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Cast

Ryan Gosling
as Dan Dunne

Shareeka Epps
as Drey

Anthony Mackie
as Frank

Monique Gabriela Cumen
as Isabel

Karen Chilton
as Karen

Tina Holmes
as Rachel

Tristan Wilds
as Jamal

Nathan Corbet
as Terrence

Collins Pennie
as Mike

Deborah Rush
as Jo Dunne

Jay O. Sanders
as Russ Dunne

Bryce Silver
as Bernard

Sebastian Sozzi
as Javier

Nicole Vicius
as Cindy

Stephanie Bast
as Vanessa

Thaddeus Daniels
as Referee

Deidre Goodwin
as Tina

Susan Kerner
as Motel Slow Dancer

Adepero Oduye
as Woman in Motel Room

Christopher Williamson
as Charles

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News & Interviews for Half Nelson

Critic Reviews for Half Nelson

Audience Reviews for Half Nelson

• Oct 04, 2013

  Gosling truly emerges as a great actor in this film. He is the flawed teacher who continues to intrigue us with those flaws which lead to unpredictable actions. A great character sketch.
  

  John B Super Reviewer
• Jun 22, 2013

  A no easy answer character study, Half Nelson is moved by brilliant performances by Gosling and Epps that, surprisingly, don't work for having an interesting arc but rather by making us feel unconfortable on by being put onto their daily routines, addictions and issues. Not having happy endings or many glimpses of hope is the biggest selling point of the flick, which won't be the cup of tea for many viewers but it worked for me. Worth a shot if you're into grittier indie dramas.
  Francisco G Super Reviewer
• Apr 27, 2013

  Half Nelson has a very good story with some great performances, especially from the always-incredible Ryan Gosling. It's about a schoolteacher who teaches poor kids in a city slum, and the teacher (played by Ryan Gosling) happens to be a crack addict. He develops a relationship with one of his students who gets herself involved with things Dan Dunne (the teacher) would rather her not get involved in. Eventually, their secret lives collide, and it's an amazing thing to see, topped by a nicely fitting soundtrack. The film is very discrete in the way it unfolds the truths about each of it's characters, but it managed to keep me interested all the way through thanks to Gosling's great performance. There's also a lot of deep and valuable meaning hidden underneath Mr. Dunne's teachings, and also in the very last scene. Overall, Half Nelson is a very well-written and wonderfully-acted movie. Final Score: 8.5.
  

  Kevin M Super Reviewer
• Jan 19, 2013

  An emotional drama with a great performance by Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson didn't engage me quite as well as I expected it to, but it's still a good movie. The movie didn't seem to have much going on in it; it moved at a snail's pace, which is understandable to a certain degree, but even in a drama like this I expect the plot to move forward at a reasonable rate. Nonetheless, Half Nelson does have a number of good performances and a good script, and it's still a well-made movie, but it might not completely hold your interest during the slower portions.
  

  Joey S Super Reviewer

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