After watching Will Smith give a mind-blowing performance in “The Pursuit of Happyness,” I was ready to hand over the Oscar for best actor to him, but not so fast, my friends. Ryan Gosling’s performance in “Half Nelson” is nothing short of phenomenal.

   Gosling got his big break in the cult favorite “The Notebook,” but Gosling does a complete 180 in the role of Dan Dunne, a role he was born to play.

   Gosling plays a teacher whose drug addiction has taken a stranglehold on his life. After being caught using drugs by one of his students (Shreeka Epps), the two develop a very inappropriate relationship, but yet, it is something that they both need.

   There isn’t plot twists or big action sequences; honestly, there really isn’t any action taking place throughout the entire movie. We just get to take a peek inside the life of a druggie. We get to see the effects that a hardcore addiction takes on a person.

   The irony of it all is that Dunne appears to be the “All-American” guy. He’s attractive, educated, has a great job, but he’s a drug fiend.

   “Half Nelson” doesn’t glorify drug use; it just shows that addiction is race and gender blind. To watch him go through fits of withdrawal is nothing short of unbelievable.

   There are moments that are hard to watch due to the honesty of the movie, so be advised.

   Without giving too much of the movie away, the most heartbreaking scene that I’ve ever seen caught on cinema takes place in a hotel room. It took everything that I had to fight back the tears.

   The element that I find most fascinating is the fact that a huge part of the movie was ad lib. In a day and age were remakes are the recipe of the day, “Half Nelson” is original with a capital ‘O.’ With portrayals like this, Gosling’s easily becoming the best actor of his generation.