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Half Nelson
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Directed by Ryan Fleck.
An inner-city teacher struggling with addiction forms an unlikely bond with a young student who catches him in a compromising position in director Ryan Fleck's feature-length adaptation of his own award-winning short film Gowanus, Brooklyn. Despite his dedication to the junior-high students who fill his classroom, idealistic teacher Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) leads a secret life that the majority of his students will never know. When Dunne's drug-soaked nightlife begins to bleed over into his daytime hours and troubled student Drey (Shareeka Epps) makes a startling discovery, the tenuous bond that forms between the pair soon leads to a warm friendship that could either lead them down a dangerous path or provide the human companionship needed to see things from a fresh perspective and start life anew. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
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chrismorrellchrismorrell No redemption and that's fine
by chrismorrell in chrismorrell Blog
liked it.
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"Grabbing a cliche..this is truly heartwarming..shows true friendship/connection,whatever you want to call it...A slice of life,(there's another cliche for you),that takes you to the brink of "the dark side",but pulls back,as we look in on these characters. I found myself hoping,all the way through this that it wouldnt seek a "redemption" for the character,wouldnt try to "close" the story. I found myself relieved,and gladdened that all is unresolved. Not everyones cup of tea,obviously.Not a "big" film,but a signature performance from writer/director and main player. Probably a one-off. " [More]
thefilmpanelnotetakerthefilmpanelnotetaker Interview: Leah Meyerhoff Bring ...
by thefilmpanelnotetaker in thefilmpanelnotetaker Blog
hasn't rated it.
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"On Saturday, Brooklyn, NY-based filmmaker Leah Meyerhoff will be heading to Beantown to present a retrospective of her short films at the Brattle Theatre during the Boston Underground Film Festival. I had the great pleasure to hang out with Leah recently during the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin, Texas. I first became familiar with Leah’s work at a screening of short films at the Brooklyn Independent Cinema Series last year where I saw the music video she directed, Team Queen. Soon after, I watched her Student Academy-Award nominated short Twitch, which has played in over 200 film festivals around the world and won numerous awards. Last night, I spoke with Leah about her upcoming trip to Boston and what people can expect there, as well as what’s going on with her feature film in development, Unicorns, and other defining moments in her young career. Leah finds a unicorn in the Enchanted Forest in Austin, Texas, at the Bi The Way World Premiere party during SXSW.TF ... " [More]
hiccupborohiccupboro And the point is?
by hiccupboro in hiccupboro Blog
lost interest.
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"Overhyped. Too long. Might have worked better as a short film. Worst DVD cover ever. " [More]
JymkataJymkata Half Nelson
by Jymkata in FRESH
hasn't rated it.
"I wanted to see Half Nelson for a long time based on the universally glowing reviews and the rumor that Ryan Gosling's performance was a total breakthrough for an up and coming actor. Well, Gosling's performance is indeed great as is the rest of the cast, but that is the only reason I could recommend seeing this movie. I just felt like the message of the film was pointless and so much of the film feels so flat and drawn out. Much of the film could be interpreted as offensive as the main character is an anti-hero but also is the typical liberal white savior sent to educate the poor, disinterested minority kids.Sometimes I think this device can still work like in Martin Ritt's Conrack when it is sincere and not condescending to its characters, but Gosling's teacher had an agenda to rail against the world without actually engaging his students or working within the educational guidelines. The ending really resolves nothing unless the director is asking us to "make your ... " [More]
KatiesFlicksKatiesFlicks Half Nelson
by KatiesFlicks in KatiesFlicks Blog
liked it.
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"Pushing Back while Pulling Forward. Half Nelson is a movie worth your time to watch. It doesn’t begin at the beginning of anything, and it certainly doesn’t end when the movie credits rolls. It shows a glimpse into the lives of two believable people, both at major crossroads of their lives. Dan Dunne is an inner city History teacher and girl’s basketball coach. He finds a lot of time to be a major crack addict with a crazy nightlife. He has no friends, no girlfriend, but several one-night-stands. However, he is an amazing and engaging teacher. He will not stick to the provided curriculum, but prefers instead to teach that “history is change” and referencing Hegelian themes. A tree is both strong and weak, both crooked and straight. This is the perfect explanation for Dan’s own life. He is neither the hero, nor the villain of the story. He is not a good guy with a drug addiction, nor is he a bad guy who has a few good qualities. Drey is ... " [More]
wongawonga my 2006 movie list
by wonga in wonga's filmblog
liked it.
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"i saw 97 movies last year and it was hard to narrow them down but these are my favorites from 2006 for whatever reasons (i tried for 10 but just couldn't make it)! some are from 2005 and were seen later. i hope 2007 is half as good...TOP 15 LIST FOR 2006 MOVIES Sweet Land The Departed Paradise Now Three Burials Of Melquiades Estrada Neil Young: Heart Of Gold The Heart Of The Game Little Miss Sunshine Shopgirl Quinceanara Transamerica Shut Up And Sing The Prestige The Illusionist The History Boys Charlotte’s WebHONORABLE MENTIONBabel Casino Royale Cave Of The Yellow Dog Deja Vu Half Nelson Hollywoodland Kinky Boots Running With Scissors Stranger Than Fiction The Devil Wears Prada The Namesake The Notorious Bettie Page The Queen Who Loves The Sun Wordplay " [More]
wongawonga half nelson
by wonga in wonga's filmblog
liked it.
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"this is one of those movies that you're still thinking about the next day. sometimes hard to watch. excellent actors and a story that doesn't provide easy answers. i think the ending is happy (or at least hopeful) but that is very much up to interpretation! a scene toward the end is one of the saddest and most intense that i've seen in ages. i definitely want to watch it again someday. i've heard oscar buzz about Ryan Gosling and i think he deserves a nomination at least. " [More]
Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
liked it.
Ever since Blackboard Jungle, there has periodically appeared in American movies the story of a headstrong teacher taking on an inner-city school and whipping his or her students into shape, employing either militaristic tough love or a mushy appeal to the delinquents' artistic hearts. Half Nelson can't help but recall some of the more questionable "white savior saves black kids" elements of the genre in its story of an earnest, idealistic young man, Dan (Ryan Gosling), coaching basketball and teaching history and civil rights in a free-range style that chafes against the strict core curriculum of his New York City middle school. The movie quickly shatters the idealism of its hero with the murky truths of reality: Dan is a crack addict ideologically leaning on an untenable brand of '60s liberalism. However, simply subverting stereotypes does not guarantee emotional depth or thematic complexity. The film's source of power lies in the budding relationship between Dan and Drey (Shareeka Epps), a bright student from dismal circumstances. Drey is entering a critical crux in her life, when the emotional confusion of budding puberty could easily spin into the downward spiral that sent her older brother to jail for drug dealing. After Drey discovers Dan passed out in a school bathroom, their friendship develops within the uncertain confines of student/teacher and child/adult as they both try to save each other. The directing and writing by Ryan Fleck and superb naturalistic performances by Gosling and Epps captures the subtle push and pull of two damaged, needy, and intelligent young adults looking for the emotional bonds -- of friends, parents, and siblings -- they can't find from their outside social environment. Half Nelson is touching without being mawkish, morbid, or unrealistically uplifting; the title could refer to the way Dan and Drey compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses or the wrestling-grip hold their personal demons have on their psyches. ~ Michael Buening, All Movie Guide
 



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