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Half Nelson stars the amazing Ryan Gosling as Dan Dunne, a middle school history teacher and basketball coach. Dan is the kind of teacher that tries his hardest to make class both fun and interesting. Dan also tries to connect with his students, using examples they would understand. You know, a good teacher. The only problem with Dan is his slight addiction to illicit narcotics; which puts him in a tough spot while lighting up in the locker room and having a student find him. The student, Drey, strikes up a friendship with Dan. Drey already has a troubled life, being raised by a single mother who always working, having a father that's never around, a brother that's in prison for dealing drugs, and the neighborhood drug dealer, Frank, trying to get her to also start dealing drugs.
The power of change is preached throughout the entire film. Even though he's the one teaching it, Dan thinks he can't change his drug habits; even saying that he tried rehab and it didn't work. Dan tries to help Drey out, giving her rides home and, in a way, protecting her. But with Frank also trying to "help" Drey out, she has to make a decision whether she wants to listen to Dan, the hypocrite who tells her not to be around Frank because he deals drugs, or Frank, the guy who "helped" her brother. Now, this was not really an easy decision for Drey, but she goes with Frank. Eventually dealing to Mr. Dunne, in which case both re-evaluate their lives.
Overall, this is a fantastic movie. The acting is amazing, making for a realistic-feeling movie. The themes of change make for a really good story. The movie lacks in character development; failing to explain the source of Dan's drug habits, neglecting to add any details about his ex-girlfriend, aswell as not really giving any sort of information on anything that wasn't Dan or Drey.
Rating: 8/10
Discussion topic: What would you do if you found your teacher doing drugs?
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