Half Nelson
By Charles Cassady Jr.,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Indie inner-city drama with drug-addict teacher.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Half Nelson
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
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?
HALF NELSON is a refreshing, 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. Uplifting schoolroom dramas like Freedom Writers, Coach Carter, Stand and Deliver, and Lean on Me are frequent and mainstream, but this indie-made film is something completely different. 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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about ways this movie goes against clichés, presenting a very clearly flawed main character in the normally idealized role of a teacher-mentor. Who do you think is a healthier person, Dan Dunne or Drey? Dunne's students do seem to be learning from him, but do you really think he should have a job as an educator? What do you think will happen to him? Kids and grownups can talk about the real-life teachers they've admired, and whether any of them seemed like the sorts of characters we see presented onscreen, in Half Nelson or more typical blackboard-jungle dramas.
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 11, 2006
- On DVD or streaming: February 16, 2007
- Cast: Anthony Mackie , Ryan Gosling , Shareeka Epps
- Director: Ryan Fleck
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: Sony Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 107 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: drug content throughout, language and some sexuality.
- Last updated: October 3, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate