Produced by Kevin Spacey, The United States of Leland is a psychological drama concerning the aftereffects of a brutal murder. Its also the first big-studio theatrical release for writer/director Matthew Ryan Hoge, whose previous work consists of the independent comedy Self Storage. Ryan Gosling plays Leland, an imprisoned teenager doing time for the stabbing murder of a disabled boy. Prison writing teacher Pearl Madison (Don Cheadle) gets caught up in the story with the intention of making a book out of it, especially when he finds out that Lelands father is the famous novelist Albert Fitzgerald (Spacey). Pearls investigation uncovers some of the details and effects of the murder for everyone involved, including the victims parents, Harry (Martin Donovan) and Karen Pollard (Ann Magnuson). Jena Malone plays Becky, the teenage junkie who is both Lelands ex-girlfriend and the victims sister. The situation also complicates the relationship between Beckys older sister, Jennifer (Michelle Williams), and her sensitive boyfriend, Allen (Chris Klein). The United States of Leland premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide