Thanks to Amazon/MGM’s poorly executed release strategy, my first encounter with Nickel Boys was far from ideal—watching it on a computer screener at home. Unsurprisingly, the film didn’t leave a strong impression under those conditions. But a film like Nickel Boys demands the immersive power of a theater, and giving it that second chance made all the difference. Experiencing it on the big screen transformed my perspective, revealing the film’s true depth and emotional resonance.
We follow Elwood, who is a promising young student hoping to pursue a career in Civil Rights Activism, with the help of his teacher, Mr. Hill (Jimmie Fails) and his grandmother (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor). However, after unknowingly hitching a ride with a car thief, Elwood is wrongly implicated in the crime and is sent to the Nickel, a school “troubled” youth. Upon his arrival, he can smell dread in the air. There are many children at this school, some older and younger than Elwood, but underneath their laughter you can see they are already ghosts. One of the kids he meets is Turner (Brandon Wilson). A cynical nihilist who lectures Elwood the harsh realities of Nickel, and it doesn’t take long for him to find out. The education is poor as he spends most of his days performing hard, manual labor. Then after defending a fellow student from several bullies, Elwood is taken to the “White House” where he is beaten and slashed by his teachers. So much so that he is sent to the school’s hospital for several days. He soon learns that students who continuously misbehave or try to reach out, are killed by their instructors. So it is easy to say that this story will be difficult to swallow for members of the audience. However, the material is not what makes Nickel Boys difficult for general audiences, it is how the story is told.
Director RaMell Ross takes an unconventional, experimental approach to unraveling this poignant tale of injustice. Through first-person cinematography, the audience is immersed in the raw, intimate realities of Elwood and Turner’s lives. As the narrative shifts between their perspectives, we are drawn into the oppressive world they endure. Yet, Nickel Boys deliberately avoids sensationalizing violence. Instead, it amplifies the horror by withholding it from view—leaving us to hear its echoes and witness its devastating consequences, a choice far more chilling than explicit depictions. Despite the film’s harrowing subject matter, its cinematography retains a dreamlike, almost ethereal quality, offering glimpses of hope that Elwood and Turner desperately cling to. This visual language fosters profound empathy, inviting us to experience their world viscerally. We don’t just see or hear their struggles—we feel as though we inhabit their skin. In moments when the characters gaze into mirrors, they are not merely observing themselves but seem to confront us directly, breaking the fourth wall with a quiet urgency.
The narrative also introduces a striking shift to a third-person perspective—evocative of a video game—as we fast-forward to Elwood’s life in New York after his time at Nickel. Here, he wrestles with fragmented memories, piecing together the events at the academy and the fates of his fellow students. This unique cinematographic blend deepens the audience’s immersion, blurring the line between witness and participant. Ross further grounds the story in reality by incorporating archival footage and photographs of the real victims of the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys. These haunting visuals anchor the film in historical truth, reminding us of the profound human cost behind the fiction. So if you struggle with experimental filmmaking, Nickel Boys will be a difficult pill to swallow, but should be an essential watch.
Overall, Nickel Boys is a triumph—a masterful exploration of the cinematic language that pushes the boundaries of what film can achieve. In his directorial debut, RaMell Ross demonstrates extraordinary potential, redefining how stories can be told with innovation, empathy, and artistry. This is a bold and unforgettable piece of filmmaking, one that not only challenges the medium but leaves a lasting impact on cinema.
My Rating: A
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