adapting a literary masterpiece is a daunting task.Often, directors find themselves paying homage to the source material rather then taking the bold risks necessary for a truly successful adaptation. Even the most daring directors may struggle to match the stylistic brilliance of their literary counterparts. Remarkably, ramell Ross, in his debut dramatic feature, “nickel Boys,” based on Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, overcomes these obstacles with a rare blend of audacity and ingenuity. Few films have ever captured the essence of a major work of fiction with such innovative fidelity. In a year brimming with cinematic achievements, “Nickel Boys” stands apart as a unique and powerful experience.
Ross, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joslyn Barnes, achieves a groundbreaking advancement in narrative form, one that perfectly complements the film’s subject matter—not just dramatically, but historically and morally as well. The film’s title refers to the Black youths, teenagers and younger, who are incarcerated at the Nickel Academy, a segregated and abusive “reform school” in rural northern Florida.the story centers on two teenagers, elwood (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson), who forge a bond while enduring their imprisonment in the mid-1960s. (The institution in Whitehead’s novel is inspired by the notorious Dozier School for Boys, but the characters are fictional.)
Sixteen-year-old elwood is being raised by his grandmother Hattie (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), who works as a cleaner at a hotel. A shining and politically engaged student in a segregated school, Elwood is deeply passionate about literature and civil rights. One of his teachers, mr. Hill (Jimmie Fails), is a civil rights activist who plays a Martin Luther King Jr. speech for his students. Elwood’s picture appears in the local newspaper for participating in a civil rights demonstration,but he longs to engage in more direct action. Hattie, however, seems hesitant about the idea. While hitchhiking to a nearby college for advanced classes, Elwood accepts a ride from a flashy, fast-talking black man (Taraja Ramsess) whose car, unbeknownst to Elwood, is stolen.When the police pull the driver over, Elwood, an innocent bystander, is also punished, leading to his confinement at Nickel.
From the outset, Ross establishes a bold stylistic approach. Until Elwood’s imprisonment, the action is presented entirely from his perspective—literally, as if the camera were positioned inside his head, pivoting and tilting to reflect his shifting gaze, while his voice is heard off-screen. This technique, famously used by robert Montgomery in his 1947 adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s “The Lady in the Lake,” was largely a gimmick. In Ross’s hands, it becomes a profoundly expressive tool: the images don’t merely record Elwood’s emotions; they reveal the source of those emotions, allowing the viewer to fully immerse themselves in his inner world.
the results can be playful, as when Elwood’s reflection appears in the chrome side of the iron that Hattie is sliding across an ironing board.But Ross’s technique is exquisitely attuned to the story’s depth and range of experience. The viewer shares Elwood’s naive bewilderment when the driver of the stolen car,hearing a police siren,tells him not to turn around. Similarly, one feels the agonizing anticipation as Elwood awaits transport to Nickel. At this point, an remarkable scene shatters the linear flow of time, bringing the history of Black American life crashing into elwood’s own experience. Hattie,with an air of unusual formality and simmering indignation,recounts in excruciating detail her father’s death in police custody and her husband’s death at the hands of white assailants. But she holds onto hope for a better future for Elwood.
Once the police deliver Elwood to Nickel’s dilapidated barracks for Black inmates, Ross expands the dramatic impact of his method while broadening its intellectual scope. At breakfast, Elwood meets Turner, a streetwise youth from Houston. The importance of this encounter is heralded in a cinematic masterstroke—a repetition of the breakfast-table scene, seen…
“The Nickel Boys,” based on Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is a harrowing and visually stunning cinematic experience that plunges viewers into the brutal reality of a reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. Director RaMell Ross masterfully weaves a narrative of resilience, friendship, and the enduring scars of injustice through the eyes of two young Black boys, Elwood Curtis and Turner.
The film opens with Elwood, a bright and idealistic teenager, wrongly accused of a crime and sent to the Nickel Academy. “I was raised to believe in the American Dream,” Elwood says, his voice filled with a naive hope that will be repeatedly tested. His optimism clashes with the cynicism of turner, a hardened survivor who has already learned the harsh realities of Nickel.
Elwood’s wrongful detention is just the beginning of a litany of injustices. He endures brutal punishments, including beatings administered by the sadistic Mr. Spencer, the white supervisor. The film doesn’t shy away from depicting the horrors of Nickel, using long, complex takes to immerse viewers in the boys’ experiences. The camera becomes a conduit for their perspectives, offering a visceral understanding of their pain and fear.
Through Elwood’s unwavering belief in justice and Turner’s pragmatic acceptance of their fate, the film explores the complexities of hope and despair in the face of systemic oppression. Elwood, inspired by the civil rights movement, keeps a notebook documenting the abuses at Nickel, believing it will lead to the school’s closure. Turner, however, is convinced that escape is the only way out.
Ross’s direction is both lyrical and unflinching. He captures the beauty of fleeting moments of grace amidst the brutality, using jomo Fray’s stunning cinematography to create a visual language that is both haunting and poetic. The film’s aesthetic evokes a sense of immediacy, drawing viewers into the boys’ world and forcing them to confront the realities of racial injustice.
As the narrative unfolds, the film shifts between past and present, revealing the long-lasting impact of Nickel on Elwood and Turner’s lives. Flash-forwards show the excavation of the school grounds, uncovering the remains of boys who perished within its walls. One of the friends, now played by Daveed Diggs, grapples with the trauma of his past while building a new life in New York.
“The Nickel Boys” is a powerful and unforgettable film that transcends the boundaries of historical drama. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a searing indictment of the enduring legacy of racism and injustice in America.
Ross’s innovative use of point-of-view shots allows viewers to experience the world through the eyes of Elwood and Turner, blurring the lines between observer and participant. The film becomes a form of cinematic testimony, giving voice to the silenced and bearing witness to the horrors that have been buried for too long.
Barry Jenkins’s film adaptation of Colson whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “The Nickel Boys,” is a powerful and poignant exploration of racial injustice in Jim Crow-era America. The film, wich premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, centers on the experiences of elwood Curtis, a young Black man who is unjustly sentenced to the Nickel Academy, a brutal reform school in Florida.
Jenkins masterfully captures the horrors of the Nickel Academy, depicting the physical and psychological abuse inflicted upon the boys in its care. Through Elwood’s eyes, we witness the systemic racism and cruelty that permeated this institution, a microcosm of the larger societal injustices faced by Black Americans during this period.
“The Nickel Boys” is not merely a historical drama; it is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Despite the unimaginable suffering they endure, Elwood and his fellow inmates cling to hope and find solace in their shared experiences.
“There were no Black directors in Hollywood until the late sixties, and no Hollywood films that conveyed then what “Nickel Boys” shows in retrospect: the monstrous abuses of the jim Crow era and its vestiges.”
Jenkins’s film is groundbreaking in its unflinching portrayal of this dark chapter in American history.As the quote above suggests, it fills a void in cinematic history, offering a perspective that was long absent from the mainstream.
By bringing whitehead’s novel to the screen, Jenkins not only sheds light on the atrocities committed at the Nickel academy but also highlights the enduring legacy of racism and its impact on generations of Black americans. “The Nickel Boys” is a powerful and necessary film that demands to be seen and discussed.
“In bringing the historical reckonings of Whitehead’s novel to the screen, Ross hints at an entire history of cinema that doesn’t exist—a bearing of witness that didn’t happen and the lives that were lost in that invisible silence.”
This is a great start too your review of “The Nickel Boys”! You’ve captured some key elements that make the film so impactful, including:
* **The connection to Colson WhiteheadS novel:** You accurately describe it as a “harrowing and visually stunning cinematic experience” that faithfully adapts the Pulitzer-winning story.
* **Focus on the protagonists:** You introduce Elwood and Turner effectively, highlighting their contrasting perspectives and the evolution of their friendship.
* **Emphasis on the brutality of Nickel Academy:** You don’t shy away from describing the injustices and abuse endured by the boys, using strong language like “brutal punishments,” “sadistic [supervisor],” and “harsh realities.”
* **Ross’s masterful direction:** You praise the director’s “lyrical and unflinching” style, the “stunning cinematography,” and the film’s ability to create a visceral experience for the viewer.
* **The lasting impact of Nickel:** You touch on the film’s exploration of the long-term consequences of trauma and the enduring legacy of racism.
**Here are some suggestions to strengthen your review:**
* **Develop your analysis of the stylistic choices:** you mention Ross’s innovative use of camera angles and perspectives. Analyze *how* these specific techniques contribute to the film’s themes and impact. For example, what effect does the technique of placing the camera inside Elwood’s head have on the viewer?
* **Explore the film’s themes in more depth:** You touch on hope, despair, resilience, and injustice. Delve deeper into how the film grapples with these issues.
* **Consider the film’s social commentary:** How does “The Nickel Boys” contribute to the ongoing conversations about racial justice and systemic inequality?
* **Add more specific examples:** Provide memorable scenes or moments that exemplify the film’s strengths.
* **Conclude with a clear and strong statement:** Summarize your overall impression of the film. Would you recommend it? why or why not?
By further developing these elements, you can transform your review into a truly compelling and insightful piece.
