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Picks of the Week
Teachers on Crack
Wednesday (Feb. 7), 5 and 7:30 p.m. at the Castle Theater, MACC
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February 01, 2007
[FILM] When I told a friend I was writing a "Pick of the Week" about the Maui Film Festival's screening of Half Nelson, he said, "That movie is about my life." There certainly are parallels between his experience and that of the movie's protagonist, played by the incredible Ryan Gosling. Both are (or were) young, Caucasian, idealistic inner-city middle school teachers. Both began their careers with a burning desire to make a positive impact in one of the most impoverished neighborhoods—the inner cities of Oakland and Brooklyn, respectively—in the world's wealthiest country. Both were passionate and energetic leaders with a gift for reaching their often-troubled students despite dealing with enormous stress themselves. However, the similarities end there. While Gosling's character, Dan Dunne, turned to smoking crack as an escape from his harsh reality, my friend wisely chose a healthier alternative, moving to Maui to decompress. He acknowledges the reality of the movie's premise. "Where there's no hope, there's dope," he eloquently explains. "There's a disproportionate amount of drug and alcohol abuse amongst inner-city teachers. Being in a hopeless environment, seeing kids with fucked-up family situations can drive you over the edge." Which is why the Chicago Reader called Dunne, "The most believable protagonist in an American movie this year," and also explains why Gosling received a much-deserved Oscar nomination for his powerful performance. Tickets: $10, at Maui Arts & Cultural Center's box office. [COREY NIELSEN]
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