‘Nickel Boys’ Review: A Tragic Punch To The Gut

As we inch towards the Oscars on Sunday, I finally went out to watch Best Picture Nominee Nickel Boys. Directed by RaMell Ross, who’s known for his 2018 documentary Hale County This Morning, Nickel Boys is a triumphant examination of Black Americans’ history within the American education system. The film stars Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson as Elwood and Turner, respectively, and was released in theatres last December.

It tells the story of an abusive reform school in 1960s Florida and is told through the lens of two young African-American boys (Herisse and Wilson) and is especially relevant in today’s society, following racial equality movements. 

This review contains spoilers for Nickel Boys.

Nickel Boys excels in many categories, including an engaging screenplay, pristine cinematography (including adopting a clean 4:3 aspect ratio), and captivating performances. The film isn’t ever afraid to portray violence, yet it never oversteps its boundaries like so many other films have. This tight balance that Ross keeps control over helps keep the runtime of the film from feeling sluggish, an impressive feat.

What makes the film unique is its insistence on using a POV shot 98% of the time. Not only does this affect how we, the audience, experience the story and setting; but this camera angle also allows for a foreboding apprehension as the latter half of the film switches between the ongoing story and flashbacks to the future, focusing on only one of the two main characters.

When we first meet Ethan Herisse’s character, shots of him growing up and experiencing childhood are so gorgeously put together that you can’t help but feel captivated by the visuals. Ross magically crafts a nostalgic sensibility to illustrate Elwood’s background and upbringing, and by the time you get to his arrival at Nickel Academy, it feels like you’ve already grown up with him. 

Elwood soon makes friends with Turner, the heartwarming gentleman at the academy who always sticks up for El. Their dynamic is so fun to watch on screen, and the charisma that they bounce off each other elevates the movie. Turner also has opportunities to hold the POV angle, so the moments of focusing on his character allow us to connect with a character other than El.

Overall, Nickel Boys is a fantastic introspect into the real and unfortunate lives of many Black Americans in the 1900’s. The story is carefully crafted to immerse you in the perspective of the main characters, emotionally attaching you as we follow their journey to escape Nickel Academy. I would highly recommend adults to watch this movie with their children to further educate them on recent American history, especially because, as the movie stresses, there are a number of “Nickel Academies” across the US; and of course across the world. 

Nickel Boys was nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards, but is not currently expected to win. The film was directed by RaMell Ross and stars Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Daveed Diggs, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger, and Jimmie Fails. The film was distributed by Amazon MGM Studios and is now available on Prime Video, which you can find through the links below. 

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