"Nickel Boys" is a historical drama film based on the 2019 novel "The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead. Directed by RaMell Ross and starring Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson, it adopts an interesting perspective of showing audiences a very important era in modern American history.
In 1962 in Florida, 17-year-old African-American boy Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse) is accepted into a tuition-free study program at the recommendation of his black teacher Mr. Hill (Jimmie Fails). While attempting to hitch a ride to the college campus, Elwood unknowingly accepts a ride from a man driving a stolen car and upon being pulled over by a white police officer is wrongfully convicted of being an accomplice. Due to him being underage, Elwood is sent to Nickel Academy, a racially segregated reform school for him to serve out his sentence until he is legally an adult. Shortly upon arriving, Elwood befriends Turner (Brandon Wilson), a quiet student whose cynical outlook on society greatly contrasts with Elwood's more optimistic views of the ongoing Civil Rights Movement. Over the course of their stay at Nickel Academy, Elwood and Turner experience frequent bullying from the corrupt staff and students, as well as numerous other horrors that test their mental well-being, all among the backdrop of a racially divided America.
If I had to pinpoint the most historically significant 20th century era for the United States, it would most likely be the 1960s. This is due to the fact that this particular decade contained some of the most crucial moments that defined America's identity as a superpower, such as its involvement in the Vietnam War, the escalating Cold War with the USSR, the space race, and of course the Civil Rights Movement. The latter example naturally unfolded on a domestic front, paving way for the country's African-American population's acceptance among their white counterparts. However, as many should be aware of by now, this was not achieved so easily, as many violent, unnecessary deaths and other problematic factors occurred that left a noted impact on both the American public and pop culture. The 2024 film "Nickel Boys" shows this turbulent age for America from the viewpoint of two young African-American boys in a way that helps viewers understand some of the pain many like them must have endured.
Taking on a first person point-of-view, the film begins by showing us the early life of the protagonist Elwood Curtis in 1960s America. We watch as the young Elwood lies on the grass gazing up at the fruit trees belonging to his loving grandmother Hattie (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), embracing the carefreeness of his youth. As well as this, Elwood observes numerous other occurrences happening all around him, including the undignified ways African-Americans are viewed by their Caucasian peers. Later, Elwood passes by a store with television sets in the window broadcasting a live speech of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., essentially opening his eyes to the prospect that black and white people can happily co-exist with each other one day. Though these scenes may be brief, they do a nice enough job of depicting what it must have been like to be a young African-American boy in this era, growing up around all of these world-changing events occurring at the same time.
Sometime later, we see a teenaged Elwood attempting to make his way to college, where he ignorantly rides along with a driver in a stolen car. After being pulled over by the police, the white cop immediately arrests both of them for theft, despite the fact that Elwood is innocent in this situation, something of which an all-white police force will never believe during this time in history. As punishment, Elwood is send to Nickel Academy reform school, where he meets fellow student Turner. At this point in the film, the story switches from Elwood's point-of-view over to Turner's, who sees the world far differently than his more positive-minded friend. Because of this sudden shift to a new lead character with a different world view, the film's tone becomes decidedly darker, as we are transitioning from an optimist to a pessimist. Over the course of the story, the film sometimes flips back and forth between Elwood and Turner, likely as a way for the audience to understand the differing perspectives that each respective character has adopted as a result of their personal experiences. In most other cases, this would be a bizarre creative choice, but it actually works in the film's favour for the most part.
As mentioned earlier, the film is told from a first person perspective, as though the audience is literally seeing the action take place from the characters' eyes. Director RaMell Ross handles this unorthodox creativity in the best way he can; by balancing out Elwood's and Turner's conflicting personalities throughout the plot. I actually found myself genuinely curious to see how each character was going to handle which situation the story throws at them, whether it's Elwood reading a classic piece of literature or Turner reacting in shock over uncovering a terrible secret that the Nickel Academy has been hiding from the general public. In addition to this, Ross also intersperses the occasional news reel footage of the Civil Rights Movement taking place in Alabama and even scenes from the racially motivated 1958 movie "The Defiant Ones", usually during parts where characters are watching TV. Though this may seem tacky at first, they actually serve a purpose in the long run, as they add a great deal of atmosphere to the immersive nature of watching the action unfold before the two lead characters.
While we don't often see their faces, or even their full bodies for that matter, both Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson do a reasonable enough job of playing their characters to leave an impression on the viewer. Herisse manages to bring out a great deal of emotion in Elwood, who despite having his bright future taken away from him, remains hopeful that he may be able to reclaim it once African-Americans like himself are granted their much-demanded Civil Rights. On the other hand, Wilson's performances is far more nuanced, likely suppressing his trauma over all of the terrible things he has witnessed from inside Nickel Academy. These two actors, whether visible on screen or not, are responsible for giving the film some much needed heart among the hostilities on display throughout the rest of the story. You really get the sense you are walking in their shoes at any given time.
Although it may not be as confronting as one might hope, "Nickel Boys" nonetheless works on most every other level thanks to its intriguingly creative execution and watchable lead performances. There aren't many films out there capable of actually inviting the viewer to watch events play out from the exact viewpoint as its main characters, and this one found a way to make it work without feeling too gimmicky. It shows us that while America has come a long way since the 1960s, a decade that defined their status as a superpower for better and for worse, many of the same problems that existed back then still exist today. So long as the same mistakes keep being made, no one will learn a thing.
I rate it 8/10.
