Half Nelson Gets Whole Film

Up-and-coming director Ryan Fleck will direct the feature length adaptation of his Sundance-winning short film Gowanus, Brooklyn, with the new tongue-friendlier title of Half Nelson (although really both titles could have 8 year-olds in fits of giggles). What's more, with the help of his Sundance win, he's landed hot young things Ryan Gosling and Anthony Mackie to star. The drama follows the relationship between a white schoolteacher, his African-American pupil and a local drug dealer, proving once and for all that some American high school kids have more to worry about than cheerleading and finding a prom date. For those not familiar with his heads, Gosling has recently graduated from "promising talent" status in indie films such as The Believer to leading man status with The Notebook (which won him an MTV Best Kiss award, fact fans!). Mackie appeared in the Oscar-winning Million Dollar Baby, but is probably still best known as 'baddie' rapper Papa Doc in 8 Mile. Fleck co-wrote the screenplay with Anna Boden, and we're hoping that his indie sensibilities will counter the sentiment that often springs into heartwarming teacher-pupil stories (**The Emperor