Review of Half Nelson (2006) by Mohamed F — 16 Feb 2011

Ryan Gosling proves to be a great actor once again. The whole film avoids sentimental cliches, and provides thoughtful insight into all of its very well-rounded characters-- however, somehow, from start to finish, the movie feels as though it's only budged a few inches. Gosling's character seems to move forward, then back, then forward, then back. Yes, this oh-so-cleverly mimmicks his in-class teaching of opposing forces. But does that make the movie work? I'm not quite sure.

The young girl in the film is strong, and when we're able to see her speak it almost always makes us smile. We're as concerned for her well-being as her three caretakers (Gosling, Frank, and of course her mother), which is largely what enables us to feel tension throughout the movie. Its not just Gosling's well-being we're concerned for, its hers as well.

The film gains our trust by not overdramatizing, by not painting its characters in two dimensions but rather three, and with a general subtlety that's rare in movies with this type of subject. Frank, for instance, who could have easily been just an awful, conniving character, winds up being one of the most reasonable voices in the film.

All in all, it's a worthy experience. But in the end, the character arcs might just be too subtle for Half Nelson to become a masterpiece. Do we really know what Gosling's character will do when we leave the film? No. Does it matter? Yes; unlike other films that end in the middle of a conflict, such as A Serious Man, in which we come to understand the movie is proving a much larger point about the chaos and unpredictability of life in general (a rare point successfully made, to be sure, but A Serious Man deftly pulls it off), Half Nelson makes its story more specifically about its characters, and we root for them. So we feel a tad slighted when we don't really get to see their development, just the ebb and flow of the first 2/3 of a story arc. There's not really rising tension, only stable tension.

It's hard for me to articulate what keeps Half Nelson from greatness, but something felt like it was missing to me. The details, the composition, the acting, the writing is all great. The fabric of the movie FEELS like that of a great movie. But something is missing.