Not since the double-sided funfest that was Requiem for a Dream has a movie left me feeling like I was just punched in the stomach for two hours straight.

Picture sickly teacher dude buying drugs from a disadvantaged teenage student on the bathroom floor of a skeevey hotel room while prostitutes smoke crack and dance about the room. Yeah…

Add Half Nelson to the list of movies to watch when seeking out feelings of intense hopelessness.