(Movie) Tapped out...a look at Half Nelson

This movie was recommended by Jessica (meetmeinmontavk.tumblr.com)

I was discussing Blue Valentine with Jessica last week and she suggested that I take a look at this film, as it was the movie that showed Ryan Gosling's true acting potential. 

I'm inclined to agree. 

But, how does it rate?

Let's review! 

Story/Dialogue: Half Nelson follows Dan Dunne, a history teacher using an unusual method of teaching called didactics. Teaching a class of African American kids, he's well liked amongst the students and teachers, but the Principal is not a fan as they are of different teaching styles. 

He's also a cocaine addict. 

When Drey, one of his students finds him in the bathroom stoned, she helps him and they establish an unlikely friendship. 

Drey is a teenage girl with a single mum who works and a brother in prison for dealing drugs. His former employer, Frank (Portrayed by Anthony Mackie) tries to recruit her into the business, while Dan tries to mentor her and be her friend as well as her teacher.

The main theme of Half Nelson is change and the collision of opposites. Throughout the film, we see this theme reinforced. What's more, the film's rewatchability shows that this film can be analysed over and over so you can see the many examples of the theme being portrayed. (I'll cover those in the next section.)

The dialogue is easy to understand, though not everything is straight forward in the speech. Like, you're not going to have someone who asks for help straight up, they need to beat around the bush. To admit your deepest fear is the turning point.

While I don't want to give away spoilers, I also would like to point out that his addiction is never resolved. However, I don't think this would be the same movie if it had been resolved. This is about current conflict in the self and the world around the characters, not the resolution of said conflict.

Cinematography: Most of the scenes are shot handheld, which gives us an intimate atmosphere to what we witness. We're less of an audience and more of a bystander that is mostly ignored.

There are instances of dolly use, such as when Dan is going for a morning run, but it's not used often.

As you watch, you'll notice that the theme of change and conflict of opposing forces is shown visually throughout the film. This includes:

- Skin colour

- Age
- Class
- Profession

- Mentors

- Relationships

This occurs both internally and externally and it's all shown on screen.

Audio: Though not overly memorable, the music is the kind of tracks you would hear on the street. It feels natural. It's not as though you'd hear Hans Zimmer or John Williams at a restaurant or on a street corner, but this score and library audio combination feels right at home on the streets of NY.

The sound department did a fantastic job in making sure that the atmos tracks were well layered and didn't conflict with any of the dialogue.

Overall: While I'm not a big fan of the white saviour trope in films (See Elysium and such movies like that,) I did enjoy how immersive this film was. I felt that rather than simply watching it, I was a part of it. 

Ryan Gosling really stood out in this role and felt real somehow. In the other movies I've seen, he's often been disconnected from the film or has been Ryan Gosling pretending to be someone else. In this film, he was Dan Dunne. 

I loved Drey as a character. She's smart, sassy, but she's also prone to making mistakes, which only made me like her more. She's organic and her development as a character is really interesting to watch.

Overall, I give this movie 5 stars. 

(Movie) Seeing Stars....a Look at the Winter Soldier (Captain America)

Now I know this movie was a while ago and it's a sequel, but I chose Captain America two for two reasons:

1: It was a superhero movie that actually felt like it took place in the real world. (As opposed to a fictitious Alternate Universe where everything is the same.)
2: This was arguably the best superhero movie to date. (Yes, even better than Age of Ultron, such as it was.)

As a part of the superhero month (With an inclusion of Mad Max: Fury Road at some point,) I'd like to think this would be a fantastic start.

Let's begin!

Story/Dialogue: Cap is adjusting to life as SHIELD's personal attack dog, making friends and meeting up with Peggy (That scene made my heart weep. I had to punch something to make me feel manly again,) when he gets caught up in a whirlwind conspiracy that has him going to ground and fighting the good fight...FOR AMERICA!

To be fair, Cap is about doing what's right and is oddly a polar opposite of the Aryan race, but that's an analysis for later.

The dialogue is filled with snappy one liners and a mere mortal who pulls out those existential, "Are people like you carved from stone and blessed by the gods?" kind of quips in Sam Wilson, AKA Falcon.

Nick Fury returns as his grumpy, sassy self and Black Widow does all the things that Steve can't while trying to find him a date.

And they call Falcon a wingman. Please. I'd want Romanoff on my team anyday.

Cinematography: Oddly enough, I found parts of this film unusual. The framing often felt out of place, which contrasted with the scenes that had really tight and well shot frames.

The shield (and its ridiculous trajectory upon throwing,) is arguably the most terrible CGI I've seen. It felt rushed and not really attached to his arm some of the time.

Though! In all of this, I would like to point out that the elevator scene is the best scene. The tight space was shot excellently and cut together so well to the point it fully conveyed power and struggle.

Audio: The only way to describe the audio is...patriotic. Horns with a deep drum combo makes me want to put a hand to my chest and pledge allegiance to a flag.

In all seriousness though, I enjoyed the epic feel of the horns and drums, complete with the almost Inception style Hans Zimmer tension of the fight/chase scenes.

Overall: I love this movie for many reasons. The action, the one liners, Cap's companions, key quotes which I will not spoil in case you have not seen it. (Though there's one that makes me tear up every time.)

This movie is good at making you feel patriotic while allowing you to question what your country does for the sake of "peace" *cough* political agenda *cough cough*

Furthermore, I love the dynamic of Steve and Natasha. She doesn't act like a substitute for Bucky and doesn't feel forced like she did in Age of Ultron. (That's the writing, not ScarJo I have a problem with, there.) I also loved how romance took a back seat in this film. It was a focus on Steve and him catching up while trying to maintain peace without the iron fist.

Out of all the superhero movies to date, Captain America: Winter Soldier is my favourite.

5 stars.