(no subject)
So yeah, I didn't go to see Into Great Silence yesterday. I did however go to see the film Half Nelson today. Now, Friday is of course new release day at the 'multiplex' cinema so I was also treated to the latest trailers. I saw the trailer for Black Snake Moan, which I was disappointed with because it made the film look like a really poor comedy. I saw the trailer for Pirates Of The Caribbean At World's End which made the film look quite complicated, overly so. Also, the trailer for Atonement which, whilst it is not my kind of movie, is going to be absolutely huge. Possible Academy Award nominations for Keira Knightley and James McAvoy. And then there was the trailer for The Upside Of Anger which looks absolute shite.
And so, today's movie was the little indie movie that went mainstream when Ryan Gosling was (deservedly) nominated for Best Actor at this year's Academy Awards, the tale of an 8th grade history teacher who struggles with his own personal demons whilst developing a friendship with one of his students. Oh and he just so happens to be addicted to crack.
For a film which deals with drugs and drug use, this is a surprisingly ambiguous film. This film isn't interested in showing the redemption of the main character, in fact you can't really be sure that such a thing happens. If it does it's certainly long after the final credits roll. But at the same time, this movie in no way glamorises drug use. This film is more about the experience of addiction itself and the sheer power it holds over a persons life. Dan (Ryan Gosling) is definitely a flawed character but his downfall is not really his drug use but his inability to keep his life as a teacher and his life as an addict seperate. Dan is an extremely dedicated teacher and actually says at one point that it's the kids who keep him focused and strong and Ryan Gosling is fantastic. He strikes you as the kind of teacher you'd really want to have, but he does have a serious drug problem which reduces him to sneaking into the girls bathroom after a basketball game in order to smoke crack.
The second character in the movie is one of Dan's students named Drey. She finds him getting high in the bathroom and they form a unique friendship, something which seems to be lacking in both their respective lives. As her character story develops you learn about her slightly messed-up family and also about another (possibly dangerous) connection between her and her teacher. She is clearly at an impressionable age and is attracted to the world of drugs but she is a strong and smart character and one experience, not even that of a user, turns her off drugs and the life she associates with it.
The film shows two sides of drugs; the user and the dealer. The user is portrayed as a helpless addict, but one who makes no clear effort to shake his habit. You are made to feel sympathy for him and Ryan Gosling gives an astounding performance. Every small nuance and facial expression he makes adds up to create a fascinating and deep character. You cannot over-estimate how amazing Ryan is. An absolutely incredible performance in every way. The other side of the coin is the depiction of the drug dealer, played well but somewhat stereotypically by Anthony Mackie. He is an instantly dislikable character who tries to take the young Drey under his wing. There is a strange and tenuous relationship between all three of these characters as their relationships are explored on several levels and it is played out very well.
This is still a US indie movie at heart and in execution but this is a time when most US indie films seem to be more quirky and removed from actual life, Half Nelson is a seeringly truthful, honest and wonderfully subtle movie. It really is quite excellent.
And so, today's movie was the little indie movie that went mainstream when Ryan Gosling was (deservedly) nominated for Best Actor at this year's Academy Awards, the tale of an 8th grade history teacher who struggles with his own personal demons whilst developing a friendship with one of his students. Oh and he just so happens to be addicted to crack.
For a film which deals with drugs and drug use, this is a surprisingly ambiguous film. This film isn't interested in showing the redemption of the main character, in fact you can't really be sure that such a thing happens. If it does it's certainly long after the final credits roll. But at the same time, this movie in no way glamorises drug use. This film is more about the experience of addiction itself and the sheer power it holds over a persons life. Dan (Ryan Gosling) is definitely a flawed character but his downfall is not really his drug use but his inability to keep his life as a teacher and his life as an addict seperate. Dan is an extremely dedicated teacher and actually says at one point that it's the kids who keep him focused and strong and Ryan Gosling is fantastic. He strikes you as the kind of teacher you'd really want to have, but he does have a serious drug problem which reduces him to sneaking into the girls bathroom after a basketball game in order to smoke crack.
The second character in the movie is one of Dan's students named Drey. She finds him getting high in the bathroom and they form a unique friendship, something which seems to be lacking in both their respective lives. As her character story develops you learn about her slightly messed-up family and also about another (possibly dangerous) connection between her and her teacher. She is clearly at an impressionable age and is attracted to the world of drugs but she is a strong and smart character and one experience, not even that of a user, turns her off drugs and the life she associates with it.
The film shows two sides of drugs; the user and the dealer. The user is portrayed as a helpless addict, but one who makes no clear effort to shake his habit. You are made to feel sympathy for him and Ryan Gosling gives an astounding performance. Every small nuance and facial expression he makes adds up to create a fascinating and deep character. You cannot over-estimate how amazing Ryan is. An absolutely incredible performance in every way. The other side of the coin is the depiction of the drug dealer, played well but somewhat stereotypically by Anthony Mackie. He is an instantly dislikable character who tries to take the young Drey under his wing. There is a strange and tenuous relationship between all three of these characters as their relationships are explored on several levels and it is played out very well.
This is still a US indie movie at heart and in execution but this is a time when most US indie films seem to be more quirky and removed from actual life, Half Nelson is a seeringly truthful, honest and wonderfully subtle movie. It really is quite excellent.