Story: Looking in a mixture of flashbacks of what leads up to the crime as well as seeing the effects it has had on the people's lives involved. We follow how a seemingly awkward teenager's look on life changes leading to the fatal consequences. We also see how the both families deal with the aftermath. We also see how one man tries to help only to end up looking like he is trying to make something for himself, but also learns to look at things a different way because of his time with Leland. Mixing it all together we get to look at how one person view of the world can change it for everyone involved. (8/10)Actor ReviewDon Cheadle: Pearl a teacher at the detention centre who takes an interest in Leland, mostly to start a book about him because he seems different to the rest of the teenagers in the centre. He tries his best to do the right thing but in the end is left helpless with what happens in the end. Good performance showing he can walk into lead roles with ease. (8/10)Ryan Gosling: Leland the troubled teenager who has killed an autistic kid, but his reasons are unknown and it is not until he speaks with Pearl he shows his reasoning which shows the world in a very different view. Good performance showing that Ryan was always going to be a big name in the world of Hollywood. (9/10)Chris Klein: Allen friend of the family who has been involved with one of the daughters of the victim's family, but when he starts to feel distant from the relationship he tries his hardest to make amends for the murdered child. Good performance from Chris showing he could have been a star, but he has yet to shine. (7/10)Jena Malone: Becky love interest of Leland as well as sister to the murdered child, whose own problems have pushed Leland away and led him to see the world very differently. Solid performance from Jena who starred in plenty of these type of dramas in the early noughties. (7/10)Kevin Spacey: Albert father of Leland who has been very distant in fact he hasn't seen him since he was six as he pays for Leland to spend time away around the world. Good performance in the few scenes he is in. (7/10)Supporting Cast: With an exceptional supporting cast including Michelle Williams, Lena Olin and Kerry Washington, we get solid performances from all of them. (7/10)Director Review: Matthew Ryan Hoge – Good direction throughout to make a compelling drama. (8/10)Drama: Brilliant drama looking at how one crime can change so many people's lives. (9/10)Settings: Each setting seems to be leading to the final outcome for our leading boy Leland. (7/10)Suggestion: This is one to try, I really don't think it will be popular for many people as the subject matter is bleak and sometimes tries to balance too many stories. (Try It)Best Part: The relationship between Pearl and Leland.Worst Part: Not enough time spent with Leland and Pearl.Believability: No (0/10)Chances of Tears: No (0/10)Chances of Sequel: NoPost Credits Scene: NoOscar Chances: NoBox Office: $350,000Runtime: 1 Hour 48 MinutesTagline: Crime. Confusion. Compassion. They're all just states of mind.Overall: Compelling dramaCheck out more reviews on Moviesreviews101.com

The movie revolves around a young man in his teens, Ryan Gosling(Lealand). He is completely separated from the world because of his thought process on life. Lealand believes that there are two ways to looks at life one of which is seeing the good and allowing it to fill your life with happiness. The other however is simply that life is full of misery and no matter what you do unhappiness will overcome all.Lealand sees this imperfection in life and act upon it in what some believe to be a passionless crime against a defenseless mentally retarded boy. Lealand winds up in special handling corrections only to fascinate the teacher of the troubled boys, Don Cheadle. When Cheadle decides to pry into Lealand's mind to find a motive and for personal reasons he is not ready for the difference Lealand will make in his life and the difference Lealand made in every one's lives that he encountered.

***This one has Spoilers*** What have we got here? A middle class family with an autistic son, one of the daughters is doing drugs in and out of rehab like Amy winehouse herself (she'd have made her proud) the other one has her boyfriend living with her in her parents house.Leland's father is a screw up and lets his son know, through sending him plane tickets to travel the globe, that he's there. Further his father is exploiting his own sons situation, after his son killed the autistic boy, by taking notes for a book he intends to write. The mother is bringing their son up on her own.Leland meets that older woman, on one of his trips to New York, and stays in contact with her until he sleeps with her after she is divorced (dream come true with 15 especially with a good looking MILF like that).Leland get's to know that autistic son through Becky (autistic boys drug doing sister) Leland sees sadness everywhere and decides to kill the autistic boy because there is sadness in his eyes and he wouldn't have a normal life? To me Leland shows psychopathic traits...How on earth is killing an autistic person justifiable...??? The Viewer is meant to understand Leland and how he arrived at his decision to kill the boy? All the other inter human relationships and actions portrayed in this film are relationships thousands of people have and worse.Leland had it coming to be stabbed to death in prison.This movie, to me, is utter rubbish. Good acting though otherwise just drivel for pseudo intellectuals and they seem to write reviews in abundance, rating this 7 and above, here on IMDb. I'd give it an eight for its pretentious pseudo intellectual bullshit, however because it is so pretentious one star it is. Stay away from this piece of "intellectual masturbation" . Thanks for ye time

OK, so there's this kid who had a not-so-great life and, like, did this bad thing. He goes to a kiddie-jail and makes friends with his teacher. His teacher does some good things, but he also does some bad thing, too. But not, like, as bad as the things the kid did, but, like, still bad things. And then some, like, stuff happens, and like, you never really find out why. It's there just to be there. Like, the end. Garbage. Total garbage. Anybody who says this is a movie worth watching forgot how to see junk when it's staring them in the face.