The job of a teacher in an inner city school deserves to be recognized as it is not an easy job by any means. Dan Dunne, who is a history teacher, and a coach of the girls' basketball team, in addition of the difficulties of his daily life, has an added problem in that he is an addict of cocaine and other substances.
As if that weren't enough, his life is a mess as well. It shows in the way he lives, his messy apartment, the way he keeps himself. That doesn't mean he is not an intelligent person, but drugs have taken a lot from him. Dan is a man with leftist values. We see it in the way he teaches his class about recent events that relate to his almost all black students.
Drey, a sensitive student, appears to be a loner. She has seen what the drugs did to his brother, now in jail for dealing. He has been put away for a while, but ratting on Frank, the big man that used him to distribute the dope. Her single working mother, Karen, is having a tough time making ends meet with a job that doesn't pay well.
Drey sees in her teacher Don a flawed role model. While Don is kind to the girl, she realizes he has a huge problem as an addict. Their relationship comes to a standstill when the girl, who has decided to work for Frank, comes bringing cocaine to a house where she sees Don in a horrible state. Their relationship will no doubt suffer on account of this experience. Surprisingly, the film ends in a hopeful note as Drey comes to visit Don to share a quiet moment with him.
Ryan Fleck directed with a keen understanding of the situation at hand. Mr. Fleck also contributed to the screenplay with Anna Boden. The film is painful to watch, at times. Yet, it doesn't depress us the way we thought it would. Ryan Gosling gives a sensitive portrait of the man who has stooped low and doesn't know how to climb back up. Shareeka Epps also made an impression as Drey. Anthony Mackey, a fine actor makes an excellent Frank. The same can be said about Karen Chilton who plays Drey's mother. Deborah Rush has a chance to shine as Don's mother.
"Half Nelson" shows a realistic portrait of the world it depicts.
As if that weren't enough, his life is a mess as well. It shows in the way he lives, his messy apartment, the way he keeps himself. That doesn't mean he is not an intelligent person, but drugs have taken a lot from him. Dan is a man with leftist values. We see it in the way he teaches his class about recent events that relate to his almost all black students.
Drey, a sensitive student, appears to be a loner. She has seen what the drugs did to his brother, now in jail for dealing. He has been put away for a while, but ratting on Frank, the big man that used him to distribute the dope. Her single working mother, Karen, is having a tough time making ends meet with a job that doesn't pay well.
Drey sees in her teacher Don a flawed role model. While Don is kind to the girl, she realizes he has a huge problem as an addict. Their relationship comes to a standstill when the girl, who has decided to work for Frank, comes bringing cocaine to a house where she sees Don in a horrible state. Their relationship will no doubt suffer on account of this experience. Surprisingly, the film ends in a hopeful note as Drey comes to visit Don to share a quiet moment with him.
Ryan Fleck directed with a keen understanding of the situation at hand. Mr. Fleck also contributed to the screenplay with Anna Boden. The film is painful to watch, at times. Yet, it doesn't depress us the way we thought it would. Ryan Gosling gives a sensitive portrait of the man who has stooped low and doesn't know how to climb back up. Shareeka Epps also made an impression as Drey. Anthony Mackey, a fine actor makes an excellent Frank. The same can be said about Karen Chilton who plays Drey's mother. Deborah Rush has a chance to shine as Don's mother.
"Half Nelson" shows a realistic portrait of the world it depicts.