Review of Half Nelson (1985) by Mohsin B — 30 Sep 2012
I had heard great things about this one. Can't say I was blown away.
It's one of those films that doesn't really have a beginning-middle-end so much as it just "is". It's a character study. In that regard, it's semi-successful. I was interested in the two main characters and enjoyed their interaction even though not much was happening. But after about an hour of this relatively short film, that wore thin. He's an intelligent, disillusioned drug addict whose heart is in the right place even though his actions are self-destructive. Yes, thanks, we got that in the first 10 minutes. Now show us more.
The ingredients were there for a really interesting film, but nothing ever develops. The scenes seem repetitive and the message so muddled that I couldn't help wondering if Drey wasn't better off with the drug dealer and if Dunne really was just a self-righteous prick. (never mind those painful dialectics scenes).
The ending, which feels tacked on, doesn't ring true. The film has the right tone - it just doesn't make any music.
Points for the acting and chemistry, deductions for the story.
This review of Half Nelson (1985) was written by Mohsin B on 30 Sep 2012.
Half Nelson has generally received very positive reviews.
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