Based on Colson Whitehead’s 2019 bestseller, the 1960s set racial drama Nickel Boys has been unveiled at Telluride before its October 25th limited theatrical bow. From RaMell Ross (best known for the Oscar nominated 2018 documentary Hale County This Morning, Evening), Boys will stream on Amazon Prime after the awards qualifying run. Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Fred Hechinger, Hamish Linklater, and Daveed Diggs star.

Some early reaction from Colorado indicates this is one of the year’s best. That’s not across the board. The pic is apparently told from first person perspective and the style is being lauded and criticized depending on the write-up. Surprisingly, initial reviews are not spending much time on the cast. I’ve had Ellis-Taylor (a 2021 Supporting Actress nominee for King Richard) listed at #1 in my Supporting Actress nominees for a few weeks. She could still get in depending on the competition, but she may drop out of my projected quintet altogether (update later today on this blog!). Newcomer Herisse faces long odds in Actor due to growing competition and no other performers seem primed to receive chatter.

Boys could still have enough vocal admirers that Best Picture is doable along with Adapted Screenplay and even the cinematography despite some gripes. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…