Title – Nickel Boys (2024)

Director – RaMell Ross (Hale County This Morning, This Evening)

Cast – Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger

Plot – Placed in the unforgiving Nickel Academy reform school during the tense 1960’s period of history in the United States, African-American teenagers Elwood (Harris) and Turner (Wilson) strike up a friendship despite their differing views, as the two look to navigate their way out of the repressive and dangerous surroundings they find themselves in.  

“If everybody looks the other way, then everybody’s in on it”

Review by Eddie on 21/05/2025

Adapted from author Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name, RaMell Ross’s narrative debut feature film may come from esteemed source material, was showered with much critical praise and found itself competing in the two key Academy Award categories Best Feature and Adapted Screenplay but you’d be forgiven for perhaps not even knowing about one of 2024’s most unique and inspired films.

Taking place in a stunningly designed POV format that takes form from the views of African-American teenagers Elwood and Turner, as the two navigate the dangerous landscape of the Nickel Academy reform school in the midst of the fiery American landscape in the 1960’s, Nickel Boys on paper appears to be a relatively straight forward coming of age drama seeped in cultural history and racial undertones but it’s unlikely viewers have ever experienced a narrative such as this told in such a way.

Hauntingly captivating at times and aimlessly philosophical at others, there’s not many films from the 2024 calendar that took a big of a swing creatively as Nickel Boys and no one would have held it against Ross if he had gone down the stereotypical route when he moved into this next phase of his directional career but while for me it didn’t all come together in the emotional or human connection elements, there’s little denying that Nickel Boys isn’t an impressive piece of art and a noteworthy calling card for its overseer and two leads.

Beginning its journey following young Elwood as a child living under the care of his loving grandmother and growing up in the Jim Crow era of Florida, there’s a dreamlike Tree of Life like quality to the starting stages of Nickel Boys, made all the more dreamlike thanks to the POV approach to the narrative and the initial tone stays with us throughout the films extensive close to two and a half hour runtime, a runtime that grows increasingly sombre and reflective as the horrors of the fictional (but based on real life reform schools) Nickel Academy takes hold as well as the second POV aspect from the far more pessimistic Turner.

In more ways than one we’ve seen this story told before, whether it be from fellow features, TV series or novels but there’s surprises found in the unfolding nature of this tale and a twist that packs an almighty punch when it becomes fully apparent and while some may find the more artistic endeavours of the film such as intercutting key scenes with old films or the space race more distracting than enhancing, Nickel Boys marches to the beat of its own drum for better and worse.

A distinct feature film offering that can’t be accused of taking a proven and well-trodden path, Nickel Boys is sure to find its way into the minds and hearts of many viewers who discover a lavishly adored award/critical darling that for various reasons failed to breakout into the mainstream in its initial release.

Final Say –

An undeniably beautiful and heartfelt production, Nickel Boys style and delivery won’t be for everyone as it forgoes a typical approach to loaded subject matters and character engagement but there’s a high chance many connect with this feature on a deeper level than an average film does.

3 1/2 pool cleaners out of 5