Nickel Boys

Nickel Boys
Starring Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Hamish Linklater
Directed by RaMell Ross

The term "Oscar bait" is a term used to describe movies that are made to get nominated or win Academy Awards. More often than not, they're not even included in the proceedings because of their blatant soulless endeavor (such as "Amsterdam," "The Son," "Hillbilly Elegy" and "Cats"). Others (like "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Green Book" and "The Darkest Hour") end up winning some awards and aren't as soulless as those that didn't make the list. One tried and true Oscar bait deals with slavery and the struggle of the Black community in American history, which seems from the outside what "Nickel Boys" was supposed to be - another soulless Oscar bait film focusing on the trails of the Black community. However, that's the farthest thing from the truth, as the film itself is a hauntingly beautiful portrayal of two Black youths living in the Jim Crow era told in a wonderful way that pulls you into their story in a deeply personal way.

Elwood (Ethan Herisse) is an intelligent young Black man living in Tallahassee during the Jim Crow era, where Blacks were segregated for their race and treated as second-class citizens. After he's picked up by a man in a stolen car, he's arrested and convicted of being an accomplice and sent to Nickel Academy, a reform school that keeps Blacks and Whites separate, and while they treat the White boys with respect and adoration, they treat the Black boys like slaves. Elwood is befriended by Turner (Brandon Wilson), and the two become inseparable. While Elwood's grandmother Hattie (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) tries to get Elwood out, the two friends come to terms with what it really means to be Black in that era, and the uphill climb they had to endure to get out.

"Nickel Boys" is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead based on the Dozier School,  a school in Florida that operated for 111 years and was revealed to be highly abusive, and later found numerous unmarked graves for unrecorded deaths. It's a dark stain on American history that's not talked about, and thankfully both the novel and the film managed to tell the story, albeit in a fictionalized manner.

The movie sets itself apart by the stunning work by director of photography Jomo Fray and the directing of RaMell Ross, who decided to shoot the entire film from a first-person point of view. The film goes from Elwood to Turner's viewpoints of what's happening through their eyes, thrusting you into the middle of their plight as if you were the one going through it. The camera moves as someone moves their head, as both boys are seen with their heads down as the camera focuses on the ground numerous times, as well as shifting focus between the two. It's stunning and deeply personal, something that hasn't been done in a film like this, and sets it further apart from other movies like this that would've faded into obscurity.

The performances are all awards-worthy, and its a shame no one got any nominations. Ethan Herisse makes his debut here, and this is Brandon Wilson's first leading role, and both men knock it out of the park. Elwood is more stoic and intelligent, believing in the power of protest as he joined the Civil Rights Movement before his unjust arrest, while Turner is more cynical and expects only mistreatment from society, and yet somehow these two become best friends despite their differing ideologies. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor continues being snubbed by the Oscars this year (as she should've been nominated for her stellar work in "Origin" as well as this) as she gives another commanding performance as Elwood's grandmother and caretaker, giving an unforgettable supporting role.

The story itself is deeply rooted in the Black experience during Jim Crow laws, and shows with deep emotion the turmoil, discrimination, and downright illegal way they were treated. It's almost like watching "12 Years a Slave" with how they were treated, and it's almost impossible to think that was only about sixty years ago. There's some shocking twists and turns as well, leaving you with a deep sense of sadness by the end, but also hope that we can overcome our past and move forward - hopefully.

By shooting the film entirely from a first-person point of view, "Nickel Boys" excels in thrusting you into the story by making you feel a part of it, experiencing all the hopelessness, anger and discrimination Black youths endured.

The Score: A+