Drama

Half Nelson

- Secrets don't let go

Despite his dedication to the junior-high students who fill his classroom, idealistic teacher Dan Dunne leads a secret life of addiction that the majority of his students will never know. But things change when a troubled student Drey makes a startling discovery of his secret life, causing a tenuous bond between the two that could either end disastrously or provide a catalyst of hope.

Release Date : 2006-08-11

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Hunting Lane FilmsJourneyman PicturesOriginal MediaSilverwood FilmsTraction Media

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Dan Dunne

Original Name : Ryan Gosling

Gender : Male

Character Name : Drey

Original Name : Shareeka Epps

Gender : Female

Character Name : Frank

Original Name : Anthony Mackie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roodly

Original Name : Jeff Lima

Gender : Male

Character Name : Isabel

Original Name : Monique Gabriela Curnen

Gender : Female

Character Name : Rachel

Original Name : Tina Holmes

Gender : Female

Character Name : Terrance

Original Name : Nathan Corbett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stacy

Original Name : Tyra Kwao-Vovo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gina

Original Name : Rosemary Ledee

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jamal

Original Name : Tristan Mack Wilds

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bernard

Original Name : Bryce Silver

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lena

Original Name : Kaela C. Pabon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Erika

Original Name : Erica Rivera

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vanessa

Original Name : Stephanie Bast

Gender : Female

Character Name : Simone

Original Name : Eleanor Hutchins

Gender : Female

Character Name : Javier

Original Name : Sebastian Sozzi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Karen

Original Name : Karen Chilton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Principal Henderson

Original Name : Starla Benford

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jimbo

Original Name : Denis O'Hare

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tina

Original Name : Deidre Goodwin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mike

Original Name : Collins Pennie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jo Dunne

Original Name : Deborah Rush

Gender : Female

Character Name : Russ Dunne

Original Name : Jay O. Sanders

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jeff Dunne

Original Name : David Easton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cindy

Original Name : Nicole Vicius

Gender : Female

Character Name : Earle

Original Name : Raymond Anthony Thomas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Dickinson

Original Name : Ron Cephas Jones

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charles

Original Name : Christopher Williamson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rose

Original Name : Leslie Eva Glaser

Gender : Female

Character Name : Suzanne

Original Name : Sharon Washington

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr. Light

Original Name : Matt Kerr

Gender : Male

Character Name : Crack Smoker

Original Name : Adepero Oduye

Gender : Female

Character Name : Referee

Original Name : Thaddeus Daniels

Gender : Male

Character Name : Motel Slow Dancer

Original Name : Susan Kerner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trumpet Player

Original Name : Stanton Davis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman with Camera

Original Name : Katie Nehra

Gender : Female

Character Name : Man on Bed

Original Name : Steve Kursh

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-05-18

Ryan Gosling is on very natural form here as the teacher "Dan" who has a bit of a drug habit after school. He's a good teacher. Well liked. A man who gets results from a class of students who would almost all rather be somewhere else, and he coaches the girls' basketball team too. Luckily for him, it's one of his pupils, "Drey" (Shareeka Epps), that discovers him a bit worse for wear in the school toilet and swiftly a friendship develops. It's one of mutual understanding. His life is a mess and she is having to deal with divorced and largely absent parents. Her brother "Mike" is in jail for drug offences, but quickly we learn that it's "Frank" (Anthony Mackie) who's really the culprit there. He tries to take care of the girl, but when the two men meet it's clear that "Dan" thinks" Frank" should leave her alone; he's a bad influence. Needless to say, there are views taken about the appropriateness of their friendship but somehow that just galvanises them into trying to help each other. For "Dan", to perhaps stop treating the women in his life like dirt; and for "Drey" to have the confidence to grab life by the throat. It's a slowly paced look at human nature this film and there's quite a degree of chemistry between the charismatic Gosling and the Epps. They are walking a tightrope that puts his career at risk and she is at a junction in her life where choices will map her future. Mackie only features sparingly but again, his character is a little more sophisticated than your usual drug dealer. "Frank" does appear to care for his charge and seems prepared to engage with "Dan", up to a point, to help the girl choose a better life. Is there room for optimism or is it all a fait accompli? Plenty of plausible emotions on display here.