You may now know Ryan Gosling as blockbuster royalty (see the likes of Project Hail Mary, Barbie and much more) but some of his more low-key films sometimes fall a little under the radar with his wider fans, even when they're cult favourites or critically loved.

Half Nelson is one of those. Despite securing Gosling his first Oscar nomination, and receiving rave reviews from critics, it's often overlooked purely because it's so different to what you may expect from the A-lister. A dark, often sad, but ultimately hopeful portrait of loneliness, it's unlike anything we've seen Gosling take on before. If you haven't already seen it, then you're in for something truly special. Here's everything you need to know before you start.

What is Half Nelson about?

Half Nelson follows a middle-school history teacher with an eclectic, engaging approach, though he is secretly an addict. After he bonds with Drey, one of his students with a troubled life at home, the two form a friendship, realising that they have much more in common than they may have imagined.

Who is in the cast of Half Nelson?

The film features a large ensemble cast led by Ryan Gosling as Dan Dunne, the teacher; Shareeka Epps as Drey, Dan's student, and Anthony Mackie as Frank, a local drug dealer under whose influence Drey falls.

What have critics said about Half Nelson?

Half Nelson received critical acclaim, and currently has an approval rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics' consensus reads: "Half Nelson features powerful performances from Ryan Gosling and Shareeka Epps. It's a wise, unsentimental portrait of lonely people at the crossroads."

James Christopher of The Times commented that "the gritty script and sheer quality of the performances" hold the film up, while Angie Errigo of Empire wrote that it's "an original work that is moving, not without humour, fly-on-the-wall realistic and uplifting."

Where can I watch Half Nelson?

The film is available to stream on Prime Video, but if you aren't a subscriber, it's also available to stream for free on Plex.