United States of Indie Film

If you haven't seen The United States of Leland I think you're missing something. It's the kind of film I think of when you say the words "Indie Film". The good kind.

I mean, you watch a bunch of Rose Troche films and you think that's all there is. Now, don't get me wrong, I admire and even like Troche's work, but it's more about the characters or the performances than about the story or answers or even throwing out some clear questions for the audience. However, I don't think that sort of willfully completely ambiguous is what makes for the very best indie film. A good story, something with a beginning, a middle and an end, shouldn't be too much to ask.

United States of Leland isn't easy to watch, you've got to do a little work to understand what's going on, got to give it your full attention, but it'll be well worth your while.

I loved Ryan Gosling in this. Who knew I would love Ryan Gosling? I couldn't even pick Gosling out of a line up before this. There are a number of amazing actors that I could pick out of a line up, with one eye tied behind my back even, but Gosling is what made the movie for me.

Anyway, don't want to spoil it so just check it out.