HALF NELSON

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:37am

I just had the privilige of viewing this movie at a very special private screening and I believe it opens in limited release on Friday. If you see one film this summer...hell, if you see one film this year, make it HALF NELSON. It is an unflinching, real, raw, and brilliant piece of entertainment that I recommend to the highest degree. Everything about it works starting with an exceptional, flawless, Oscar-worthy performance from Ryan Gosling. Gosling, who was excellent in THE NOTEBOOK but was overshadowed by Rachel McAdams' pheomenal, breakout performance, delivers a performance in this film that is 100 times better than that of his performance in THE NOTEBOOK. He (along with McAdams) is one of the best young actors that Hollywood has to offer and this film and this performance should catapult him to the same status his beau and aforemetioned costar McAdams has achieved. I have not seen a performance like this from a man of Gosling's age in at least 20 years. It is a simply remarkable portrayl that I really hope will be recognized come award time. Making her big screen debut is Shareeka Epps who is absolutely stunning as well. While not reaching the level of costar Gosling (who would expect her to anyway? She's very much younger than Gosling; obviously, considering she plays his student.) she is still incredible. A very accomplished and polished performance from a very young performer. The film's script is crisp, real, and emotionally raw as one could imagine. The direction is brisk, smart, and well-paced. HALF NELSON is quite possibly, an arguably perfect movie. I cannot recommend it enough. Go out and see it please. It will move you in ways you could never imagine. There aren't enough adjectives to describe this movie-going experience. Phenomenal, incredible, terrific...they all don't do it justice. It's a film you have to experience for yourself.

**** out of ****
A+