Half Nelson [2006]

Average customer rating:

Wake me up

Excellent Drama

One of the best films of the decade

Daft Nelson

Nelson's Column.

Half Nelson [2006]
Starring: Shareeka Epps , Tina Holmes , Anthony Mackie , Ryan Gosling , and Nicole Vicius
Director: Ryan Fleck
Manufacturer: Axiom Films International Ltd
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MX7YFY
Release Date: 2007-09-24

Amazon.co.uk Review

Sometimes people are attracted to each other because of their differences. When there's a nebulous attraction between a teacher and a young teenage child--as in the superb Half Nelson--the relationship has all the makings of confused disaster. Though there are a few uncomfortable moments when it's not obvious whether Dan (Ryan Gosling) and Drey (Shareeka Epps) might cross the line, the attraction between the pair is culled less from sexual tension than desperation. Dan is an idealistic history teacher in an inner-city school. Drey is one of his brightest students.

For both, drugs represent something that may help them escape their worlds. He takes drugs to dull his dissatisfaction with himself. She views drugs as a possible way to better her life, even though she knows her brother's foray into that trade landed him in jail. Bleakly filmed and well told, Half Nelson soars because of the immaculate acting by Gosling and Epps. With his impish smile, Gosling provides a character that is at once disarming, alluring, and pitiful. As the young girl who's already seen too much hardship in her life, Epps plays her part with just the right amount of hardened raw emotion. While the ambiguous ending may not please fans weaned on happy Hollywood finales, it's a fitting and believable close to a thought-provoking film. --Jae-Ha Kim

Customer Reviews:

Wake me up.......2008-03-08

The first time I've ever been moved to review anything on Amazon, because I disagree so completely with it's average of a 4 star. This film is slow, uninvolving, boring and one dimensional. I can't decide if the acting is good as they rarely change their mood or delivery. It's not great, it's not good and it's not even ok...it's poor. Avoid it and spend the 207 minutes doing something might involve your mind.

Excellent Drama.......2008-03-02

Ryan Gosling plays Mr. Dunne, a history teacher at an American inner city high school. In the classroom he is thought provoking and popular with his students. In his private life he is depressed and unfulfilled and uses crack cocaine to dull his disappointment with his life. When a girl from his class, Dree (Shareeka Epps) catches him getting high after school one night, they form an unlikely friendship.

This may sound like another Dangerous Minds with all the usual cliches of a white teacher trying to be a good role model to disaffected black kids but Half Nelson is much more. For a start, his class clearly like and respect him, unaware of his personal battle with drugs. Although Dree needs him to replace her deadbeat dad and incarcerated brother, he also needs her to give him purpose. As he becomes close to the child he tries his best to steer her away from the drug dealing friend who seems determined to look after Dree whilst her brother is in prison. Mr Dunne wants her to stay away from drugs but can't cope without them himself. Gosling and Epps turn in wonderful performances in this intelligent and poignant drama.

Like this? Try: A Room For Romeo Brass

One of the best films of the decade.......2008-02-05

Ryan Gosling is exceptional in his role as a teacher at a comprehensive school and gives off raw emotion that at times is not only difficult for the character but the audience watching. He is superb and is an actor to watch for the long-term future.
Despite Gosling's inability to relate to the people that try and get on with him who are not directly involved in his life, he comes across as a simple but effective man but with hidden side-issues on what kind of world he is living in. He gets through any emotive negative within him by being truthful to himself and witty with others.
The film flows smoothly and without any preudice towards generic charachters and the music is unique and fitting. All the supporting players do a great job especially the drug-pimp(probably the nicest dealer portrayed in films) but theres the point of the film, do not take people on face-value or even the things they do to make money or get-by because there is a deeper meaning to what these characters are trying to achieve.
A film i could relate to and i especially like the scene where Gosling gets asked by his 'over-night guest' in the morning "Why do you have a copy of the mien kampf?" and he answers with a slightly cold but reasonable answer of "Just because i have a copy of that book, it doesnt make me a nazi". Theres something odd yet distinctive about the way he looks at life and the surprises with in his own. Its not till the end that Gosling's character realises its time to believe in not just his own thoughts but of those around him...and more importantly kick the habit..because although its an easy to get into and difficult slippery slide to hide your irresponsibilty, its a route that must be declined!

Daft Nelson.......2007-12-19

i'm quite staggered that a film such as this has garnered some very long, tiresome and almost wholly inaccurate reviews. i saw this film at a special preview at the fabulously low-brow Brixton venue where the writer and director were present.

this occasion was noteable for another event: the one and only time i've walked out of a film because i just couldn't sit through the last 20 mins of it.

this film is painful to watch if you have any artistic sensibilities. it tries to have a Dogme-like realism but fails miserably and in that dreadful glossy way, all surfaces and obvious technique, that's almost insulting to witness.

i can say two good things about this film- firstly, that the tickets to the preview were free, and secondly, that the young girl in it did a remarkable job of polishing the turds she was given by the writer and director.

Nelson's Column........2007-10-06

HALF NELSON is a steadily paced, low-key movie from director Ryan Fleck. Given the subject matter, this flick could have easily become a syrupy melodrama, but it's understated, "fly on the wall" presentation helps the highly talented actors to weave their magic beautifully. This ain't MELODRAMA, this is REALISM.

The film is ostensibly about the relationship between crack addict history teacher DAN and his pupil DREY. Both of them lead troubled, uneasy lives and each feels a responsibilty for the other. Crucially, the magnificent performances of Ryan Gosling and Shareeka Epps serve to make each character sympathetic and very, very likeable. Gosling, in particular, is MAGNETIC in this movie.

HALF NELSON is a deeply absorbing character study and well worth a watch. It is a worthy examination of our vulnerability as human beings - the mistakes we constantly make and the people we inadvertently hurt as a result. Above all, it highlights our compassionate nature and our innate ability to care for one another. This is one of those movies whereby you finish watching it and maybe resolve to become a better person!

As a final comment, I also feel compelled to say that the closing scene of this flick is near-perfect.

A thought-provoking, satisfying film. RECOMMENDED.

Average customer rating:

Half Nelson [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Starring: Ryan Gosling
Manufacturer: Columbia/Tri-Star
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 1424845173
Release Date: 2007-02-13

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