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Similar to Leon: The Professional and Lolita's unusual but effective character pairings, Half Nelson is a character study of a crack-addict schoolteacher's unconventional relationship with one of his students. What makes it so fascinating is how it brings life's seemingly complete opposites together so that we are able to examine their similarities.

Teacher Dan (Ryan Gosling, The Believer) is inspirational to his History class, but doesn't feel satisfied by his existence outside of school. He's lonely, unable to develop meaningful relationships with adults his own age, and resorts to using various drugs to fuel his self-destructive cycle. One day he is caught smoking crack in the girl's locker room by one of his students, Drey, which prompts a developing friendship between teacher and student in and out of school. Despite their obvious differences, they gradually begin to trust in one another as their paths start to cross.

Ryan Fleck's camerawork is almost stalker-like as it focuses upon the complexity of the two characters -- their flaws, frustrations, desires, etc. -- as they search for something beyond themselves outside of school hours. Meanwhile, screenwriters Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's realistic and intimate storytelling carefully plays with the uncomfortable idea that Dan and Drey (Shareeka Epps) might cross "that line" at some point in their developing bond.

Despite fear of the latter, Half Nelson is unassuming in its character study and is easy to watch. Gosling makes his schoolteacher very likable and charming, regardless of the character's drug problem. He appears very passionate about his teaching methods -- lessons in civil rights and the civil war reflect oppression and change on a personal level --
aiming to inspire every one of his students to better their lives. We even begin to understand the complexity of his character a little more when we witness an awkward family visit, which leaves him feeling completely distant from his mum and dad (Deborah Rush and Jay O. Sanders).

Epps deserves a share of the praise, also, for her terrific performance. Like Dan, her character is suffering from loneliness: Her mother works late nights, her father doesn't pay her anywhere near enough attention, and her brother is in jail for selling drugs. She hints at an angry backlash by doing drop offs for the neighbourhood drug dealer, Frank (Anthony Mackie), but we recognise the authenticity of the character through Epps' eyes and hold on to faith that she will soon be on a path to salvation.

It's the leisurely pacing of Half Nelson that gives us time to examine the complexities within Dan and Drey's individual lives, as well as the chemistry that brings them together. The producers have deliberately made their relationship seem difficult to judge at first as it avoids over-dramatic clichés, preferring to recognise professionalism within the classroom and personal decline outside out it.

Rather than being the familiar teacher-inspires-student stuff seen within films like Dangerous Minds and Freedom Writers, Dan and Drey's close friendship isn't idealistic in its quest for change, but it does acknowledge that the learning process in life works both ways. The time spent together involves honest conversations based on a brutal reality outside of school, which enhance their kindred spirits and give them a reason to regain their faith. This is a statement of the power of friendship.

(C) Andy Carrington, 2010.