

Perspective is invaluable. While it may be overabundant, with everyone having their own, being able to get a glimpse into someone else’s view of the world can be truly insightful. This is one of the core reasons why film has resonated as an art form: it inherently forces the viewer to engage with the author’s perspective. Typically this perspective is shown through a structured narrative that an author carefully crafts to convey some sort of message they wish to share with others. I bring this up because in most films you would see this perspective portrayed in a standard film format where the camera watches characters perform scenes, but what happens when the camera becomes the characters?
While it’s most certainly reductive, that question is the elevator pitch for RaMell Ross’ latest film Nickel Boys, which literally shows the beautiful and tragic story of Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse) from his direct perspective. While this is an adaptation of the novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys is an inventive portrayal. The film, which takes place in the 1960s and is shot entirely in the first-person, lets you see what Elwood sees as he is forced to attend a juvenile reform school in Florida called Nickel Academy due to him being falsely accused of a crime he did not commit. Along the way, Elwood befriends Turner (Brandon Wilson), a runaway kid from Texas, who quickly becomes Elwood’s mentor and closest friend. Nickel Boys then replicates it’s magic trick by then showing Turner’s perspective, and from this point on the film will jump between these two characters’ POVs to not only add a new viewpoint but also help provide better coverage for scenes to come.
Herisse performance can be described as wholesome-core realism, with Elwood being this shy intellectual student with a heart of gold. He is kind, humble, and shy, rarely speaking above a neutral volume. These traits come in contrast to Wilson’s Turner who is clever, witty, and sarcastic, someone who sees the world for what it is and knows how to survive in it. These dynamics make for a great duo to watch. Additionally, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is an absolute showstopper in her role as Hattie—Elwood’s Grandmother. Ellis-Taylor possesses a masterful ability to make this form of acting look so natural, providing a powerful performance. She, more than any other actor, perfectly nails how to convey the right amount of eye contact with the first-person camera making every scene feel like a one-on-one conversation.
Along with stunning original cinematography, Nickel Boys also incorporates various songs, speeches, and TV programs from the 1960s era. The most memorable was how some scenes were intercut with archival footage from the Apollo moon missions. This B-roll evokes RaMell Ross’ previous work in documentaries, which makes the film feel more organic and poetic. The footage shot for the film is stunning. The way Ross and cinematographer Jomo Fray capture these small memories, moments where Elwood notices two women’s feet seemingly moving in rhythm, is truly breathtaking and feels more like an eidetic memory than pre-planned scenes. The film is not only authentic, but it’s ambitious with how many wonderfully executed camera tricks were executed with no one the wiser. At no moment does the camera fail to pull off its first-person perspective trick. I dare call it diegetic perspective? Someone more clever will come up with what to call this camera style.
Nickel Boys is a film that shows you the power of perspective. This perspective helps make the film one of the best of 2024. Even if the camera perspective and editing can feel bizarre at first glance, this authentic masterclass is a must-see experience, that I can not recommend more.
5 out of 5 stars.
Nickel Boys, based on the book by Colson Whitehead and directed by RaMell Ross, is a film shot entirely in first-person perspective. It follows the life of Elwood (Ethan Herisse) and shows the tragedy and beauty found in his experience being falsely incarcerated to a reform school in 1960s Florida. The film shows the story from his and his friend Turner’s(Brandon Wilson) direct perspective. Also starring, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Sam Malone, and Hamish Linklater, Nickel Boys is produced by Orion Pictures, Plan B Entertainment, and Louverture Films. Please see the film on January 3, 2025.