State of Mind (2003)

State of Mind: Directed by Matthew Ryan Hoge. With Don Cheadle, Ryan Gosling, Chris Klein, Jena Malone. A young man’s experience in a juvenile detention center that touches on the tumultuous changes that befall his family and the community in which he lives.

“There are subtleties in this film that I think a lot of people may miss if theyu0026#39;re not careful. You really need to follow what Leland says and read his character to figure out the intended u0026quot;whyu0026quot; the movie presents at the end. Nothing it solid, itu0026#39;s not definite, itu0026#39;s about what the individual viewer takes out of it. I think that was the plan from the get-go, people arenu0026#39;t meant to all understand it in the same way, itu0026#39;s almost about forming your own personal relationship with Leland in order to maybe feel him a little better.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe storyline is interesting but its summary could never explain what the movie really is. Itu0026#39;s dramatic and thought provoking, a lot of heavy ideas, but the pace of the movie is almost soothing, even with its more intense scenes with yelling. I think itu0026#39;s probably Leland, heu0026#39;s just calm and almost serene, even for all of his sadness. The movie personifies Leland in a way.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOf course it is captivating and draws you in if you let it, but there are some recycled ideas. I mean, Leland has a lot of impressive dialogue, he is anything but typical, but heu0026#39;s not a prophet. Everything he says is not a revelation, many people I know have mentioned things he mentioned, even I have observed a few things heu0026#39;s observed. Leland is the unique and attractive character he is probably mostly for Ryan Goslingu0026#39;s portrayal.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn the end the acting is all exceptional, there are no real bad guys, there is no way to psychologically evaluate Leland, only to maybe understand him and life a little better.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eComparable to Igby Goes Down I think, not comedic, but similar in its general outlook on life.”