Half Nelson
HALF NELSON (15)
D: Ryan Fleck
Axiom (Jamie Patricof, Alex Orlovsky, Lynette
Howell, Anna Bodem & Rosanne Korenberg)
US 2006
106 mins
Drama
W: Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden
DP: Andrij Parekh
Ed: Anna Boden
Ryan Gosling (Dan
Dunne), Shareeka Epps (Drey), Anthony Mackie (Frank)
Ryan Gosling delivers an exceptional
performance as a drug-addicted teacher who becomes an important role model in a young black student's life.
Aside from the good performances, the movie is
rather maudlin and manipulative. He's a druggie who can't kick his habit, and doesn't seem to want to either, but it's okay because he's teaching civil rights to a class of
black students.
It's just not Stand &
Deliver.
6/10
