I walked into the theaters to watch Nickel Boys and walked away, understanding that RaMell Ross is one of the most unique visionaries of this generation. Many trades and critics groups have continued to let the film down with the lack of attention and award nominations it truly deserves. My one hope is that the Academy Awards voting body doesn't follow the history of its past by letting down Black-led films and gives this film all the recognition it deserves.
Let me start by saying that Academy Award nominations or wins don't tell the whole story about great movies. We've seen many films that have not received nominations or even won but are still outstanding. However, I am tired of using that to excuse the generations of letdowns from the voting body. It's been written about for years, and nothing has changed, but here's to hope they don't make the same mistake again.
One of the biggest complaints since the inception of the Academy Awards in 1929 is the lack of handing out Oscars to Black directors, actors, and actresses. In Academy history, no Black director has ever won Best Director, with only six nominated since 1991. Only 23 Oscars have been awarded to Black Actresses and actors. Time and time again, the Academy showcases that it isn't concered with propelling Black stories.
RaMell Ross adapted Colson Whitehead's 2018 novel Nickel Boys, co-writing the film with Joslyn Barnes. The film is set in 1962 Jim Crow-era Tallahassee, Florida, where Elwood Curtis appears destined for great things in his classroom. Elwood is accepted into a tuition-free program at an HBCU. One day, hitchhiking to campus, Elwood is picked up by a man driving a stolen car, and they convict him of being an accomplice. This leads to him being sent to Nickel Academy, a reform school.
One of the most groundbreaking choices director RaMell Ross made was to shoot this in a first-person point of view. It forces you, as the viewer, to be in the shoes of each character in the film, along with every choice, decision, or action they go through. His choice not to hold the hands of the audience was a bold decision, which pays off throughout every act in the movie.
Many incredible reviews have been written about the political landscape or emotional impact of those who can reflect on the events that transpired. You can check out reviews from Robert Daniels or Travis Hopson, who deliver words I could never express but also dissect the importance of the film and how the layers of the adaption of the book deserve the praise and awards love.
As I sat in the theater watching Nickel Boys, I was glued to the screen and in awe of the layers Ross and Barnes delivered in the script. The most impressive thing within the film's script is Ross and Barnes's balance of our characters' tragic journey with perfectly placed comedic timing. You fully grasp the levity of what Elwood, Turner, and the other individuals are battling, but the little glimmers of hope and laughter engulf you further in the film.
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor has a small amount of screen time within the film yet has the most profound impact in any movie in 2024. She was that light in the darkness, and even when that darkness was easy to succumb to, she made audiences believe every action and reaction. She's always been one of our greatest working actresses, and this turn may very well be one of her best and one she is remembered for.
Technically speaking, Nickel Boys is the cream of the crop. Jomo Fray's stunning Cinematography, Alex Somers and Scott Alario's score captivate you, and Nicholas Monsour's editing (especially with the uniquely shot perspective) deserve to be recognized by the Academy.
The Academy has a long way to go to get things right, but honoring RaMell Ross's bold and visionary work is a step in the right direction. Nickel Boys will be considered one of the greatest movies of the decade and studied for generations to come, and I hope the voting body does the right thing and gives the film the recognition it deserves.