Review of Half Nelson (2006) by Jessica G — 29 Jun 2010

13-year-old student catches her history teacher/basketball coach doing drugs in the locker room bathroom. She is loyal to him, and doesn't tell anyone. They from a sort of friendship. Drugs is ruining his life... he lost his girlfriend, his relationship with his family is strained, he cain't pay off his college debt because he spends all his money on drugs, and worst of all, he goes to work every day feeling lousy and just tries to make it through. He tried quitting but just can't seem to. He tries to be a role model for the girl because she has an absent dad, a brother in jail, and a mother who is never home because she works so much. The girl's brother has a dope-pushing friend who is supposed to look out for her. The history teacher confronts the drug dealer and tells her he's a bad influence on the girl. The drug dealer reminds him that he is a wreck and should basically take the log out of his own eye so to speak.

I think this is a morality tale. I didn't care for the ending because I wanted it to be happy. But alas, sometimes life isn't happily ever after. Maybe when he shaved it was symbolic that he was becoming a new man and putting away the habit, but maybe not. Maybe all it was saying was just to NOT DO DRUGS or you will end up like this poor, sad man.