Review of Half Nelson (2006) by Danielj. — 10 Mar 2007
It's a low-key independent film, muted and restrained in its emotionas. It's also empty. I got excited about seeing it because the word of mouth was pretty hot, all about how Gosling is going to be an actor in the vein of Johny Depp, a pretty boy who does it for the art.
But it's closer to Brad Pitt, who choses movies with self-depreciating scenes of him getting his ass kicked, just becaues he thinks he looks cool getting his ass kicked. Half Nelson is just as much a vanity project for Gosling as the films that the big stars like Tom Cruise handpick for themselves when they decide to be a Samurai or a Special agent.
They're painting a picture over tiem of their own persona from a pallette of exagerated fantasies. Half Nelson is the same thing, only on a small scale, using junkie chic. Every choice, from Gosling's calculator watch, to his shirts, to the ironic and conspicuous use of tighty-whitey underwear, is designed to add hipster aestheitc to a movie that is nothing but hipster aesthetic.
What is consistent about the movie is that the character is full of it. He has the kind of hint of ideals that the word "psuedo" was invented for. The moments in the movie that ring true are when he's getting high and tells someone "the kids keep me grounded.
" As intended, it rings so false, like he's said it countless times for calculated effect.
This review of Half Nelson (2006) was written by Danielj. on 10 Mar 2007.
Half Nelson has generally received very positive reviews.
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