Nickel Boys - Movie Review

Living through the Jim Crow conditions of 1960s Florida, Nickel Boys raises the rather sensitive issue of abuse in reform schools through the protagonist Elwood Curtis and his companion Turner. When Elwood is falsely arrested for robbery and sent to the Nickel Academy, he meets the distrustful though sage Turner. Together, they face and survive the strict racist policies of the surroundings; the film captures the institutionalized meanness of the environment concurrently with the humanity’s capability to overcome the innate inhumanity. Adapted from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name, the story’s survival narrative and the questions of historical bearing both combine to fuel a praiseworthy exploration of friendship under pressure and moral centre in the face of oppression.

The themes of Nickel Boys include racism, friendship, endurance and hope against adversity. With profound finesse and consideration, the movie provides an insight toward the socio-political milieu of Deep South America during polarised time. It is a very dark and serious mood, but there are occasional rays of friendship and defiance showing the resilience of human spirit in the most desperate conditions. Without avoiding key historical mistakes, the movie opens our eyes to the horrors of the past, thus making us aware of the effects of our deeds in the present.

The Nickel Boys cast distinguishes itself by giving raw performances that would make viewers and listeners feel the targeted messages from the pedagogy. For Elwood, Ethan Cole Sharp maintains sincere and heartfelt attitudes and somehow evokes the character’s naive and fragile side successfully. Turner portrayed by Sam Malone ‘The rug merchant’ is a complex character full of conflict as well as an urban, lived philosophy. As a strong but concerned grandmother, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor brings the reality and feelings of the role into this unbelievable setting. Every actor feels their character, which adds drama to the story as well.|Nickel Boys is well-directed by RaMell Ross, where he captured both realism and drama effectively. I believe that Ross successfully casts a suspension of disbelief, placing audiences back in time where, navigating through the brutal realties of the reform school where nothing is truly what is seems while at the same time opening slim window to hope. The aspect of mise-en-shots is part of the great cinematography that Barinova applied putting the audience in a position of the feeling of the characters’ distress and slight triumphs.

The music in Nickel Boys becomes an effective and timely portrayal of an emotional compass of the story. It nicely underlines torn dramatic episodes of the film, adding up to the movie’s tension and bringing the relief of the plot. Music is used effectively in combining contemporary tunes and newly composed fragments which complement the movie and strengthen the historical and cultural background.

Stating about the cinematography, it is arranged systematically, and the images shown in Nickel Boys are extreme. Colours also help to set the mood: grey and brown colours represent oppressive atmosphere of the reform school, orange and yellow colours symbolise affection between characters. Every frame is well thought and helps to build the story and make it fleshed out and feel alive.

The setting of the 1960s southern United States is done well with the grim environment of the reform school contrasting with the freedom of the rest of society in the film. The show pays close attention to period accuracy in costumes as well as other pieces, depicting socio-economic sections of a society and taking the viewers deeper into that epoch.

The cases of the usage of special effects in Nickel Boys are not numerous but elevates some crucial moments of the show. These are used in an organic manner, and while they serve to beef up the emotions of the movies, the focus remains on the character and their arc.

The use of the two timelines in a movie is well done and the editting flows with precision enabling continuity yet adding depth to the plot. Switching between the past and the present is smooth but explicit to create eye-rolling tension and feelings’ continuity.

Nickel Boys does not rush things too much and allows for each emotional and narrative move to be felt and understood. For the audience, some may argue that the progression chooses to be slow on purpose, making each experience of following the characters truly matter.

The language in Nickel Boys is well written, the characters’ dialogue speaks the language of the period as they strive for complex thought and feeling. Elwood’s and Turner’s conversations are especially moving – the growth of the characters’ friendship and their determination to fight oppression are visually depicted.

This is why, despite the utter mastery of storytelling and thematic work Nickel Boys does not lack, an audience might be overwhelmed with the emotional load of the book. Nevertheless, some of the viewers could find the movie’s focus on realistic depiction of injustice consequent overwhelming. However, one drawback of this type of storytelling is that it may become monotonous extra time and although it is a deliberate move, the progression of events is quite slow. However, all these elements keen together to make a meaningful film that honours the fidelity of the narrative while still being sincere.

It is this uncomfortable experience that makes Nickel Boys a film that cannot be shaken once the credits start to roll. The plot of this movie is very strong, and with excellent cast performances and careful directing, events touch the heart and make the viewer think about justice, survival or redemption. Nickel Boys teaches the reader about the strength of Black people and the strength that comes from friendship no matter the circumstances. Being a moviegoer, one is both enlightened and touched by an emotional response as a result of that powerful storytelling.