"Half Nelson" in Review
by Ricky Hargrove
In a summer filled with over-hyped pirate sequels, attempts to make NASCAR look comical, and Samuel L. Jackson yelling vulgarities at snakes, there seemed to not be a single decent, clever movie to hit a theater this season. It was beginning to look as if I would have to wait for fall to arrive with its plentitude of Oscar-worthy films. It was not until the end of August that I saw a picture entitled Half Nelson that was actually worth the ten dollar admission. I noticed that Ryan Gosling starred in the film, and because he is one of the best actors under the age of 26, I figured that I would have to check it out.
The decision to see Half Nelson proved to be an amazing one, as I discovered it to be not only one of the best movies of the summer, but more than likely of the whole year. The film is about an inner-city school teacher (Gosling) who holds the honest belief that he can change the lives of the children he teaches. Although his character looks to be an honest young man in the classroom, he completely makes a one hundred and eighty degree turn when it comes to his nightlife and drug abuse. From Gosling’s character, we see how someone could possibly balance two such lifestyles, and how one would deal with the challenges of keeping them separate. These said challenges, however, become too difficult when elements of his drug-addicted life enter the classroom. One student, played by Shareeka Epps, takes notice of these slips of strange behavior. The relationship that forms due to this concern that Gosling and Epps have for each other is the backbone of the story.
While the plot stands out as a brilliant and moving portrayal of two completely different people, it is these two people, or rather the actors who play them, that really propel the story. Both Gosling and Epps give outstanding performances as regular people with triumphs and flaws. Nowadays, with the over-the-top acting produced by the likes of Johnny Depp, Jamie Foxx, and Philip Seymour Hoffman (all three of whom are extremely talented), we sometimes forget to honor the actors that depict the regular man or woman. All the acting in Half Nelson feels extremely natural and believable. This especially shines through Ryan Gosling, who is showing time and time again that he knows what he is doing in front of a camera, executing roles with perfection. His performance is so real that I left the theater believing that his character actually existed in real life. Shareeka Epps also played her character so perfectly that I could not believe she was only seventeen. Together, they make the perfect pair and rose Half Nelson to being the strongest, most moving movie of the summer.
Half Nelson definitely gets my recommendation, and although it may be a stretch, I hope to see some Academy Award nominations thrown towards the film. Hopefully, more people will take time to see this movie as opposed to the big blockbusters that are dominating the box office. I went into the theater that day not knowing what to expect. I left with the biggest appreciation for two young actors who will hopefully continue to get better and better. Hopefully others will decide to take a chance with this film as well.
