Who is up for some 3RFF?

I want buddies.

Half Nelson

This movie was excellent. Incredible acting, beautifully shot, and thought provoking-what more could you want? Some might say a more developed plot, but I would rather a film show me bits and pieces of a story and give me something to ponder than have a story with a tidy storyline. Don't get me wrong, there is certainly a plot, but to me, it wasn't as important as the characters or the the power contained in the individual scenes. That isn't to say that it isn't cohesive either, I thought it held together very well, especially in developing the characters. Ryan Gosling and Shareeka Epps are fantastic; it was a rare case for me when the acting really stood out and made the film.
I aslo really appreciated that like Raising Victor Vargas, this was not a completely bleak picture of inner city life. The film isn't about Ryan Gosling coming into a tough inner city school and whipping it into shape after he cracks the tough outer shells of his students and wins them over. Instead, his students are realistic, some bored, some attentive and wanting to learn. The problems Gosling's character has are far greater than problems he is facing in the classroom, which the wrost is a boy cheating on tests. By presenting the school this way, it is a backdrop for two compeling characters, rather than a movie about social issues, which in my opinion at least, rarely paint an accurate picture.
One last thing: I have never seen an addict portrayed more charmingly than Gossling's character is. I don't know if this is a good thing, the movie certainly doesn't glamorize drug use, but you do absolutely love Gosling's character. I'll go with it being a good thing.

Chan Chan

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