Pop Culture Happy Hour: In-Depth Discussion on "Nickel Boys"

Episode Release Date: January 3, 2025
Host: NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour Team

Introduction to "Nickel Boys"

In this episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR's Aisha Harris, Linda Holmes, and guest producer Mark Rivers delve into the recently released film adaptation of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Nickel Boys." Directed and co-written by Romel Ross, the film portrays the harrowing experiences of two black teenagers at the segregated Nickel Academy in the Jim Crow South.

Aisha Harris sets the stage:

“Colson Whitehead's novel The Nickel Boys won a Pulitzer Prize a few years ago, and now it's been adapted into an astonishing drama screen. It tells the story of two black boys who form an unshakable bond at a segregated reform school in the Jim Crow South.”
— [00:54]

Linda Holmes adds:

“It's quite ambitious and unlike other prestigious book to film adaptations you've probably seen, most of it unfolds in the first person perspective.”
— [01:09]

Plot Overview and Historical Context

Aisha Harris provides a concise summary of the film's narrative:

“Elwood is a black teenager growing up in Tallahassee, Florida in the 1960s. He's played by Ethan Hawke. Elwood has a chance to get a better education at a nearby technical college, but those dreams are dashed when he's falsely accused of being an accomplice to a crime. As punishment, he's ordered away to a segregated reform school, Nickel Academy. There he befriends Turner, a swaggering kid from Houston who's already resigned to the realities of racism and inequality, played by Brendan Fraser.”
— [03:11]

The trio highlights that Nickel Academy is based on the real Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, where nearly 100 boys died between 1900 and 1973, leading to its closure in 2011.

Directorial Approach and First-Person Perspective

The film's unconventional narrative style, primarily using a first-person perspective, is a focal point of discussion.

Linda Holmes shares her initial reaction:

“I really admired the way that I think this very unusual POV technique was used to convey genuine elements of the story. At the beginning, it was distracting to me because it's just unusual.”
— [04:26]

She underscores the intentionality behind this choice:

“But I did ultimately feel like there were good reasons why it was done the way it was done, and it ultimately felt very intentional.”
— [05:08]

Mark Rivers offers a more critical view:

“The perspective that's supposed to immerse you into the feelings and trials of the main character... it took me out of the movie a lot. It seemed like I was very focused on how Romel Ross was telling the story rather than the effects of the story.”
— [06:28]

He draws parallels to other films that explore trauma through innovative storytelling, such as "The Zone of Interest" and "Son of Saul."

Performances and Character Dynamics

The performances, especially by the leads, are scrutinized for their alignment with the film's formal ambitions.

Linda Holmes praises the acting:

“Angenve Ellis Taylor is one of those actresses who anytime she's in a role, she's gonna commit. She's just so perfect there.”
— [14:22]

However, Mark Rivers expresses ambivalence:

“Sometimes the performances felt a little stilted almost because there's this idea of address or this thing that's happening where they are addressing the camera directly.”
— [17:15]

This sentiment is echoed by Aisha Harris, who notes:

“I did have that same reaction that you did, Mark, of like, some of this feels stilted. Like it was having the opposite effect of what I think the entire movie wants you to have by the end of it, which is being immersed in it.”
— [18:03]

Use of Archival Footage and Stylistic Choices

The film's integration of archival photos and footage serves as a narrative device to enrich the storytelling.

Aisha Harris observes:

“We use a lot of over the shoulder shots. And eventually we learn that we are seeing adult Elwood, although we're only seeing adult Elwood from behind... There's a montage that really ties everything together for me.”
— [20:35]

Linda Holmes connects this technique to cinematic history:

“When I think about the documentary The Imposter, having somebody look directly into the lens... in Nickel Boys, the camera is standing in for the character.”
— [13:54]

Mark Rivers highlights specific sequences:

“There's a sequence with the moon landing juxtaposed against the limitations of Jim Crow America... It reminds me of a sequence in Invisible Man with a similar nightmarish quality.”
— [27:27]

Climactic Twist and Its Impact

The film culminates in a significant twist that redefines the narrative's perspective.

Aisha Harris explains:

“Eventually, it is revealed that Elwood is not Elwood; he is Turner. They attempted to escape, Elwood was killed, and Turner assumed Elwood's identity.”
— [20:36]

Mark Rivers reflects on the twist:

“In comparison to Whitehead's other books, Nickel Boys prose is more refined and restrained... when the twist happens and you realize who is actually the voice of the story, it really does hit you and it ties everything together.”
— [21:38]

Linda Holmes shares her perspective:

“I would have believed it was any variety of people from the back of his head and hair. I did start at some point, and you don't hear him talk a ton, but it was only until the very end that I understood the twist.”
— [23:01]

Themes: Trauma, Racial Injustice, and Artistic Expression

The discussion extends to the film's exploration of trauma and racial injustice, emphasizing how these themes are interwoven with its artistic choices.

Mark Rivers comments:

“The movie is almost a commentary on itself... trying to depict trauma without depicting the trauma directly.”
— [10:09]

Linda Holmes adds:

“The technique is conspicuous, but if I were used to it, would it be any more conspicuous than other stylized films?”
— [19:09]

Aisha Harris reflects on audience reception:

“This is the type of film that, like, a lot of people who are going to see this film and perhaps have never seen Ross's previous film will be scratching their heads, like, what is this?”
— [19:31]

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, the hosts emphasize the film's potential to ignite meaningful conversations and its place within the broader landscape of Hollywood storytelling.

Mark Rivers concludes:

“Watching the movie more than anything, I am just aware of the burden of that undertaking, of what it means to tell this story and tell this story in this way and force what I hope to be a great conversation piece.”
— [29:03]

Linda Holmes expresses admiration for the film's formal ambition:

“I'm never gonna be sad to see formal ambition in a movie that has this level of formal ambition.”
— [29:51]

Aisha Harris encourages listeners to engage with the film:

“It is a movie that will make you think and hopefully make you feel. It made me feel a lot of things.”
— [30:05]

Key Takeaways

• "Nickel Boys" presents a bold adaptation of Colson Whitehead's novel, utilizing an unconventional first-person narrative to explore themes of trauma and racial injustice.

• The film's stylistic choices, including direct character address and archival footage, aim to immerse the audience but received mixed reactions regarding their effectiveness.

• Performances, particularly by Angenve Ellis Taylor and Daveed Diggs, are lauded for their emotional depth, though some felt the acting was hindered by the film's formal techniques.

• The climactic twist serves as a pivotal moment, redefining the narrative and deepening the film's exploration of identity and survival.

• Pop Culture Happy Hour recommends viewing "Nickel Boys" not only for its storytelling but also for its contribution to conversations about historical injustices and the representation of black characters in cinema.

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