Nickel Boys

Nickel Boys is a 2024 film about a powerful friendship that develops between two young Black men as they navigate the harrowing trials of reform school together. Directed by RaMell Ross. Written by RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes, based on The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. Turner I know my mother loved me. She just loved liquor more. Dialogue Turner: This can be a three-day job we play it right. We till the garden and fix up her house, she may even adopt our black asses. Well not you, you got family. I'd yessum her for a chance out of Nickel. Elwood: That ain't no freedom. I mean you know Director Hardee and his wife ain't supposed to use us like we're slaves. Turner: Man, all those guys on the school board have us do chores. Sometimes it's favors, sometimes it's for real money. Elwood: But it's against the law. Turner: [laughs] Man, the law's one thing. You can march and wave signs around and change a law if you convince enough white people. I saw those college kids in Tampa with their nice shirts and ties sitting at the Woolworth's. I had to work, but they were out protesting. And it happened, they opened that counter. But I didn't have the money to eat there either way. Gotta change the economics of all this, too. Elwood: My grandma got me that lawyer, man. Make a move there, first. Turner: The courts play both the white and the black. They just move us around when they're ready. Elwood: And we have to be like knights. Checkmate. Turner: How many people you know done that, El? There's four ways out of Nickel. Serve your time -or age out-. Court might intervene -if you believe in miracles-. You could die -they could kill you-. You could run. Only four ways out of Nickel. Elwood: If everybody looks the other way, then everybody's in on it. If I look the other way, I'm as implicated as the rest. [Turner is silent] Elwood: It's not how it's supposed to be. Turner: Don't nobody care about s'posed to be. The fix's always been in- game is rigged. Elwood: That's what I'm telling you. It's not like the old days. We can stand up for ourselves. Turner: Even that shit barely works out there, what do you think it's going to do in here? Elwood: You say that 'cause you got no one out there sticking up for you. I got my grandmother, I got a lawyer. Turner: [deliberately hurtful] Yeah? What was the last time you heard from them? You got to watch how people act, what they do, and then you try to figure how to get around them like an obstacle course. I mean, if you want to walk out of here. Elwood: How'd you get in here? Turner: Ate some soap powder, an hour of stomachache for a whole day off. Or two. I know how to sell it. Elwood: Aren't you worried they'll know you're faking it? Turner: I ain't faking- that soap powder is awful. But it's me choosing, not anyone else. Elwood: It's weird being out here, man. Turner: Wait 'til you're out-out. Turner: You think anyone cares what's going on in Nickel? This is just one place. There are Nickels all over this country. [Elwood shakes his head in disapproval] Turner: You are a dreamer. Elwood: [with disdain] Mm-hmm [Elwood gets up and leaves] Elwood: I've been writing everything down. Turner: Everything what? Elwood: Our 'community service'. The deliveries, the pay-offs, the yard work, the chores. The names of everybody and the dates. Turner: Why would you do a thing like that? Elwood: You told me. No one else can get me out of here, just me. Turner: Man, no one ever listens to me. Alright, why you got to start? Elwood: God damn it, it's not an obstacle course, Turner. You can't go around it, you have to go through it. Walk with your head up no matter what they throw at you. Turner: All right, I get it, you mad and need to get it off your chest, that's cool, but... Elwood: -No, I'm telling you. There's a fifth way out: Get rid of Nickel. Turner: They put us in the goddamn ground! They going to take you out back, and bury your ass. Shit! [He remains silent and thinks] Turner: Oh, Jesus! They gonna take me out back, too. Elwood I vouched for you man, the hell is wrong with you! Elwood: [in shock and with a broken voice] They were going to kill me and bury me out there? Turner: Sure shit. Elwood: Why you coming with me? Turner: [sarcastic] They snatch you up in a hot minute, dumb as you are. Cast Ethan Herisse - Elwood Ethan Cole Sharp - young Elwood Daveed Diggs - adult Elwood Brandon Wilson - Turner Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor - Hattie Hamish Linklater - Spencer Fred Hechinger - Harper Jimmie Fails - Mr. Hill External links 23055660 Nickel Boys Category:2024 films Category:2020s American films Category:Historical films Category:Films based on true stories Category:Films based on American novels Category:Films about racism