United States Of Leland Movie

A group of activists plans to attend the Friday opening of the "United States of Leland" to determine whether the film's portrayal of an autistic boy is a replay of "vicious stereotypes." Ellen Sweeney, 32, of Brick, N.J., began protesting the movie after it was screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2003; she said she has collected about 1,900 signatures on an online petition against the film. Sweeney, who has not seen the film, is the mother of a 7-year-old boy with autism.

The Oscar-winning "Rain Man" (1988) raised considerable awareness about autism. Regrettably, the term "rain man" has become an accepted punch line for someone behaving in a stupid manner. It's not as offensive but is in the same vein as "retard." Call it an unintended consequence of a well-intended film. "Rain Man" oddly enough inspired several dopey action movies with pretty much the same plot: The only person who saw the murder was (gasp!) an autistic kid -- and now the killer's after him!

The Oscar-winning "Rain Man" (1988) raised considerable awareness about autism. Regrettably, the term "rain man" has become an accepted punch line for someone behaving in a stupid manner. It's not as offensive but is in the same vein as "retard." Call it an unintended consequence of a well-intended film. "Rain Man" oddly enough inspired several dopey action movies with pretty much the same plot: The only person who saw the murder was (gasp!) an autistic kid -- and now the killer's after him!

A group of activists plans to attend the Friday opening of the "United States of Leland" to determine whether the film's portrayal of an autistic boy is a replay of "vicious stereotypes." Ellen Sweeney, 32, of Brick, N.J., began protesting the movie after it was screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2003; she said she has collected about 1,900 signatures on an online petition against the film. Sweeney, who has not seen the film, is the mother of a 7-year-old boy with autism.