Movie Review: Nickel Boys (2024)
Nickel Boys, a 2024 historical drama directed by RaMell Ross, is a powerful adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. Set in the Jim Crow South, this haunting film unearths the brutal realities of racial injustice through the harrowing experiences of two young African-American boys.
The movie centers on Elwood Curtis, played with profound intensity by Ethan Herisse, and Turner, portrayed by Brandon Wilson, as they navigate the horrors of Nickel Academy, a fictionalized version of the real-life Dozier School for Boys in 1960s Florida.
The story begins in 1962, in Tallahassee, where Elwood, an idealistic teenager, is falsely accused of being an accomplice in a car theft. His dreams of going to college are abruptly shattered when he’s sent to Nickel Academy, a segregated reform school notorious for its abuse and corruption.
There, Elwood meets Turner, and the two boys forge a deep, complex friendship as they fight to survive the physical and psychological torment inflicted by the institution’s staff. The school itself becomes a chilling character, its sinister walls hiding secrets that gradually come to light.
Ross’s decision to shoot Nickel Boys from a first-person point of view heightens the audience’s immersion in the protagonists’ experiences. This directorial choice and atmospheric cinematography capture the raw emotion of Elwood’s internal struggle as he grapples with hope and despair. The film’s Louisiana setting stands for Florida, lending an authentic Southern backdrop that enhances the oppressive mood.
The ensemble cast delivers standout performances. Hamish Linklater and Fred Hechinger give chilling portrayals as corrupt administrators, while Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, as Elwood’s grandmother, provides a moral anchor in the chaos. Daveed Diggs, though in a supporting role, leaves a lasting impression with his portrayal of a teacher attempting to do good within a broken system.
Premiering at the 51st Telluride Film Festival to critical acclaim, Nickel Boys is set for limited theatrical release on October 25, 2024, through Amazon MGM Studios. The film is a gut-wrenching yet vital examination of America’s dark history of racial violence and the resilience of those who suffered under its weight. RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes’ screenplay masterfully adapts Whitehead’s novel, ensuring the film captures the story’s essence and leaves a lasting emotional impact. It’s a poignant, necessary reminder of the long-lasting scars of systemic racism.
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