Half Nelson
2006 · Movie · R · 107 min · ★ 6.6 · 88% critics
A dedicated junior-high teacher inspires students in class while privately struggling with addiction. When a student uncovers this hidden side, an uneasy bond forms between two people facing difficult choices and looking for a reason to hope.
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Watch free on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free +4 more — also streaming on AMC+, fuboTV, Philo +1 more.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 2006
- Release date
- 2006-08-11
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 88/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.6/10 (959 votes)
- Budget
- $700,000
About
You may like this if you appreciate grounded, quietly intense character dramas like Fish Tank or The Wrestler; Not for you if you need uplifting teacher stories or clear-cut resolutions.
Pros: natural performances; honest emotions; thought-provoking themes | Cons: slow pace; bleak mood; limited payoff
Themes
- prison
- new york city
- sports
- date
- ex-girlfriend
- class
- ghetto
- bicycle
- basketball
- crack
- teacher
- theft
- +5 more
Awards & recognition
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Female Lead · 2007
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Male Lead · 2007
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 2007 · nominated
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Female Lead · 2007 · nominated
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Male Lead · 2007 · nominated
Show all 14 awards →
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Director · 2007 · nominated
- Independent Spirit Award — Best First Screenplay · 2007 · nominated
- Producers Award · 2007 · nominated
- Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role · 2007 · nominated
- Critics' Choice Movie Award — Best Actor · 2006 · nominated
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2006 · nominated
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Actor · 2006 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture · 2006 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Film · 2006 · nominated
Cast & crew
Ryan Gosling
as Dan Dunne
Shareeka Epps
as Drey
Anthony Mackie
as Frank
Jeff Lima
as Roodly
Monique Gabriela Curnen
as Isabel
Tina Holmes
as Rachel
Nathan Corbett
as Terrance
- TK
Tyra Kwao-Vovo
as Stacy
- RL
Rosemary Ledee
as Gina
Tristan Mack Wilds
as Jamal
Directed by Ryan Fleck