“Half Nelson”
It is hard to imagine that an individual would be able to morally justify the occasion of smoking crack in the bathroom stall of a school. It is even harder to imagine that the individual would continue to use the substance even after one of his students finds him in that moment. But in the film “Half Nelson” this hard to imagine situation becomes a believable story that rocks you to your core.
Set in Brooklyn, “Half Nelson” depicts the life of an intellectual inner schoolteacher who succumbs to his demons rather than using his energy to be a proactive individual. The teacher, Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) appears to be an unconventional teacher to his peers and students but not to the extent that they would ever envision. Dunne teaches US History to a group of students who can barely comprehend what happens outside of the ghetto. After school he coaches basketball and in his spare time he likes to get high on crack.
One day he is caught by his student Drey, (Shareeka Epps) a young girl who has been surrounded by the ghetto and drug deals her whole life. When Drey catches Dunne in this compromising situation, they form a bond. Dunne oversteps his boundaries as a teacher to take care of Drey while maintaining his habit. While deep down inside the two have good intentions of helping each other, Drey becomes frustrated with Dunne as he proves to be another deadbeat person in her life.
In the film there are many moments where Dunne does things that are just not right. As the viewer you wait for his downfall or even his overdosing, but it never happens. You believe that he will get caught and that he will have to go to rehab or that he will get fired from his job. Then you wonder how often this story takes place in reality? That’s the best part about “Half Nelson” it makes you think about reality under such inconceivable circumstances.
“Half Nelson” is a must see film. Both Gosling and Epps give wonderful performances. They are so believable as these characters. This moving story allows you as the viewer to imagine accepting the addictions of others in an effort to help them out of their dark days. Even though this film is not a documentary, you feel like it could be because it is a dose of reality that many people would never have the chance to comprehend.
- Story- A+
- Acting- A+
- Visuals- A
- Originality/ Innovation- A
- Overall- A+
|
