Half Nelson (2006)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Ryan Fleck

Writers (WGA):

Ryan Fleck (written by) &
Anna Boden (written by)

Release Date:

11 August 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Secrets don't let go.

Plot:

An inner-city junior high school teacher with a drug habit forms an unlikely friendship with one of his students after she discovers his secret.

Plot Keywords:

Classroom | Drugs | History Teacher | Crack | Single Mother

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 22 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Ryan Gosling	...	Dan Dunne
Jeff Lima	...	Roodly
Shareeka Epps	...	Drey
Nathan Corbett	...	Terrance
Tyra Kwao-Vovo	...	Stacy
Rosemary Ledee	...	Gina
Tristan Wilds	...	Jamal
Bryce Silver	...	Bernard
Kaela C. Pabon	...	Lena
Erica Rivera	...	Erika (as Erika Rivera)
Stephanie Bast	...	Vanessa
Eleanor Hutchins	...	Simone
Sebastian Sozzi	...	Javier
Tina Holmes	...	Rachel
Karen Chilton	...	Karen

MPAA:

Rated R for drug content throughout, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:106 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:M18 | Portugal:M/16 | UK:15 | Australia:MA | Sweden:7 | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-13 | New Zealand:R16 | Germany:12 | Norway:10 (TV rating) | Norway:11

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Hunting Lane Films

Trivia:

(According to the filmmakers' commentary on the DVD) the film was shot hand-held, except for a short sequence in Dan Dunne's apartment. The sequence in Dunne's apartment happens when he is not there, and it contains all static shots. These static shots were shot on a tripod.

Quotes:

Isabel: Are you a communist?
Dan: What?
Isabel: I was looking through your books. Che in Africa?
Dan: So?
Isabel: The Communist Manifesto?
Dan: If I had a copy of Mein Kampf, would that make me a Nazi?
Isabel: [Eating leftover dinner] You know, this is really good. Very tasty.
Dan: You should try it warm.
Isabel: Well, you don't have a copy of Mein Kampf, but if you did, then yes, I'd ask if you were a Nazi.
Dan: Maybe I'm hiding it.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Stars & Sons

Awesome

Anyone who has experienced addiction in their lives, whether your own or someone close to you, will find this film cutting. It is not about the reasons leading to addiction or the recovery, rather it is about the experience of the addiction in its raw reality. Even if you have not experienced addiction in your life, the story is worthwhile and the photography stellar. Ryan Gosling is the perfect portrait of a good person who got lost. His portrayal of a crack head is almost too good. The dialog is not pretentious or assuming and not overused. The story unfolds itself in a very natural manner.

Highly recommended.