Oscar Voters Face Challenge from ‘Nickel Boys’
Nickel Boys, RaMell Ross’ big screen adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Nickel Boys, premiered at the Telluride Film Festival‘s Herzog Theatre on Friday night. Audience reactions, including those of Academy members, were mixed — some were impressed and moved by the film, while others found it lacking, leaving its Oscar chances uncertain.
Ross, an acclaimed filmmaker, earned an Oscar nomination and won a Peabody Award for his unique 2018 documentary Hale County This Morning, This Evening, exploring the Black experience in Alabama. At just 42, he makes his narrative directorial debut with Nickel Boys, co-writing the script with Hale County producer Joslyn Barnes.
The film follows Elwood (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson), two young Black men placed at the brutal Nickel Academy in the 1960s, a reform school that treats its non-white inmates inhumanely. As they navigate the institution, their perspectives shift, impacting the film’s narrative.
Nickel Boys is visually stunning but avant-garde, reminiscent of Terrence Malick‘s style. While critics may appreciate this approach, the film’s reception by Oscar voters remains to be seen.
Cinematographer Jomo Fray‘s intricate shots and editing techniques enhance the film’s visual appeal, though some may find it disconnected from the main story, elongating its runtime and emotional weight.
Although the young male leads deliver strong performances, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor shines as Elwood’s grandmother, earning potential recognition from voters. The film, produced by Plan B’s Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, will premiere at the New York Film Festival before its theatrical and streaming release dates.