Half Nelson (2006)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Half NelsonThe premise is way too practical to breed the crisp out of the script and the makers being aware of it doesn't spend time on it and instead focuses on its meticulous yet bold character's that helps flow the process smoothly without any friction. There is a nerving sensibility pulsating behind the screen throughout the course of the feature, which builds itself up to this hegemony of dramatic conflicts that starts begging the existence of the character's purpose which communicates and connects immensely with the viewers. It is short on technical aspects like sound department and editing, although is beautifully shot with amazing camera work. Ryan Fleck; the director, has done a tremendous work on executing the anticipated vision and creating a perfect arc for the protagonist that even though is predictable, is certifiably entertaining and electrifying. The performance objective is in safe hands of Ryan Gosling who pulls it off brilliantly as a questionable and not-at-all-lovable character that sweats and struggles, creating a much larger impact on the audience. Half Nelson screeches onto one's heart through ethereal morale by shifting the seats and depicting each individual's perspective that all culminates into one big hug for the viewers, actors, makers and society that connects it all.

Ryan Gosling's quietly intense performance in the lead role is the centerpiece of a troubling but watchable 2006 drama called HALF NELSON, a film which sends some troubling mixed messages, some inaccurate information, and, considering the subject matter, never provides the payoff that it should.Gosling plays Dan Dunne, a high school teacher and girls' basketball coach at a Brooklyn high school, who is caught smoking crack in the girls' locker room by one of his students named Dray (Shareeka Epps) and the disturbing directions that this event take the relationship between the two.This is a troubling story on several levels and though I kept watching, found myself squirming for most of the film's running time. I was initially bothered by the fact that after after this event, over 30 minutes of screen time pass before Dan and Dray discuss what happened. Prior to this, Dan acts as if nothing happened and Dray doesn't tell anyone, though the scene where she catches Dan, you can see it in her face that her opinion of the man has seriously altered. She has the power to help the man by reporting what she saw but she doesn't. She actually starts spending more time with him, which is wrong on all kinds of levels and he does nothing to stop it.Another problem with a story that is supposedly about addiction is that we never really see Dan suffer any consequences of his actions. Addiction has consequences and Dan pretty much sails through the running time without any serious consequences. The closest things to consequences the character suffers are a fat lip from a girlfriend and the death of his cat, clearly a result of his neglect.Writer director Ryan Fleck is also not familiar with the effects of smoking crack and snorting cocaine. One of the primary effects of these drugs is paranoia and we see none of this in Dan...he gets high and then likes to get in people's faces instead the isolation that usually occurs with coke addicts. His complete indifference to Dray delivering drugs to his hotel room was also disturbing, which was the just the surface of Dray's issues, but Dan doesn't really attempt to do the right things to help her.The mixed messages and bad behavior glamorized here notwithstanding, Gosling gives a mesmerizing performance that earned him an Oscar nomination and is matched note for note by Epps, who should have received a nomination as well. The shoestring budget on which this indie was clearly shot does add to the realism, but our hero doesn't really change or learn anything and because of this, the film, though watchable, left a bad taste in my mouth.

Ryan Gosling is soooo... I don't know what words to use, so I'd rater say : look again and again and again at everything he does (and doesn't) do : take the expressions in his eyes, the way he chuckles his head at times.No big visual effects, no Hollywoodian music, serve well this healthy movie. Makes it far more real. Touches far more deeply. Though two things I missed : a non shaking camera and some pretty light (as happens for one minute in the movie). Anyway I would follow the character in his creepy apartment... I love him!

Yes, it's been eight years and i still can't believe it. It was like yesterday when i stayed up late,looking for a movie to watch to distract me from my loneliness. Ryan Gosling got my attention with "The notebook", he made this really corny romantic story into something more, he created the character of Noah-the character of the lonely, left behind guy, who tries to find meaning in life, but instead grows a beard and keeps his promise of building a house. I'm sure there are so much more characters like this but this one really got me. And now this beautiful film-"Half Nelson"-the story of a teacher but not your "Dead poets society" teacher, who jumps and excites you, no. The lost teacher who has nothing and no one, and only the children keep him focused. You should be very careful before starting watching this film, because it doesn't have much happening in it. Its just a moment, couple of days from the life of this guy. My favourite scene is when he is dancing with this woman he met in the bar, while "lover's spit"is playing. I think this is one of the most powerful scenes of the century.