| Posted by Bel | The time is 9.09am here in Wellington NZ |
A film that changed your opinion about something
The Notebook has already been mentioned and debated on this blog - more than once. For many, this film sealed Ryan Gosling in their hearts, if he wasn't there perpetually thanks to his youthful performances on The Mickey Mouse Club.
But not me. I didn't really get it about him. His eyes are a bit close together. He's on the pasty side. His big romantic gesture is taking a lifetime to build a house that no one lives in, or something.
But Half Nelson changed all that.
Here he plays a charming and engaging primary school teacher who has a drug problem. Or, if you like, he plays a waster junkie who works as a teacher.
The duplicity of the character and the way the film also delves into issues of race, education and ambition is captivating. I was unsure why a rom-com star had been cast in a film which dared to present such complex issues - and then I discovered that Ryan Gosling was an actor who will take on a role and truly sink his teeth into it.
Half Nelson is a highly recommended watch. You can also see Ryan Gosling acting his chops off in Blue Valentine if you want further proof, but that film is fairly torturous if you have ever been in a relationship of any kind ever, so it does not come with the Bel-says-check-it-out-now seal of approval.
Let me make it very clear to all and sundry that Ryan only became my boyfriend after I saw him in Half Nelson. I didn't even know it was him in The Notebook.
(Hmm I'm guessing it's not coincidental that I didn't like The Notebook until after Half Nelson...)
(Let me also make it clear that Bel is right and you should all see Half Nelson.)
WHATEVS. He stole your heart with song a loooong time ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEgGWHtVIhQ