Nickel Boys: A Creative Cacophony

Nickel Boys is a moving film that dangles hope in front of you before wrenching it away as it tells a story with such artistic fervor that you have no choice but to pay attention.

Rating: 7.4/10

Highlights

• Little-known story is told

• Incredibly creative direction

• Devastating story of hope

Lowlights

• The frenzy of creativity can be distracting

• Sad

• Flashforwards can be confusing

Nickel Boys has two layers of impression — the first, which tells a moving story that is objectively moving, and the second, which further impacts the first layer through an innovative method of filming and scripting. With all honestly, I don't feel fully qualified to understand this second layer. Despite studying film during college, this movie went over my head a bit, and I think it is only with further coursework that I could fully understand its significance and artistic success. Regardless, Nickel Boys is heartbreaking and hopeful as it tells the story of a beautiful friendship between two Black boys as they try to survive a hotbed of racism. The story is told effectively, and any viewer will walk away with a newfound understanding of the horrible travesty that occurred at many reform schools during the last century. However, it's through its artistry that Nickel Boys truly shines. The symbolism is pervasive and pestering, as alligators materialize during moments of high anxiety and images of the African American presence in the Space Race is presented as the very pinnacle of Black achievement, all while Black boys are unlawfully detained at the Nickel Academy. Most obviously, the choice to shoot nearly entirely from a first-person perspective is jarring yet immersive, though it admittedly does distance the viewer from the protagonist at times. However, Nickel Boys is a film I'd quickly recommend, as its two primary layers of understanding provide much ground for both contemplation and entertainment. 

Liked Nickel Boys? Watch The Zone of Interest, one of last year's Best Picture nominees which similarly explores a dark topic through a unique artistic lens (this recommendation is inspired by a review by David Canfield). 

Watch the trailer!