Matthew Ryan Hoge has fashioned an incredibly observant look at human nature that soars mostly in part to beautifully drawn characters that are brought to life by a stunning cast.

As this drama unfolds, several peoples' lives are affected by the death of an autistic boy. Many questions arise as the murder of this child is examined. The primary focal point is Leland Fitzgerald (a quietly powerful Ryan Gosling), the teenager responsible for the slaying. Through the help of prison teacher Pearl Madison (a stellar Don Cheadle), Leland begins to piece together why the killing occurred and what his motivation was.

Suffice to say, The United States of Leland is very deep, and there's a lot to it. And that's what I liked about it. It's complexity.

Hoge has put together a really moving piece of work that pulsates with honesty and emotional power, and what's most impressive about The United States of Leland is it's attention to character. Every role in this picture is alive and vital in some way.

Hoge's screenplay is masterful in the way that it juggles various characters and subplots without losing it's focus. It's also a fascinating glimpse into the grieving process. And last but not least, The United States of Leland is a compelling exploration in to dysfunction. Why do people do bad things? Sometimes there is no answer. It is only at the end of this emotional journey that Hoge takes things a tad too far. I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that I didn't like where Hoge takes Chris Klein's character. Still, this wasn't enough to take away from this film's overall power.

As great as Hoge's writing and direction is, he gets a major assist from a truly splendid cast that includes; Gosling, Cheadle, Klein, Kevin Spacey (effectively playing a creep), Lena Olin, Michelle Williams, and Jena Malone.

The United States of Leland was an extremely moving experience. Certainly, it was one of the best written movies I saw at this year's festival. It was disheartening to me that the film wasn't awarded anything. Hopefully, this movie will see a healthy theatrical release.

On a side note, Sunny Day Real Estate's Jeremy Enigk is responsible for the film's moving songs.