RaMell Ross’s Dynamic First-person Camera - Nickel Boys Review
Nickel Boys, RaMell Ross
Exploration, wonder—the fleeting joys of boyhood are captured beautifully, only to be ripped away. Nickel Boys (2024) portrays the trauma of systemic racism in the Nickel reform school through inventive storytelling. RaMell Ross’s dynamic first-person camera shifts immerse viewers in the boys’ experiences, alternating between moments of youthful camaraderie and the oppressive fear of their reality. Ross intelligently contrasts America’s iconic celebrated progress, like the moon landing, with its failure to provide safety and equality for African Americans. Through artisan cinematography and layered storytelling, the film highlights resilience, street survival and the enduring struggle for freedom amid a deeply unjust system.
Release Date: January 3rd 2025
Directed by RaMell Ross
Written by RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes
Produced by Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, David Levine, Joslyn Barnes
Main Cast: Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger, Daveed Diggs, Jimmie Fails, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Cinematographer: Jomo Fray
Composer: Alex Somers, Scott Alario
Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios
Runtime: 140 minutes.