Contining on the introspective theme, last night I saw Half Nelson. I went to see this firstly because I'm a sucker for a teacher movie, secondly because Ryan Gosling got an Oscar nomination and thirdly I'd heard that despite those first two things, this remained a very subtle film.
And subtle it was. Ryan Gosling is Mr Dunne, a teacher at a predominantly black school, who happens to have a crack addiction. Tracey is his student who stumbles upon him blacked out in a locker room one night, and they subsequently form a (non-sexual) friendship. Once again, outside of this there isn't a whole lot I can say about the plot. Teacher has drug addiction, student has grown up before her time and accepts it and wants to be his friend. He gets a bit weirded out and turns away from her, she turns to drug dealing friend of the family for adult male guidance (she is the daughter of a single mother).
Ryan Gosling deserved his Oscar nomination for this, and being as it's well known that I don't agree with Forrest Whittaker winning, I seriously think Ryan should have won it for this subtle, textured performance. The girl who played Tracey (whose name I do not recall at this juncture) was also amazing, I hope we get the pleasure of seeing her more often, and in roles as substantial as this one.
This slow paced, introspective movie ends with a very poignant collision of circumstances involving Mr Dunne and Tracey. This moment isn't over explained, but the viewer is left with no doubt as to the conclusion that can/should be drawn. Half Nelson is hard work, but worth it.
8 out of 10.
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The DaveScale(tm)
1 - 4.5: Fail, based on how fired up I get about it's crapness.
5 - 5.5: Thumbs down but a pass (something like a C-)
6 - 7.5: Fair to Good - a good way of thinking about this is a really good bad movie (a guilty pleasure or similar) or a film that should have been higher but just missed the mark.
8: The first mark for a very good film, 4 stars. This mark and above is really a matter of taste.
9: something like an A grade.
9.5 -10: A+
2 comments:
Glad you liked it. I think it was certainly handled with subtlety, and in a way- it is this that gives the film it's power.
Gosling was excellent, yes. This is a very sophisticated performance showing that he has great range as an actor, and also a great deal of potential.
Peter O'Toole should have won the Oscar last year for his wonderful performance in Venus, though. Gosling would have been my 2nd choice.
D.
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