Full-on hold

by LES EVERETT

IN The gritty 'Half Nelson' Ryan Gosling plays a history teacher with some bad habits. He wipes his mouth on his tie and shirt, sniffs a bit, smokes and has a problem with substance abuse.

He's teaching in a pretty tough school and is quite good at it. Actually the filmmakers want you to believe he's dedicated and inspirational but I found his methods a bit wordy and reckon his inconsistent demeanour would tend to confuse even the most hardened of high school students.

One way he shows his dedication is by coaching a basketball team - they're no good but he encourages them while again shows he's perhaps not the man for the job by abusing an umpire, throwing a ball at him and storming off during a school game.

One afternoon a student (Shareeka Epps) finds him in the girls toilets worse for wear after an session with a crack pipe. A closer relationship is sparked.

She has a drug problem of her own. She's 13 and not a user but her brother is in jail and the pusher he protected is looking out for her. As part of his mentorship the pusher (Anthony Mackie) tries to make the girl part of his drug home delivery team.

The teacher can see what's happening and the 13-year-old is placed into an interesting situation as her drug-addled teacher tries to shield her from the drug scene.

It's a good set-up for a movie and the performances are really strong - Gosling scored an Oscar nomination - but somehow I don't think it was entirely convincing.

It's hard to imagine any happy-ever-afters but in the end the teacher has a shave and cleans up his flat and that is, at least, encouraging.

4 May 2007

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