half nelson review
My Rating: 5/10
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10 Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90% Metacritics Rating: 85/100 My Favorite Quotes 1. "The Only constant is change" - Dan 2. "Knock Knock. Who's there? The interrupting cow. Moo!" - Dan 3. "One man alone is nothing" - Dan While I watched this film I could not get rid of this constant urge to compare it to the movie "Detachment" which featured Adrien Brody. Only for the simple fact that the main character follows similar circumstances. For example: they are both teachers, they both have complicated love lives, they have a student in their class who struggles to fit in, but the similarities end there. The one major difference "Half Nelson" half hearted attempts to present is the constant struggle between white and black people. Let me start off by stating that Ryan Gosling puts on yet another Phenomenal performance. I loved him in "Drive", I loved him in "Place Beyond the Pines", and I loved him in "The Believer". He plays a coked out headcase extremely well and his ability to play various other roles like an awkward sociopath and hardcore Nazi equally as well. I enjoyed the way in which the movie shows historical lessons on the Civil Rights Movement. Unfortunately I will inevitably forget those events by tomorrow, anyway. Anthony Mackie is an unreal actor and I am so glad that he was chosen to be the new Marvel Hero Night Hawk. One thing that truly shines through in this movie is its unbelievable soundtrack that strikes every aspect of a persons mood. The relationship between the two men trying to tell the little girl to stay away from the other seemed somewhat awkward and unrealistic, then again what do I know. That soundtrack though, I can't say enough good things about it, just WOW. I'm surprised this movie is soo highly rated considering that it is very artsy with semi deep meaning. I firmly believe the ending was pretty bad and kinda didn't tie up all the loose ends. Sure their relationship was rekindled, but so what. |
Positives and Negatives
+ Ryan Gosling
+ Soundtrack x2
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- No real Conflict
- Loose End
- Ending
- Length
+ Soundtrack x2
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- No real Conflict
- Loose End
- Ending
- Length
Criteria /10
Acting/Characters: 8/10
Plot: 5/10
Originality: 5/10
Pacing: 4/10
Soundtrack: 10/10
Dialogue: 7/10
Special Effect: N/A/10
Theme: 7/10
Ending: 5/10
Plot: 5/10
Originality: 5/10
Pacing: 4/10
Soundtrack: 10/10
Dialogue: 7/10
Special Effect: N/A/10
Theme: 7/10
Ending: 5/10