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Half Nelson

Play trailer Poster for Half Nelson R 2006 1h 46m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 156 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) is a history teacher at a Brooklyn school. Though well-liked by his students and colleagues, he secretly spends his evenings hopping bars and getting high. A female student named Drey (Shareeka Epps) catches him in a drug-induced haze after a basketball game, and the two strike up an unlikely friendship. As Dan struggles with his addiction, he tries to act as a mentor to the girl, whose brother is serving time for dealing drugs.
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Half Nelson

Half Nelson

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Critics Consensus

Half Nelson features powerful performances from Ryan Gosling and Shareeka Epps. It's a wise, unsentimental portrait of lonely people at the crossroads.

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Critics Reviews

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Sandra Hall Sydney Morning Herald Apr 27, 2007
4/5
It's hardly a film which trumpets its virtues but that's part of the pleasure to be had from it. It doesn't know how good it is. Go to Full Review Tim Robey Daily Telegraph (UK) Apr 20, 2007
It's impressively adult, sure-footed filmmaking, and that Best Actor nod was definitely deserved. Go to Full Review Andrew Pulver Guardian Apr 20, 2007
3/5
Dunne [Gosling] is an enjoyable and impressive creation, justifiably recognised with an Oscar nomination for Gosling earlier this year. Go to Full Review Jae-Ha Kim Jae-Ha Kim Jul 26, 2023
3/4
Bleakly filmed and well told, "Half Nelson" soars because of the immaculate acting by Ryan Gosling and Shareeka Epps. Gosling's both alluring and pitiful as an addict, while Epps hits all the right notes as a child who's seen too much hardship. Go to Full Review Kathy Fennessy Seattle Film Blog Sep 16, 2021
4/4
...the final scene is so lovely--so subtle, yet funny--that it makes up for any missteps that have come before it. Go to Full Review PJ Nabarro Patrick Nabarro Mar 22, 2021
3/5
The more interesting aspects of the film come in its less pre-determined margins. And maybe the drama is highly strategised, but the acting is real and genuine. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Thomas F @RT70557918 Jul 20, 2026 I loved the 2000’s handheld camera film style, and the acting was great. The ending just didn’t sit well for me. See more Margaret T @Margaret47 Jun 29, 2026 A story about a 13-year old girl with an absentee father who becomes torn between two equally destructive male role models: Frank (a local coke dealer) and Mr. Dunne (her history teacher and a closet freebase addict). These two men seem to be competing to see who can damage her the most. Frank is sober and relatively stable, but wants her to sling coke. Mr. Dunne is unstable, occasionally emotionally abusive, and although she clearly has a crush on him, routinely crosses boundaries: letting her nurse him through a mild overdose, hanging out with her alone at his apartment, discussing his love life, grinding on her at a school dance. It's clear he's attracted to her too, which is esp. scary since we see he's capable of violence against his romantic partners when he's blacked out. All I was rooting for was for her to get as far away from both these men as possible. I found it impossible to see the ending as happy or redemptive in any way. See more August S @DrearyJune May 14, 2026 This movie was a great watch, though a few scenes did have me worried, LOL! The process of addiction was perfectly shown. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Mar 30, 2026 The worldwide gross is $4,900,000.00 over a budget of $700,000.00. See more Griffith J @griffithxjohnson Jun 17, 2025 A great indie tone with genuine & charming acting. A real look at messy lives in a grounded way without any big dramatic moments. The emotions are very subtle yet powerful while looking at addiction. But the overall message seems vague. See more Faiz D @RT95588871 Aug 29, 2024 An intelligent drama film. Ryan Gosling was extremely impressive. See more Read all reviews
Half Nelson

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Cast & Crew

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Ryan Fleck

Director

Ryan Gosling

Dan Dunne

Shareeka Epps

Drey

Anthony Mackie

Frank

Deborah Rush

Jo

Jay O. Sanders

Russ

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Half Nelson

Half Nelson (2006) A scene from the film "Half Nelson." A scene from the film "Half Nelson." A scene from the film "Half Nelson." A scene from the film "Half Nelson." A scene from the film "Half Nelson." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) is a history teacher at a Brooklyn school. Though well-liked by his students and colleagues, he secretly spends his evenings hopping bars and getting high. A female student named Drey (Shareeka Epps) catches him in a drug-induced haze after a basketball game, and the two strike up an unlikely friendship. As Dan struggles with his addiction, he tries to act as a mentor to the girl, whose brother is serving time for dealing drugs.
Director
Ryan Fleck
Producer
Anna Boden, Lynette Howell Taylor, Rosanne Korenberg, Alex Orlovsky, Jamie Patricof
Screenwriter
Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
Production Co
Journeyman Pictures, Hunting Lane Films, Silverwood Films
Rating
R (Language|Drug Content Throughout|Some Sexuality)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 23, 2006, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Aug 11, 2006
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 15, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.7M
Runtime
1h 46m
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