Half Nelson

Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) is an urban middle-school history teacher who struggles with a crack addiction. Dunne, also the Girls Basketball Coach, develops a close friendship Drey (Shareeka Epps), a student whose brother was involved in dealing and crime. Dunne struggles to help Drey escape a drug world he is all too familiar with, while knowing he has no moral grounds to do so. Drey also gets a glimpse of Mr. Dunne's demons of addiction and seeks to help him stay straight and clean. Frank (Anthony Mackie) is Drey's close friend and Dunne's possible dealer. The movie explores the dichotomous life of Dunne, the maverick teacher who does it all for the kids, and the personal life of Dunne, the struggling man who is powerless against his addiction. The only healthy relationship he seems to have is with Drey, who strives to save the man trying to save her.