From the very first moment of “Nickel Boys,” there is an undeniable creativity that, over the course of the narrative, takes its final form in a beautifully crafted film, story and art piece. Taking the audience literally into the mindset of its central characters, “Nickel Boys” is truly a film like no other, one that takes bold steps in its filmmaking in order to show incredible love and passion toward the story.
Adapted from Colson Whitehead’s titular novel, “Nickel Boys” focuses on Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse), a bright Black high school student who lives in a segregated Tallahassee, Fla., during the 1960s. On his way to a special program for high-achieving high school students at a nearby college campus, Elwood accepts a ride from a man who is soon caught for having stolen the car. Elwood is unfairly charged and sent to Nickel Academy, a reform school that cruelly treats its Black students who live in worse conditions and experience harsher punishments compared to the white students. Soon, Elwood meets and quickly befriends Turner (Brandon Wilson). The two boys’ ideals, however, conflict, as Elwood’s strong will for justice begins to carve a space within Turner’s cynicism for survival, leaving a mark that carries long into the future.
What makes “Nickel Boys” so special is its experimentation with the visual perspective. Nearly the whole film is told from a first-person perspective where the audience sees the story from the eyes of both Elwood and Turner. While initially disorienting, this choice of perspective proves to be intriguing and effective. Director RaMell Ross (COL ’05) and cinematographer Jomo Fray use this play of perspective to create uniquely stunning scenes. The opening sequence of Elwood’s childhood memories is particularly fascinating. The camera, as the character’s eyes, takes in every detail: a deck of cards being shuffled, the soft smiles of people at a dinner party, the wide grin of his grandmother who lifts a blanket above him — it’s a feast for the senses.
Beyond creating beautiful moments, the film’s unique perspective proves to be an immersive tool of storytelling. With the use of first person, there is often a fear of losing the character, as the audience is left without the expressions and emotions usually portrayed by an actor. However, “Nickel Boys” does not suffer from this loss of detail. In fact, the perspective makes the audience acutely aware of precisely what details influence a character’s viewpoint and very being. Through Elwood’s perspective, we see what drives him toward being an active part of the civil rights movement, from the racist drawings in the textbooks to the pencils stuck to the ceiling of his classroom, even before we see him at a civil rights protest. We, as the audience, can see clearly what drives these characters.
In addition to the film’s perspective, there’s an integration of news and film footage that serves as a creative tie to the beginning and end of the narrative. The story intersperses information regarding space, a scene from “The Defiant Ones,” news about Nickel Academy and images from archaeological reports. Although a handful of these vignettes feel confusing as to their relevance to the plot, by the end, these pieces converge to reveal a concealed, disparately portrayed subplot. Beyond the creativity of the approach, this additional layer to the plot is incredibly impactful, especially with the story laid out in its entirety in the final moments of the film.
Despite the arguably limited scope of the first-person perspective for the actors, the performances in “Nickel Boys” are effective and fascinating in their own right. Herisse brings an admirable strength and heart to Elwood, who still stands firm in his beliefs despite the increasing hopelessness of his circumstances. Next to Herisse, Wilson has a wry charm as Turner, as well as a quiet yet strong love for those around him that eventually pushes him outside his comfort zone to help Elwood. Furthermore, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is in all ways the embodiment of comfort and strength as Hattie, whose smile exudes a fierce love and whose eyes shine even more with the focus of the first-person perspective.
“Nickel Boys” is undoubtedly one of the best movies from the past year and deserves all the flowers it can receive. It’s an incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking story that pushes the boundaries of what film and storytelling are capable of. If you have the time, see “Nickel Boys” in theaters. It’s an experience you certainly won’t regret.
