Writer/Director: RaMell Ross
Starring: Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson and Hamish Linklater
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
When it comes to the greatest books ever written about schools which mistreat boys, its worth discussing Nickel Boys. Following publication in 2019, Colson Whitehead’s book has become a literary classic. The book achieved recognition for its realistic depiction of black boys forming friendship seeking redemption in educational institutions. On a personal level, I find the novel about an abusive school relatable. From an early age, I attended a prestigious college in Pakistan which often mistreated students facing emotional damage. A strict all-boy school, it was supervised by cruel teachers that would treat students with ridicule. Students rarely got the chances to seize the day in an institution where breaking rules came with a price to pay. Students that dared to misbehave often faced consequences which were grave. Suicide was a sad reality in a school that left students terrified. Like the Nickel Academy, it treated students with cruelty. In a school that broke every students’ heart, friendships kept life from falling apart. I formed a friendship with an adolescent seeking to defy a school that was dangerous. In a school that wasn’t a quiet place, he sought to overcome abuse students would face. I cherished a friend with wisdom challenging the education system. However, expulsion ended bonds forever. When he broke rules, my friend was expelled from school by teachers which were cruel. As years went by, I couldn’t understand why my friend was kicked out of school in the blink of an eye. I never got to say goodbyes to a friend bringing tears to my eyes. In reflection, I treasure a friend that changed my attitudes towards education.
As someone treasuring memories of a friend with whom I attended a school for boys, I appreciated “Nickel Boys”. Released in 2024, RaMell Ross’ latest Oscar-nominated movie captured abusive schools. Packed with breathtaking production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies of 2024. At the centre of it all is Ethan Herisee, who portrays a black teenager challenging education systems with authority. Ultimately, what makes “Nickel Boys” a masterpiece is its message. The film delivers a bold message about the power of friendship which would resonate with everyone. A riveting masterpiece about abusive schools, there are several strong reasons why “Nickel Boys” is definitely worth watching.
Set in 1960’s Florida, “Nickel Boys” follows boys attending an abusive school causing trauma. Ethan Herisee plays Elwood, a black teenager with strong ambitions. Elwood has bright dreams of escaping his poor neighbourhood. However, Elwood’s dreams are shattered when he is sent to Nickel Academy by his mother. Forming a strong friendship with classmate Turner (Brandon Wilson), Elwood seeks to overcome a strict school causing tension. Facing a dilemma, Elwood questions if it’s possible for him to survive a school causing trauma.
RaMell Ross is fascinated with African-Americans. A renowned African-American filmmaker, Ross has often made compelling movies about black communities that face disaster. His documentary “Hale Country This Morning, This Evening” honoured Alabama’s community. With “Nickel Boys”, however, Ross created his first literary adaptation. It was the filmmaker’s attempt adapting a book about black boys in schools but he succeeded. Using captivating cinematography, Ross captures a black boy facing cruelty. Evoking Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight”, Ross effectively uses first-person point-of-view capturing barriers black boys in schools fight. For instance, first-person shots enhance the school entry scene. During this unforgettable scene, Elwood enters the Nickel Academy for the first time. It brought back memories of my experience attending schools that mistreated students with cruelty. First person shots are tricky. As Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” proved clearly, first-person shots enhance horror films about sharks. Nevertheless, it elevated this movie. Using stunning visuals, Ross captures tensions that black boys in corrupt American schools are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Nickel Boys” worth discussing is production. Inspired by Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption”, Ross effectively uses sound-design capturing black boys in an abusive institution whose lives decline. Whether it’s sounds of boys screaming for help or teachers yelling at students in ways that are frightening, Ross use engaging sound-design capturing barriers African-Americans in abusive schools are facing. For instance, sound-design elevates the abuse scene. During this disturbing scene, Elwood is abused by teachers in school in ways that are frightening. It reminded me of how I was humiliated by teachers in a conflicted school where teachers were corrupted. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Alex Somers’ music is integral to the film’s success. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that African-American boys experiencing abuse bear. Through phenomenal production, Ross captures students experiencing abuse in a downtrodden educational institution.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Nickel Boys” is a masterpiece about abusive schools that is worth seeing. The film is beautifully written, and uses silence to capture bonds between boys in schools facing violence. Evoking Peter Weir’s “Dead Poets Society”, Ross uses silence to capture bonds between students in an educational institution. For instance, silence elevates the prison escape scene. During this unforgettable scene, Elwood and Turner bond together by discussing possible ways in which they can escape prison. One appreciates silence capturing bonds between black boys sharing a similar experience. It reminded me of my strong bond with a companion standing up against a corrupted school whose courage I appreciated. Silence is a tricky technique. John Krasinki’s “A Quiet Place” suggested silence elevates horror movies about silent survival. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Ross commemorates African-American boys attending downtrodden schools in America today.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Ethan Herisse delivers a star-making performance as Elwood. In his first ever leading role, Herisse pours his heart and soul into a black boy facing a toll. It isn’t easy to portray a black boy that is treated poorly by a school exercising cruelty, but Herisse succeeded tremendously. For a first-time newcomer star, Herisse showcases extraordinary dramatic range that’s rare to find in most young actors these days. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, grief and trauma of a black boy attending a strict educational institution. It’s a phenomenal performance from a promising black actor that seems destined to have a bright future.
Brandon Wilson is brilliant as a student with strong dedication to stand up against a corrupt educational institution. While Herisse gets the showier role, Wilson is also excelled at a student struggling to keep his emotions under control. As Turner, Wilson effectively uses his body language to capture a student with a rebellious nature. Whether he’s giving Elwood valuable advice on how to survive a grim school that’s enlightening or seeking to defy teachers that are frightening, Wilson uses body language to create a student that’s compelling. It’s a phenomenal performance capturing realities that black boys in schools face today.
Finally, “Nickel Boys” would earn everyone’s appreciation for capturing abuse faced by boys. Unlike most movies about abusive schools, it tackles themes that everyone would relate to. It discusses strong themes including education, identity and trauma. Viewers aren’t required to be familiar with American history to appreciate it. Therefore, “Nickel Boys” is one of those rare commemorated movies about racism everyone would adore.
Fans of historical dramas will definitely appreciate “Nickel Boys” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A mesmerizing masterpiece about black communities, it proves stories of boys in schools are worth telling.
A powerful portrait of abuse causing African-American boys in schools to deteriorate, it’s a riveting reminder about the power of Cinema to educate people about tensions faced by black communities making memorable movies which audiences appreciate.
As powerful as Turner’s desires to overcome racism, it has motivated me to move on years after separating from a commemorated companion with wisdom wrongfully expelled from schools whose determination to stand up against a corrupt system motivated me to accomplish my dreams of film criticism.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 