States Of Leland on DVD (2003)

Disappointing

Kevan Brighting from Birmingham , 10/01/2006

This film has got a whole heap of amazing reviews on the Internet Movie Database website. So maybe it's just me, but I didn't like it much.

The film centres around a disturbed young man who has murdered an austic child. Through flashbacks, the background events leading up to the murder are revealed. But it's hard going: almost every character in the film is flawed and so it's hard to have any empathy with any of them whatsoever. Thus I felt a great deal of detachment with the film. The pace is also ponderously slow for the first 50 minutes.

The nature of disfunctionality within the American middle class has been much better served by films such as 'American Beauty'.

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A Thinking Person’s Movie

Clifford Rutley from Cramlington, Northumberland , 13/04/2006

You may wonder why I am giving this film 5 stars when everyone else seems to be slating it. Well I mist warn you that if you are set in your ways about what right and wrong is and you are not into exploring the psychological realities between them or you never even debate if they even existing, then stay away from this film. It isn’t for those who want a simple piece of entertainment that doesn’t make them think too much or gives them some sort comfort or action excitement.

I you are one of those with enough of a brain to not be easily put off or offended, then I think you will enjoy it. Especially dull mellow Layland himself & how he seems to know other people better than they seem to know themselves.

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A movie that makes you think.....

A customer from North London , 19/05/2006

I cannot say enough good things about this movie. Beautifully cast, as usual Ryan delivers A+ work.Not the sort of movie that would be enjoyed by people who have a closed mind to how they view life. But I thought it was evocative and quite moving:there are not alot of films out there that leave me wondering after watching ....

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mutton dressed as lamb

chungking from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 27/06/2006

Three points. First :some way through this film one of the characters says of Leland, “He’s certainly a fascinating character.” Why? Because he speaks softly, says basic therapy to people basically telling them to be honest with themselves and is somewhat psychotic? I couldn’t see why this made him fascinating. Second: Why did the director choose not to show Leland’s savage murderous act? Is it because he didn’t want to cloud the audience’s judgement about humanising a senseless killing. He did choose to show another killing by a different character which, even though he had a motive for the killing (whereas Leland really didn’t) made him look like the bad guy. Third: What about Leland’s victim? The director spent hardly any time with this boy at all. Why? Was it because he was disabled so he had no voice? Was it because it was Leland’s story, so the director just needed a body to kill off and dismiss so he could concentrate on Leland?

For all the reviewers who think you should come to this film with an open mind, they’re right, you should. That way you can look behind the ‘art house’ credentials; difficult subject matter, sensitive young boy who kills, slow pace, and see the gaping flaws.

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Bad

A customer from Mexborough , 04/02/2008

Watched it 35mins and had to give up on it. No content to keep any interest.

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realistic

A customer from bucks , 26/04/2007

quite sad, but true, things dont change

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