Half Nelson

THINKFilm | Release Date: August 11, 2006

7.8	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 261 Ratings

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User score By date Most helpful

JeremyW.Oct 13, 2006

Did any of you high score mopes actually see this film? I like Ryan Gosling a lot, he is a great CANADIAN actor. This film was boring. I didn't experience any emotional highs or lows during this film. Movies these days are not doing much for me

1 of 1 users found this helpful

PaulS.Feb 19, 2007

Boring, slow, vapid movie with unsatisfying content. Glad Gosling can portray a psychologically and spiritually empty teacher but who cares.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

[Anonymous]Feb 9, 2008

It's an OKAY movie. But it is by no means an exceptional, or even impressive movie. Americans are too race-obsessed. The leader of the free world is at heart a bigoted, racist, sexist, classist society and nation. And that's why It's an OKAY movie. But it is by no means an exceptional, or even impressive movie. Americans are too race-obsessed. The leader of the free world is at heart a bigoted, racist, sexist, classist society and nation. And that's why this movie received such accolade and high ratings. Because Americans think it is "deep". Actually, it's just the shallowness of their egalitarianism that makes any mediocre movie about equality, freedom or, especially, race somehow worthy of note.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

JackCOct 18, 2006

Noting that a movie "feels real" has nothing to do with anything. If I want "real" I'll read a newspaper. This film is yet another illustration of how low our cultural commentators have sunk in applying any kind of critical faculty to Noting that a movie "feels real" has nothing to do with anything. If I want "real" I'll read a newspaper. This film is yet another illustration of how low our cultural commentators have sunk in applying any kind of critical faculty to so-called art. This has been over-praised beyond belief, as it's really an After School Special that's "dark" instead of "light." The filmmaking? Egregious. Easily digestible "lessons" that falsely inspire are not my idea of good movie making. And "Half Nelson" is so cod "edgy" that it makes "Crash" look like "Taxi Doctor." Awful.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

MaseOct 25, 2006

Every once in awhile a movie comes along with near unanimous praise that emo is pure junk. Indie junk is what Half Nelson is. Bordering on torture, everything done here has been done before and far better. Gosling does nothing here to Every once in awhile a movie comes along with near unanimous praise that emo is pure junk. Indie junk is what Half Nelson is. Bordering on torture, everything done here has been done before and far better. Gosling does nothing here to warrant the praise he is receiving. This is perhaps the most boring, overrated movie of the year. "Sherryberry" was similar content and far superior.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

FrancisM.Sep 3, 2006

All of the critics who gave this a high rating must have been given drugs before they watched it.The main character is an unsympathetic self-centered drug addict. The movie moves at a snails pace with zero character development and long All of the critics who gave this a high rating must have been given drugs before they watched it.The main character is an unsympathetic self-centered drug addict. The movie moves at a snails pace with zero character development and long stretches where pretty much nothing happens.The acting is uninspired. Long baleful looks and vacant stares with little meaningful dialogue is not great interpetation of anything- it just means you have done too many drugs and your brain is fried.If the movies aim is to make doing drugs into some kind of meaningful social statement it fails miserably. It has however a powerful anti-drug message. Do drugs and you will become a boring monosyllabic idiot incapable of leading any kind of normal life.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

LanceD.Mar 31, 2007

I struggled to finish this movie. It felt like it was a 3 hour epic. Gosling is terrific, but the movie just drags. There was about 45 minutes of a movie here. Go figure, a typical liberal crackhead ripping our administration in a time of I struggled to finish this movie. It felt like it was a 3 hour epic. Gosling is terrific, but the movie just drags. There was about 45 minutes of a movie here. Go figure, a typical liberal crackhead ripping our administration in a time of war. That is the primary reason Hollyweird critics raved about this should have been made for TV movie.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful

DougT.Jan 5, 2009

Sorry I can't even watch this film. It looks great - the writing seems superb - however, the shaky camera is making me sick. I could not get more than 15 minutes into the film.