DVD Reviews
The United States of Leland
- Rating:
- Director:
- Starring: Chris Klein
- Details: USA, 108 mins, 15.
Director Matthew Ryan Hoge's second feature film tells the story Leland P Fitzgerald (Gosling) a nice but detached adolescent who horrifically stabs his ex-girlfriend's mentally handicapped brother 19 times. Everyone wants to know why but it is only when the soft spoken teenager comes into contact with a teacher (Cheadle) at his remand centre that he begins to open up to. The cast is eclectic, ranging from teen stars such as Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek) and Chris Klein - the Keanu of his generation - to the mesmerising Ryan Gosling and Jena Malone, one of the most accomplished contemporary child-actresses-turned-grownup. Kevin Spacey too is extremely effective as the astute, cold and equally detached father. Not a perfect film but kind of wonderful just the same.
Review by Elaine Reilly
Film Reviews
Top Cat
Ironically for an animated film, Top Cat plays like it was written in crayon. Aimed towards kids who still find a set of keys incredibly entertaining, this is really not worth the premium price... [more]
The Angels' Share
If The Angels' Share had been directed by Joe Nobody it wouldn't have received half the press and wouldn't have gotten near Cannes. But Ken Loach is a name director, which can trick one into... [more]
Men in Black III
Will Smith must be one of the most frustrating actors working in modern cinema. I mean, we can take Johnny Depp and his insistence on churning out the same "quirky" character, (in... [more]
Barbaric Genius
We all like writers who have a bit of moxy about them, don't we? Hemmingway, Hunter Thompson, Burroughs, Bukowski. Rumour has it that when our own Mike Sheridan writes up a review he goes... [more]
Your Comments