Stick This in Your Notebook, Asshole
Half Nelson / Dustin Rowles
Back in my college days, I had a roommate (all four years, in fact) who ultimately ended up getting a master’s in education and teaching high school down in Arkansas. He was a totally good guy, if a bit on the odd end of the spectrum (he’d often let out a primal scream for no cause and then do a little jig, whether an audience was around or not), but like many a folk in his early-to-mid 20s, he had a near constant hankering for the cannabis. So, he’d come home after each day of teachin’ and sit down in front of the television with his girlfriend and smoke up just long enough to eventually extract some unintentional comedy out of his milieu. As I recall, he also liked to swap Marilyn Manson bootleg tapes with his high-school students from time to time, as well. And, while I’m certain most parents probably would prefer not to leave their children’s education in the hands of a pot-smoking instructor with a fondness for bands named after supermodels/mass murderers, the fact was that the guy actually showed a modicum of give-a-shit about his students. I haven’t a clue how good he was in class but, aside from trading bootlegs with the Goth kids, he showed up on Friday nights to watch his students play football — and the guy hated sports with the same intensity he reserved for boy bands and evangelism.
And, as far as I can tell, that level of interest probably exceeds that of 80 percent of today’s educators — not that I really blame teachers for not giving a damn. Given the $22,000 starting salary down south, it’s a goddamn miracle that most teachers actually bother showing up. The “man” doesn’t pay enough to ask you to give a shit about a bunch of Ritalin-happy, text-messaging punks who speak in IM language and shoot up schools because some sherbet-smelling teenager wouldn’t pass him a note. Hell, give me a cross-dressing reefer-head who’ll recommend the occasional good book over a burnt-out, blue-haired crustcicle who’s been teaching from the same lesson plan since the Carter administration any goddamn day of the week. So long as he doesn’t have a weird sexual predilection for little ones, I say: Toke up.
And that’s sort of the predicament you’re faced with in Half Nelson: On the one hand, you have a freebasing inner-city junior-high-school teacher, Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) (he’s a base-head because he can’t afford cocaine on a teacher’s salary), who spends his evenings getting high and doing the tango with street walkers. On the other hand, he’s a fucking helluva educator and exactly the kind of guy you want teaching your kids. He eschews government-defined lesson plans, opting instead to teach a Hegelian dialectical view of historical change to a group of ninth graders who — under the tutelage of anyone else — would have absolutely no interest in the subject.
But they’re fascinated with their teacher, and the audience is equally transfixed with Gosling, who turns in one of those rare performances that makes you feel giddy just watching him onscreen — honest to God, it’s a head-shaking, awe-inducing accomplishment, the rare drug-addled, self-destructive character that you find yourself completely invested in (like Lohan, only likable). I suspect that anyone who has only seen Gosling in The Notebook might be as skeptical as I was walking in, expecting a smirky, self-referential Breckin Meyer-type performance. You have to see it to believe it, but somehow Gosling manages to be both subtle and dominating, commanding a Pacino-like screen presence with the flash of a simple smile of vulnerability. And unlike a lot of other attractive actors who are so obviously taking the role of drug addict to attract some Oscar buzz, there is no outward indication of self-awareness in Gosling’s performance — he’s self assured, to be sure, but even that aspect belongs in the character. Indeed, Gosling is just flat-out flooring, the best acting job I’ve seen since Heath Ledger’s turn in Brokeback Mountain, and both performances share the same wow-like understatement that leaves you wondering how a guy like Gosling could end up in the current wave of teen heartthrobs.
But what’s almost equally amazing is the performance of Shareeka Epps, who plays Drey, one of Mr. Dunne’s students. She walks into a locker room after a girls’ basketball game and finds Dunne, who is also her coach, huddled in a bathroom stall hitting the crack pipe. She has every reason to turn on him, but — as the latchkey daughter of a single mom who works double shifts as an EMT and the little sister of a man who is in prison for drug-related crimes — she seems to find something fascinatingly real about a superstar teacher with a drug addiction. In a very unassuming way, she makes Dunne her salvation project, while at the same time quietly using him to help escape her lot. The IMDb has absolutely no autobiographical information about Epps, but the old soul within her outdates the likes of Dakota Fanning by a few decades, I’d imagine. She’s mostly dour and seemingly detached in the film, but every few scenes or so, she’ll reveal a bit of 12-year-old humanity in a smile that will expose her crooked teeth, which almost feels like a goddamn heartbreaking metaphor.
From the moment Drey walks in on Dunne in the stall, their friendship is confirmed, though it’s far from the Disneyfied, singing-in-hairbrushes-to-Motown-hits kind of relationship you might expect in a teacher-saves-student-who-saves-teacher kind of flick. The movie — which is captured with typical indie film stock — is a bit slow in parts, but necessarily so, allowing the teacher-student relationship to bloom naturally, without forcing some inane backstory into the proceedings to create a contrived context. His attempts to save her from a pusher (Anthony Mackie, who is also very good) and her attempts to rescue him from addiction (and the same pusher) ultimately leads to the film’s despairing (though asexual), rock-bottom “ass-to-ass” moment. But Gosling creates the kind of character who you watch go into a downward spiral, both at school and at home, and hope against anything that he’ll pull out of it, knowing at the same time that if he does, the film will feel kind of lame and feel-goody.
But director Ryan Fleck (who co-wrote with Anna Boden) knows his material and hews — perhaps a bit too closely — to the reality of addiction, without really making Half Nelson a glum addiction film, per se. Still, there are no Bobby Fischer/Finding Forrester epiphanic moments, but neither does it devolve into a Requiem for a Dream-type experience that has you looking for a 10th-floor window. Indeed, there is just enough optimism in Half Nelson to leave you feeling content, but not so much that you feel robbed. In an indie world where quirk and whimsy seem to be constantly battling it out with utter despair, Half Nelson is one of the few films that finds a satisfying middle ground.
Watch the Half Nelson trailer.
Dustin Rowles is the publisher of Pajiba. He lives in a blue house with his wife in a hippie colony/college town in upstate New York. You may email him, or leave a comment below.
The Films of Brian De Palma, Part One | | This Film Is Not Yet Rated
Comments
First?
Damn that sounds excellent, it wasn't even on my radar but I'm gonna add it to my list. Of course ten to one odds say it'll never play here and I'll have to wait the DVD.
Posted by: BLackWolf at September 14, 2006 3:39 PM
I've been telling people that Gosling had some serious chops-potential since seeing his interesting work in the resolutely mediocre United States of Leland and the godawful Murder By Numbers. Good to see he's finally getting some worthy material.
Posted by: BabyTyrone at September 14, 2006 4:15 PM
That's the best review I've seen you guys write in such a long time (I think the last one was Little Miss Sunshine). I can't wait to see it, sounds like the writers put an actual effort in making it real, instead of giving us another glorified/disgusted look at drug addiction.
Posted by: Gina at September 14, 2006 5:46 PM
EXCELLENT review. And I've also suspected that Gosling had some ferocious talent lurking behind that deceptively pretty face. And for the record, though NOTEBOOK was rather unfortunate in many respects, I thought Gosling demonstrated a lot of natural charisma and ease even there (although it was frequently off-set by his very uneven performance)
Posted by: polaris at September 14, 2006 5:50 PM
Wow! A good movie about teaching. Fantastic!
I always thought Gosling had it in him after the underrated The Slaughter Rule. Being a teacher (albeit NOT one who hits the pipe), I'm glad to hear that there are movies being made who don't treat us as afterthoughts (Ferris Bueller) or as saints (Mr. Holland's Opus). Focus on the humanity, both good and bad, and you'll get my 9 bucks every time.
Posted by: tibby at September 14, 2006 6:27 PM
I first became aware of Ryan in "The Believer", which is a must see. He nails the character, and the storyline is excellent. I think he's more of a good actor with mediocre parts (ie, "The Notebook"), than the other way around. Anywho, kind of a fan.....
Posted by: Amy Dordan at September 14, 2006 6:52 PM
I said in the weekly trade round-up from a couple weeks ago that you guys needed to review this... I'm so glad you did! This is one of the best movies I've seen all year, Gosling was absolutely astounding for all the reasons you wrote, and I hope that we'll be seeing Epps in future projects. Overall a really great film, I hope it gets recognition it deserves.
Posted by: Nat at September 14, 2006 6:54 PM
It's still weird to see Ryan Gosling now after watching him on that show about a high school on a cruise ship.
Whatever it was called.
Posted by: Mara at September 14, 2006 7:41 PM
reviews are so much better on this site than in *any* of the print publications i subscribe to/read.
beautiful film, lovely review.
i need to know: does anyone recognize the music playing in the pivotal motel scene? (i don't think it's on the soundtrack.)
Posted by: elizabeth at September 14, 2006 7:54 PM
What an absolutely beautiful review. Thank you.
Posted by: Courtney at September 14, 2006 8:07 PM
Excellent Review. I really really want to see this and the illusionist, but will probably have to wait for DVD
Posted by: joe at September 14, 2006 8:17 PM
I knew Gosling had it the minute I saw him in "The Believer". It's nice to see him pick even more kick-ass, challenging movie roles. Can't wait for this one.
Posted by: em at September 14, 2006 10:15 PM
great review and i'm so pleased that you've published it today (because I wouldn't have decided on seeing it otherwise while i'm in san fran). From reading interviews with Gosling i somehow came to have a lot of faith in his acting and the projects he would choose. But I trust you more than myself now and I had to be sure. thanks again
Posted by: adriane at September 14, 2006 10:45 PM
I appreciate the fullness of your review: how you express Gosling's achievement so well and follow it with Epp's nearly unbelievable work for a young girl. I found it an enjoyable film in a transfixing way. Theirs was a relationship that was needed so deeply by both. The director deserves real praise too, I think.
Posted by: d henry at September 14, 2006 10:46 PM
Hell, give me a cross-dressing reefer-head who'll recommend the occasional good book over a burnt-out, blue-haired crustcicle whose been teaching from the same lesson plan since the Carter administration any goddamn day of the week.
Now, write a hundred times on the chalkboard, "I will not trust my spell-checker to tell the difference between a cross-dressing simple contraction who'll recommend the occasional good movie and a burnt-out, blue-haired possessive fucking pronoun who's forgotten everything she ever learned from conjunction junction."
We expect, no, we DEMAND, perfection from our beloved Pajibists!
Author's Note: Sorry, Mr. Grammarian. Won't happen again, Mr. Grammarian. Can I be excused now, Mr. Grammarian? (Also, noted and corrected. Thanks.)
Posted by: Conan the Grammarian at September 14, 2006 10:46 PM
"It's still weird to see Ryan Gosling now after watching him on that show about a high school on a cruise ship.
Whatever it was called."
Posted by: Mara at September 14, 2006 07:41 PM-
"Breaker High" He played Sean, the quirky, nerd with a heart of gold who hung out with the hulking stoner and spent his days in shades and Hawaian t-shirt devising plans on getting dates with the popular girls. Think Duckie meets Anthony Michael Hall. My sister and I loved the show when we were younger. When I saw Gosling in "The Notebook" my jaw dropped. I didn't recognize him. Such different characters.
Posted by: bluegrl at September 14, 2006 10:53 PM
Hah! Breaker High. That's what it was called.
That, and he played.. Young Tarzan? Something like that. I bet he just looks back on those days and cringes.
Now then. To find out where in Cowtown this movie is playing so I can drag my roommate to it.
Posted by: Mara at September 15, 2006 12:33 AM
i'm with BabyTyrone on this, i thought he was amazing in united states of leland, and even murder by numbers. he kinda falls into the same catgory with ryan reynolds, too talented for how attractive he is (people can have great careers in hollywood without the acting skills as long as they look like that!) minus the silly jokes plus a hint of mystery behind that smile... yeah, i'm a fan!
Posted by: irina at September 15, 2006 1:00 AM
speaking of mr reynolds, didn't he do a movie where he was the popular teacher on campus, mr. D? he had the good sense of dying in the end though... now THAT was a shitty disney/feel good movie...
Posted by: irina at September 15, 2006 1:04 AM
Your review was dead on!
It was slow at certain scenes but there were some images that linger long after the screen dims.
The girl who plays Drey is powerful and Gosling gives a heartbreakingly honest performance.
ps. Breaker High was awesome. I miss it.
Posted by: io at September 15, 2006 1:53 AM
forgot to reply to "Stick this in your Notebook, Asshole".
BITCH!
Posted by: io at September 15, 2006 1:56 AM
Any review that has a jab at Breckin Meyer is a fantastic piece of writing. Brilliant!
Posted by: krebbington at September 15, 2006 2:00 AM
Wow, I guess this really is as good as the preview made it seem.
And why the beef with Breckin Meyer? He did a good job in Go. Don't fault him his CGI cat money.
Posted by: Justin at September 15, 2006 2:54 AM
Excellent review. I'm not really into the Finding Forrester/Good Will Hunting flicks, but I'm actually excited to see this.
Posted by: kristin at September 15, 2006 10:27 AM
"That, and he played.. Young Tarzan? Something like that. I bet he just looks back on those days and cringes."
Man, I think that was Young Hercules...I think I saw it once on some random kid's channel.
Posted by: em at September 15, 2006 10:30 AM
Liked the review and I wanted to check this out anyway. As to the "$22,000 starting salary down south," the starting salary for a 10-month (vs. up to 12-month) teacher in the Houston school district is over $36,000 before bonuses. I'm sure they're lower in like Mississippi and Alabama, and of course they should be paid more given their responsibility, but at least here teachers do alright.
Posted by: Eep at September 15, 2006 11:47 AM
When I was in college, one of my roommates was very similar - a pre-K education major who would come home, get stoned to the bejeesus with us, and then we'd all sit around and help him make dinosaurs out of construction paper while listening to Uncle Tupelo. And guess what - he's a hell of a teacher.
The Notebook, while being at times saccharine, cheesy, predictable and hackneyed, had some good performances in it, and Gosling was damn near excellent in it. It comes as no surprise that he's great in this. Thanks for putting it on my radar. And good review, btw.
Posted by: TK at September 15, 2006 2:35 PM
Thank you for spelling "sherbet" correctly. You made my day!
Posted by: J at September 15, 2006 2:49 PM
Amazing movie. Gosling always goes peices where he plays crazy/drug addicted/neo-nazis very well. His indie picks are always excellent. As previously stated The Believer is a must see. Such a shame he had to go and be known as the guy in the Notebook.
Half Nelson is an amazing movie though. And since it hasn't been mentioned before, the music used in the movie is flawless. The Broken Social Scene pieces used fit the scenes perfectly. Hell the whole soundtrack is great.
Posted by: L at September 15, 2006 3:12 PM
Saw this film a few months ago and loved Ryan in the part. The guy deserves at least an Oscar nom for his performance. As for the girl, she played the part in the short film that the filmmakers took to the Sundance labs. She is currently living in Binghamton NY (Dustin you can stop in to say hi) and is doing another film shortly.
Posted by: Peter at September 15, 2006 4:17 PM
Hegelian?!? Thank you for validating my Hendrix College philosophy degree...
Posted by: Ian at September 16, 2006 4:28 AM
Ryan was the title character in Young Hercules.
I've been a Ryan fangirl since YH (we didn't get Breaker High in Aus) and have been doing my damndest to convince people that he really can act, regardless of how very pretty he is. So very pretty.
Posted by: Moi at September 18, 2006 9:14 AM
A treat for the Gosling fans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s3i44DGS4A
(His solo is around a minute and a half into the clip)
Posted by: kai at September 19, 2006 11:00 AM
Gosling was great on Breaker High-- a show about a bunch of retarded kids going to school on a cruise ship. With quality material, he is incredible. Still not sure where the hell he got that accent from, though (not just in this movie, but every movie, it seems...)
Posted by: Rhiannon Brock at September 19, 2006 12:34 PM
The starting teacher salary in Oklahoma was $18.5k when I started in 2000. Makes one sick to think about the 24k spent on the university to take a job that pays less than McDonalds. This movie sounds wonderful.
Posted by: G40 at September 19, 2006 6:13 PM
Well-written review (as always). I'll definitely try to see this one.
However...
bands named after supermodels/mass murderers
Supermodel? Oh callow youth, Marilyn Monroe was indeed a pinup before she became an (underrated) actress, but the term "supermodel" is totally wrong here. Try "sex goddess" instead.
Love ya. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Nitpicker at September 21, 2006 7:43 AM
I have to say your review was right on. I seen this movie about a month ago in NYC and I found it brilliant. The performances of Gosling and Epps were fantastic. There were a few scenes that I found disturbing to watch but to me that is what made this film believable.
I recommend everyone see this film.
Posted by: Believer at September 30, 2006 9:52 AM
No question about it: this is one of the best films I've seen in years. It's been a long time since I left a movie theater actually feeling giddy. And I agree with Moi--Gosling is so very pretty.
Posted by: PP at October 3, 2006 3:52 PM
I saw this tonight and I'm floored by both actors performances. I've always liked Gosling and his choice of movie roles. I especially loved his portrayal of tormented jew in The Believer, but this one topped all of his accomplishments. He was great as Daniel Dunn. Watching him was mesmerizing, It's as if the role was tailor-made for him. The climax was very good. They didn't say a word but their faces says it all. It was, in my opinion, one of the best climax in cinematic history.
It was a very satisfying film. I wanted to see it again after I left the theaters. I will definetly buy this when it comes out in DVD.
Posted by: carrie at October 16, 2006 2:07 AM
beautiful movie, and by the way, for the girl that asked, the song in the pivotal motel scene is i believe "shampoo suicide" by broken social scene...have to see it again, but im pretty sure thats it...
Posted by: jordan melcher at November 7, 2006 6:21 PM
the motel scene song is shampoo suicide by broken scoial scene
Posted by: brent at March 29, 2007 9:01 PM
The original version, from which this version is adapted, is very good as well. Shareeka Epps is in it. They show it on IFC sometimes.
Posted by: Boris at June 9, 2007 2:49 AM