The Cast of ‘Nickel Boys’ Reflect on Different Perspectives

RaMell Ross’s Nickel Boys (2024) is a beautiful tale of friendship, perseverance through brutality, and the wounds of trauma that can never seem to heal. Starring relative newcomers Ethan Herisse (When They See Us – 2019) and Brandon Wilson (The Way Back – 2020) as two residents of “Nickel Academy” – a juvenile detention center – Nickel Boys causes its audience to really question their perspective.

Shot in a style of shifting perspective, director RaMell Ross’s technique allows the user to feel like they’re a part of the film. It provides a sort of built-in empathy that only enhances the performances on the screen. When each individual audience member becomes a character in the film, it creates a space for self-reflection. When literally seeing through someone else’s “eyes,” how connected or disconnected does the audience member feel.

Awards Buzz sat with Herisse and Wilson to discuss the experiences of working on such a unique project, what they learned from the film, and the joys of working with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. Ellis-Taylor lends an experienced gravitas to Nickel Boys and validates the perspective technique. When Ellis-Taylor as Hattie goes to hug her grandson Elwood (Herisse) and later Turner (Wilson), you can early feel the warmth as the screen blurs and darkens from her embrace.

We got to sit down with Ellis-Taylor to talk about her legacy and the reason why Black independent and experimental film speaks to her. Though Ellis-Taylor’s role is small, it’s no less mighty and important to the overall narrative. But it’s Wilson and Herisse’s performances that are the true heart of the film. Ellis-Taylor discusses working with the young talent (she and Herisse both starred in When They See Us) and working with Ross whose evolution as a filmmaker is evident with each new project.

We spoke with Ross about the idea for the shifting perspective, and why he feels it should be the future of cinema. We also talked about his fascination with the book by Colson Whitehead that inspired the film. Nickel Boys is a sweeping narrative that is equal parts heartbreaking and soul quenching. The performances stand on their own, but the cinematography helmed by Jomo Fray and the direction by Ross are what make this more than just a movie. It’s truly an experience.

Nickel Boys is now playing in select theaters.