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Half Nelson
Half Nelson Image
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Metascore
85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 140 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps
  • Summary: Dan, an idealistic inner-city junior high school teacher with a drug habit, and Drey, one of his troubled students, stumble into an unexpected friendship that threatens either to undo them or to provide the vital change they both need to move forward in their lives. (ThinkFilm)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    100
    Superb drama from New York-based filmmakers Ryan Flek and Anna Boden.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    100
    Half Nelson offers an opportunity to marvel, once again, at the dazzling talent of Ryan Gosling for playing young men as believable as they are psychologically trip-wired.
  3. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    50
    Too bad there is only about half an hour's worth of story here. Mostly, we just watch the teacher get high, and his classroom talks about civil rights are nothing but filler.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 73
  3. Negative: 13 out of 73
  1. TyP
    10
    In my top 5 movies of all time. Captures a lifestyle in an subtle, accurate, and painful piece of art.
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. nascent
    4
    Another cliché-ridden generic drug-related high school movie. The only positive is Gosling's acting, if only the script was worthy of his casting....… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JeremyW.
    3
    Did any of you high score mopes actually see this film? I like Ryan Gosling a lot, he is a great CANADIAN actor. This film was boring. I didn't experience any emotional highs or lows during this film. Movies these days are not doing much for me… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 73 User Reviews

Trailers

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