Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Chronicles the powerful friendship between two young Black teenagers navigating the harrowing trials of reform school together in Florida.
Nickel Boys is a formally audacious adaptation of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, distinguished above all by RaMell Ross's radical first-person point-of-view cinematography that places the viewer literally inside the subjective experience of its Black protagonists — a technique that transforms the film into something genuinely singular in American cinema. The plot, grounded in the real horrors of the Dozier School for Boys, is devastating and structurally layered, weaving timelines with care and intelligence. The cinematography earns an exceptional mark for its conceptual boldness and immersive beauty, making it one of the most visually distinctive American films in years. Novelty is very high for the same reason — the formal conceit is not a gimmick but a profound ethical and aesthetic choice that no comparable film has attempted. Acting is strong from Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson but the POV approach naturally limits conventional performance visibility, making it harder to fully assess and somewhat dampening its conventional impact. The ending, while emotionally resonant and structurally satisfying with its late-film revelation, may feel abrupt or withholding to some viewers, preventing it from fully landing with maximum force.