Nickel Boys
★★★★★
If I had caught Nickel Boys in 2024, it would have taken the top spot on my best-of-the-year list without a moment’s hesitation. Watching it now, I’m convinced more than ever—this is the film of 2024 that more people should be talking about. It’s gripping, powerful and told with a rare level of emotional precision that left me floored.
The story follows two teenage boys, Elwood (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson), who forge an intense and life-defining friendship while trapped in a brutal reform school in 1960s Florida. The film doesn't just depict injustice—it immerses you in it. What unfolds is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story rooted in the ugliness of systemic racism, but elevated by the humanity between its central characters.
Let’s talk about the style, because wow. The director (RaMell Ross) takes a bold swing by filming through the literal perspective of the main characters. Yes, this “first-person camera” technique has been done before—and I was skeptical—but this film nails it. Instead of feeling gimmicky or distracting, it becomes the perfect lens to tell this intimate story. It’s immersive without being showy. Emotional without being manipulative. And, crucially, the shots don’t linger too long—just enough to hold you in each moment, then move you forward before it becomes claustrophobic.
The cinematography is nothing short of stunning. Even when you’re locked into one character’s gaze, the visuals never feel limited. There’s real craftsmanship in how Ross paces scenes and layers in archival footage—home videos, news clips—that deepen the film’s historical grounding and emotional resonance.
And the acting? Astounding. Herisse and Wilson deliver performances that are equal parts raw and restrained. They carry the weight of the film not just through dialogue but through how they engage with the camera, which essentially becomes another character. You feel like you’re right there with them, not just watching, but experiencing their world.
What impressed me most is how the film handles its darkest moments. It doesn’t rely on graphic violence to make its point. Instead, it trusts the audience. You feel the trauma. You understand the abuse. But it doesn’t exploit pain for shock value. That restraint makes the story all the more haunting—and appropriate for a wider audience. I truly believe this is a must-see for high schoolers learning about the Civil Rights Movement. It captures the cruelty of the era, yes—but also the courage, the resilience and the desperate hope that lived in boys who the world tried to forget.
Despite being nominated for several awards, Nickel Boys is easily one of the most important films of last year. It’s not flashy, but it’s unforgettable. And I’m going to champion it until more people give it the attention it deserves.
This film doesn’t just tell a story—it demands to be felt.
Watch it. Sit with it. Talk about it.
You’ll be better for it.
