Half Nelson (2006)

Director:

Ryan Fleck

Writers (WGA):

Ryan Fleck (written by) &
Anna Boden (written by)

Release Date:

11 August 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Secrets don't let go.

Plot:

An inner-city junior high school teacher with a drug habit forms an unlikely friendship with one of his students after she discovers his secret.

Plot Keywords:

Father Son Relationship | High School | Teacher Inspires Students | Crack | Archive Footage

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 22 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Ryan Gosling	...	Dan Dunne
Jeff Lima	...	Roodly
Shareeka Epps	...	Drey
Nathan Corbett	...	Terrance
Tyra Kwao-Vovo	...	Stacy
Rosemary Ledee	...	Gina
Tristan Wilds	...	Jamal
Bryce Silver	...	Bernard
Kaela C. Pabon	...	Lena
Erica Rivera	...	Erika (as Erika Rivera)
Stephanie Bast	...	Vanessa
Eleanor Hutchins	...	Simone
Sebastian Sozzi	...	Javier
Tina Holmes	...	Rachel
Karen Chilton	...	Karen

MPAA:

Rated R for drug content throughout, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:106 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-13 | UK:15 | Germany:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Ireland:15A | Sweden:7 | Australia:MA | Singapore:M18 | USA:R | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Hunting Lane Films

Trivia:

Dan picking up the cat before going into Frank's housewas unrehearsed. Ryan Gosling saw the stray cat during the filming to the scene, and picked it up. Because Dan’s cat died a few scenes before, the filmmakers thought it was perfect for the film and put it in the final cut.

Quotes:

Drey: What do you call cheese that's not yours?
Dan: What?
Drey: Nacho cheese.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Screenplay Series with Syd Field (2007)

Soundtrack:

The Corner

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If the strength of the medium of film is to relay meaning which cannot be expressed in words, then I don't think a review of this film on my part would be worth much. In the spirit of keeping things trite, let me just say I have seen quite a few films, quite a few classics, quite a few masterpieces, and frankly, none of them have moved me as much as this film did. How the BRILLIANT director/writers whom I'm sure we have not seen the last of, managed to weave together seamlessly political commentary, commentary on the nature of the modern family/relationships, existential struggles, racial tensions and ironies, and the very struggles with which we are born by simply being human, is beyond me. The end result was nothing short of a masterpiece. This movie will make you think, feel, and hope. Perfection projected.