the movieGOOMBA

Ever felt like there was a gigantic wrestler who had you pinned to the ground so all you could do was flail one of your arms uselessly in the air? Meet Dan Dunne(even his name sounds like a dud). This was his life.

Half Nelson stars Ryan Gosling as Mr. Dunne, a junior high school History teacher who strives to inspire his students to create for themselves a better life, but at the same time, maintains a healthy drug addiction. It's when Dunne is caught in the act that Drey, one of Dunne's students, sees her teacher's humanity and befriends this wreck of a man. Its no matter. She sees the man that he wants to be.

Ryan Gosling's performance in this film is superb. I'm not much of a Gosling fan (I can't get the young Hercules image out of my head), but he was able to bring such tragedy to this character. He evokes such sympathy from the audience, and regardless of his self deprecating behavior and despite the uncomfortable idea that a drug addict is teaching America's impressionable minds, we want him to succeed.

Dunne is a man down on his luck. Like some unfortunates, he uses drugs to escape from loneliness. But what makes this film special is the notion that anyone can be hopeless, and the most inexperienced of persons can the best people to lean on. Without judgement both Drey and Dunne share a mutual respect for one another, though both see each other's faults, and in a "Second chances are rare, Man. You ought to take better advantage of them," kind of world they find comfort in each other. They are friends.