The United States Of Leland is a 2003 independent movie written and directed by Matthew Ryan Hoge and stars a list of actors that you now see on the red carpet at the Academy Awards. The United States Of Leland was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. It did not win that award but it has received critical acclaim not only for the acting in the movie but also for the writing and directing job done by Hoge. Appearing in The United States Of Leland is two time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey. By the time Spacey made it to the set for The United States Of Leland he had won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and Best Lead Actor. It is amazing that such a decorated actor would play in such a low budget independent movie but that speaks to the quality of the movie that Hoge had written. After The United States Of Leland was able to attract interest from Kevin Spacey other quality actors wanted in to the project.

Playing the lead role of reporter Pearl Madison in The United States Of Leland is eventual Oscar nominee Don Cheadle. Three years after The United States Of Leland Cheadle would go on to be nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Hotel Rwanada in 2006. Along with Cheadle was eventual Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling who plays the title role of Leland. Gosling would be nominated for his work in the movie Half Nelson also in 2006. This kind of star power can guarantee that a movie at least break even but when you are an independent movie company, and you are casting Oscar caliber talent, then you have no budget left for advertising and marketing and that is what happened to The United States Of Leland. When no one knows your movie is being released then no one will come to see it and The United States Of Leland came and went without any fan fare which is a shame because the acting in this movie is simply brilliant.

The United States Of Leland is about a young man named Leland who commits the senseless, and unprovoked, murder of an autistic boy. For his crime Leland is sent to a juvenile detention center when he comes into contact with Pearl Madison who is a teacher at the detention center but also aspires to be an author. Madison starts to have long conversations with Leland and uncovers a sick and twisted view of the world that is both fascinating and horrifying at the same time. Madison sees his chance to make his mark as an author with Leland’s story because Leland’s father is the famous author Albert Fitzgerald which is played by Kevin Spacey. It is a fascinating and dark story that is written well and acted with precision and perfection. The United States Of Leland is certainly a movie that everyone should see if not for the twisted nature of the story then at least to see three Academy Award level talents performing lead roles in the same independent film together. It is not often that an independent movie can bring together a pool of talent like this and it is well worth the effort and well worth the time to sit and watch this brilliant movie. Just make sure you don’t watch it alone in the dark.