IMDb > Half Nelson (2006)
Half Nelson
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Half Nelson (2006) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 21 | slideshow) Videos (see all 8)
Half Nelson (2006) -- 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.
Half Nelson (2006) -- 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.
Half Nelson (2006) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   20,871 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Ryan Fleck (written by) &
Anna Boden (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Half Nelson on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 August 2006 (USA) more
Genre:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 22 wins & 21 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(149 articles)
The Notable Films of 2010: Part Five
 (From Dark Horizons. 23 December 2009, 10:10 AM, PST)

Decade: Ryan Fleck on “Half Nelson”
 (From indieWIRE - People. 20 December 2009, 8:03 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Saving Oneself more (150 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for drug content throughout, language and some sexuality.
Runtime:
USA:106 min (Sundance Film Festival)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Although it was produced and shot in New York City, the Toronto band Broken Social Scene is featured prominently on the soundtrack. Broken Social Scene even recorded some original music for the film. more
Quotes:
Dan: One thing doesn't make a man.
Drey: [softly laughing]
Dan: What?
Drey: One thing doesn't make a man?
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Last Place more

FAQ

What is a Half Nelson?
Why is the film titled after a wrestling move?
more
57 out of 77 people found the following comment useful.
Saving Oneself, 17 February 2007
10/10
Author: TemporaryOne-1 from Orlando, Florida, USA

Ryan Gosling gives an off-the-charts, startling, emotionally charged performance as Dan Dunne, a young and unhappy man who is disenchanted with the world and himself.

The camera follows every emotion that surfaces in Dan's mind and face and soul; we watch him spend every waking moment pondering life and its intricate hypocrisies, intolerance, and continuous disappointments, we watch him spend every waking moment pondering his own personal failings and let-downs, we watch him spend every waking moment trying to escape his anguish through drug abuse, and we watch him spend every waking moment mentally and physically punishing himself for his failings by engaging in drug abuse.

In addition to the abuse of drugs, his emotional decline is accelerated by his career as a history teacher (and coach) in an inner-city run-down school where a few, if any, students graduate highschool, let alone advance to college. We readily discern that he has given up all attempts at trying to reach out and inspire his students to fight against the injustices and misinformation that exist in the world.

His mental anguish and desolation and severe alienation, melded with rampant drug use, has nearly destroyed him.

His only hope of survival is being inspired by one of his own students, Drey - whom he has made an incongruous connection with - to save himself.

As Drey (Shareeka Epps) struggles to accept Dan's failings - in the hope that a friendship with him will help both of them overcome their circumstances - she unwittingly leads Dan further down the path of self-destruction, which can only end with a clarifying moment of salvation or untimely death...

Half Nelson is a masterpiece film, emotionally purgative and hypnotically realistic; its depiction of people who only experience fleeting moments of happiness in a retrogressive, bleak world is so realistic that it is visually and spiritually and emotionally soul-shattering.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (150 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Half Nelson (2006)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
How do the principle + faculty figure out all so conclusively? (spoiler) eYeDEF
Half Nelson Full Crap elke-6
Top 5 performances of this decade dylan-UP
Ryan Gosling is an interesting actor. crb48
'she's in her first semester at georgetown... history major' fanthom99
Do you have recommendations for similar movies? nnmko
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Basketball Diaries Thirteen Across the Universe Less Than Zero River's Edge
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.