minigonche
Yes, It's a story about a washed out teacher with a drug problem.. But what I love about this film is that he feels close, similar, like it happened to you.No one is bad or good, they're all just human. A film that teaches us that connection comes from the soul, not from age. There are no dramas, no over the top fights, screams or disasters... Witness how life happens under unfruitful circumstances and how it always continues.
George Wright
A great character role by Ryan Gosling as Dan Dunne, an imaginative and creative high school teacher with a drug habit. Eventually his extra curricular life catches up with him when friends and colleagues see some bizarre behaviour. Ryan Gosling shows a range of acting talents as a dedicated teacher whose life spirals out of control. The hidden life is first discovered by one of his students, Drea, a good friend. I liked their initial friendship, which became more than just being friends. The student, played by Shareeka Epps, and Anthony Mackie as Frank, the nice guy dealer, are both outstanding among some other fine supporting actors. A great performance by Gosling with a fine cast behind him is a movie worth seeing.
Bernie Sauer
Mr. Dunne is the middle school teacher every student wants: He's sharp, funny, sports a cool, unshaven mug, and coaches basketball on the side. By day, he brings out the best in his students as they discuss politics and systemic injustice. By night, however, we see a different Mr. Dunne – one who trolls the nightclubs, snorts cocaine, and slides deeper into a crack addiction.Talk about a black and white movie.It is after a basketball game that Dunne is found semiconscious clutching a crack pipe in a locker room by 13-year-old Drey (Shareeka Epps), an African-American who has grown up fast with a deadbeat dad, workaholic mom, and an older brother serving jail time. Even with her street smarts, she believes in her teacher, helps him up, and begins a tentative friendship in the most remarkable and overlooked film of 2006.Obviously, this is a tough film to watch, and it isn't one of those inspirational teacher/mentor movies either. Instead, it's a character study of two people, both flawed and frustrated, who have at least one thing to hope for: one another.Half Nelson doesn't walk down the predictable path of dire revelations and grungy lost causes as most films about drug addiction do. Rather, director and co-writer Ryan Fleck rejects the obvious and captures a plainspoken sympathy for Mr. Dunne and observes without interfering. Where the film works best is in the wordless scenes complemented by the hauntingly beautiful music of Broken Social Scene.Where the film shines is in Ryan Gosling's performance as Mr. Dunne. Working without pretense or exaggeration, he makes Dunne charming yet vulnerable, casual yet dominating. Gosling is so uncomfortably real that it would be a mistake to judge him and not embrace him; condemn him and not sympathize for him.Half Nelson has "independent film" written all over it because of its unappetizing subject matter and sparse public exposure, but that's what makes it so special. Being a movie critic isn't about panning big, Hollywood films; it's about informing people like you that there are other cinematic gems out there. Take my word for it: watch this movie and tell me what you think.
g-bodyl
Half Nelson, a very low-budget movie, happens to be one of the most intense, revealing character dramas of recent years. At first, I didn't like the choppy camera work but then I came to realize it added a more gritty, realistic feeling to the film. It's definitely slow and kind of depressing, but the teacher-student relation will keep you entranced and wondering what is going to happen to these two.Ryan Fleck's film is about a history teacher and basketball coach who has a serious drug habit and he keeps going everyday because of his love of the subject and more importantly, his students. But one day, one of his students, a troubled girl, witnesses his secret and that secret will bring them together along a shared path.Ryan Gosling has been in so many great movies but this one of his best early roles as leading man. He gives one hell of a performance and it shows how this dude can act. Does he play a bad man? I would think not. Is he a good guy with serious flaws? I would say yes. Because of Gosling's intense portrayal, we care about what happens to this guy. Shareeka Epps does very well as the troubled girl and she holds her own against Gosling.Overall, Half Nelson is a beautiful drama about how two similarly depressed people are able to connect even though they don't find much in life. It's a bit depressing but at the same time, it can be a tad uplifting as well. For a very low budget, this film speaks on higher levels and proves you don't need extremely high budgets to make good movies. I rate this film 9/10.
AD
