Nickel Boys

Frank’s Film Review: Nickel Boys
⭐⭐⭐ /5

Directed by RaMell Ross and written by Joslyn Barnes, Nickel Boys brings Colson Whitehead’s powerful book to the screen. The story focuses on a reform school called Nickel Academy, where boys face terrible abuse and injustice. While the film highlights this tragic history chapter, it doesn’t capture the novel’s emotional impact.

Elwood Curtis, played by Ethan Herisse, is the story’s heart. He’s a bright, hardworking teen with big dreams, but life turns cruel when he ends up at Nickel. Brandon Wilson plays Turner, Elwood’s more streetwise friend, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is Hattie, Elwood’s caring grandmother. The actors do great with their roles, making the characters feel real. However, their impact is limited because the film doesn’t give viewers enough backstory to connect with them genuinely.

This is where the movie falls short. The book shows us who Elwood and his grandmother are—their hopes, struggles, and bond. This backstory makes their pain feel real and personal. In the film, a lot of important details are omitted. Without this depth, it’s challenging to connect with the characters. As a result, significant moments in the movie don’t resonate as strongly because we don’t fully understand the characters or because the scenes are so fragmented that it’s hard to grasp what’s happening.

The filmmakers focused more on how the movie looks than how it tells its story. They shot the film in a 4.3 aspect ratio, which gives a boxed, closed-in feeling that matches the boys’ trapped lives. They also used many Point-of-View (POV) shots, showing the world directly through Elwood’s eyes. While this is visually interesting, it happens so often that it becomes distracting. It also stops us from seeing how Elwood feels on the inside, which makes it harder to connect with him.

That said, there are things the movie does well. The cinematography is striking, with muted colors and stark visuals that capture the grim environment of Nickel Academy. Some scenes show camaraderie among the boys, giving glimpses of humanity and hope despite the darkness. Plus, the actors do their best with what they’re given, with Herisse and Wilson standing out.

Still, the movie feels like it’s missing something important. Cutting out the backstory loses the deep emotional pull that made the book so powerful. The decision to focus more on artistic style than character development was a big mistake. This story should make you feel something deeply, but the film’s approach keeps you at a distance. The novel is the way to go if you want to truly feel and understand this true story. The film is respectable for its effort but misses the humanity the book masterfully delivers.