United we stand

By Charles Mitchell

Much like real life, in cinema a murderer can have neither apologies nor excuses for his offence. When 16-year-old Leland (Ryan Gosling) inexplicably murders the autistic son of his girlfriend (Michelle Williams) we are offered no foreshadowing to the crime or justifications for it thereafter.

After Leland is arrested he meets a prison teacher, Pearl Madison, played by Don Cheadle. Madison makes no judgments and sees Leland as a misunderstood teen whose story could be fodder for a true-life murder novel. Coincidently, Leland’s father, Albert T. Fitzgerald (Kevin Spacey) is a best-selling author, whose fatherly duties took a back seat to churning out page turning fiction. Although we assume the tragedy might bond dad and son, that doesn’t happen. Madison for the most part, ends up playing surrogate father to Leland.

This film makes no black and white distinctions between murderer and victim and offers little moral answers. What it does offer is a smorgasbord of acting riches, most notably another wonderful performance for Gosling. The Canadian actor’s affecting take on Leland does little to make you either love or hate his character, or for that matter understand him. What it does, is keep you engrossed throughout the slower parts of the flick.

Some critics trashed the movie’s ponderous pacing and opaque sense of ethics, however, Cheadle and Gosling shine like thespians in an off Broadway production. Their well directed scenes together elevate this effort, which can at times feel like an ABC after school special.

The United States of Leland offers few moral answers

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