Half Nelson-2006

Director Ryan Fleck

Starring Ryan Gosling

Scott’s Review #1,184

Reviewed October 8, 2021

Grade: B+

Half Nelson (2006) is an independent drama that showcases Ryan Gosling’s acting talent and forays into meatier, more mature roles.

He was only twenty-five years old when he made the film, but was growing into a mature actor, which is part of the fun of watching it.

The New York City setting conveys a gritty, seedy essence appropriate to the subject matter.

Speaking of, the seriousness and potential creep factor may turn some viewers off, but true cinema fans and admirers of good stories will appreciate the film.

The taboo dynamic of a thirteen-year-old student and her drug-addicted teacher is not for everyone, and many will not even dare to go there.

But the payoff is worth the initial squirming.

Especially forewarned are those seeking a romantic or action film from Gosling, as they will surely be disappointed. This is a more cerebral and artful effort.

The film earned Gosling his first Academy Award nomination—a well-deserved one.

Dan Dunne (Gosling) is a young history teacher at a school in Brooklyn, New York. Though he is highly regarded and well-liked by his students and colleagues, he secretly spends his evenings hopping from bar to bar and getting high.

He lives a double life.

One night a shy female student named Drey (Shareeka Epps) catches him in a drug-induced haze after a basketball game and the two strike up an unlikely friendship.

As Dan struggles with his addiction, he tries to act as a mentor to the girl, whose brother is serving time for dealing drugs.

It’s easy to dismiss a film like Half Nelson because of the uneasy premise. But below that resides a sweet and kind story about two human beings bonding over their lives in crisis.

There is too much negativity among teachers these days, so it is reassuring to see a film where the student and teacher bond under the most unlikely circumstances.

Gosling and Epps are both spectacular. They give their all as an unlikely pair, he an idealist, and she a girl trapped in ghetto life. The connection between the characters is palpable, especially given the role reversal.

They slowly become forever bonded, and the reaction is fresh, layered with genuine emotion. And who’s the teacher and who’s the student?

As terrific as they are together, they each have their own story. I loved learning more about Dan’s wrecked love life, but I still wanted to know why he escaped to drugs in the first place.

Drey faces enormous challenges of her own and is pressured to go down the same rabbit hole that many in similar circumstances have. She is savvy enough to know that if she does it, it will lead to an unhappy life, but will she go through with it anyway?

Even if a viewer never sets foot in an undesirable area, they can nonetheless place themselves there for the duration of the film.

I love the ending of the film.

Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, a filmmaking duo best known for independent features, churn out terrific, subdued work.

Half Nelson feels authentic, with grainy, shaky filmmaking that makes the viewer feel as if they are an observer in the lives of Dan and Drey and part of their world.

A serene but not simple film, Half Nelson (2006) teaches many valuable lessons. With perseverance and unlikely friendships, mixed with two separate character studies, the film has a lot going on, but never overcomplicates itself.

I longed for more about Dan’s descent into drug use, but the rest of the experience is fantastic.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actor-Ryan Gosling

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 2 wins-Best Feature, Best Director-Ryan Fleck, Best Male Lead-Ryan Gosling (won), Best Female Lead-Shareeka Epps (won), Best First Screenplay