Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Brings an Abstract Nickel Boys Down to Earth.

This article focuses on RaMell Ross' film adaptation of Colson Whitehead's novel *Nickel Boys*, which portrays the harrowing experiences of two young men at a brutal reform school in 1960s Florida. Ross employs a radical, visually experimental approach that emphasizes Elwood's perspective, often using disorienting and conceptual imagery rather than conventional storytelling, which both challenges and distances the viewer. While the film's style sometimes limits emotional impact, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor's performance as Elwood's grandmother Hattie stands out for its warmth and immediacy, grounding the narrative amid its artistic abstraction. The film explores themes of racial injustice and resilience, offering a demanding but thought-provoking cinematic experience.