What’s the Story?

Daniel Dunne (Ryan Gosling) is a young man considered the "cool" teacher by the mostly minority kids in his Brooklyn-area public school. He coaches them at basketball, uses innovative teaching methods, and covers important social and political topics absent from the stale learning plans of the other teachers (the principal does not approve). But Daniel is very troubled. A stalled writer -- who may not have even wanted to teach in the first place -- he's a drug addict struggling with his ex-girlfriend's plans to marry. While smoking crack in the school's girls' restroom, he's discovered by his student Drey (Shareeka Epps). She keeps his secret, but the knowledge and guilt forms a sort of bond between them. Daniel -- no stranger to the narcotics-ridden districts -- tries to steer the fatherless Drey away from the influence of her neighbor Frank (Anthony Mackie), a small-time dealer. But it's not easy to take the moral high ground when Dunne buys from the same pusher.

Is It Any Good?

While uplifting schoolroom dramas like Freedom Writers, Coach Carter, Stand and Deliver, and Lean on Me are frequent and mainstream, the indie-made HALF NELSON is something completely different; a non-clichéd story about a troubled teacher in an inner-city school and his healing relationship with a young black student -- not the other way around. Even Frank is written on a smarter level than you'd expect, not a traditional villain.

Half Nelson is a film of shaded characterizations by excellent performers, and the plotline is mostly loose inferences and small moments, not big ones. As opposed to other "'hood" films, there's no gunfire, and potential violent confrontations don't go the expected route. The film also doesn't have a very strong ending (though it's clear the two main characters have turned corners in their lives). Indie filmmaking hallmarks like shaky camera movements and improv may not be everyone's cup of tea, but as discussion material, Half Nelson offers a lot more. It's also noteworthy as a serious feature with a young African-American female in a key role. Sadly, this remains rare in movies.

Have you seen it?

Movie Details

Studio

Sony Pictures

Director

Ryan Fleck

Cast

Anthony Mackie
Ryan Gosling
Shareeka Epps

Genre

Drama

Run time

107 minutes

Theatrical release

8/11/2006

DVD release

2/16/2007

MPAA Rating

R

MPAA explanation

drug content throughout, language and some sexuality.

For Your Family