Nickel Boys is notable for a few reasons. One of which is of coarse the unorthodox choice to film the movie in first person POV so that we, as the audience, are seeing what our central characters are seeing. This turns out to be not a gimmick but a brilliant means of bringing us into the story. Director Ross' brilliance here is two fold, centring his characters so flawlessly (including the narrative's bait and switch) and filming such a gorgeous movie. The POV never feels forced, never confusing. We are there in the Nickel "school" and their pain is real without devolving into graphic exploitation.
Also notable is the cast. Herisse and Wilson are both marvellous even though we often aren't seeing their faces. The entire cast is with Ellis-Taylor truly standing out. A big part of what makes Nickel Boys work is how the cast brings it to life.
The importance of films like Nickel Boys which bring our recent "past" so vividly to life and force us to confront it, especially in such humanizing way, can't be overstated. This is a piece of America that many don't know about, don't want to know about, or don't want us to talk about. That makes this film even more relevant as it is released than ever.
But Nickel Boys is truly a beautiful film that despite how harrowing its story often is, is also a story of survival and resilience, something truly needed right now. The story of this film is one that has taken place all over the US and in many other countries too and sharing it in the gorgeous way Ross and his co-writer Barnes have done is a gift to us.
Nickel Boys
Starring: Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger, Daveed Diggs, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Director: RaMell Ross
Writers: Joslyn Barnes, RaMell Ross
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