Split Decision: "Nickel Boys"

In the Split Decision series, two of our writers face off on an Oscar-nominated movie one loves and the other doesn't. Today, Nick Taylor and Nathaniel R discuss Nickel Boys...

NICK: Hello Nathaniel! Hope you’re doing well on this fine day. We’re here, we’re queer, and we’re . . . . I can’t think of another rhyme. What I can think of is Nickel Boys, and how blindsided I was to see it show up in this year’s Best Picture lineup after only showing up in Adapted Screenplay.

I’m happy for the film and RaMell Ross but also confused, and a little annoyed it didn’t make a bigger showing. It’s one of my favorites from this year’s Oscar nominees, and though I get the divisiveness around its first-person POV and how the film actually uses it, I’m a very big fan of what Nickel Boys achieves. That’s been the biggest point of discussion around the film, so maybe it’s best to dive in there? I’m not sure I actually know what you think of Nickel Boys, so lemme hand you the mic. 

NATHANIEL: It's funny how personal feelings are often distracting static when it comes to Oscar expectations, whether you're on the pro or the con side of any given film.  I wasn't the least bit surprised about Nickel Boys crashing Oscar's biggest category after all the breathless raves and its solid if unspectacular showing in the precursors. I'm Still Here was the only Picture nomination that threw me. Sadly,  trust me I didn't want to feel this way, Nickel Boys is my least favourite of the nominated ten...

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Oscar Volley: Best Supporting Actress Isn't Supporting Anything

The Oscar Volleys, in which various TFE members discuss specific categories, begin... now

Rossellini & Gomez are two of only four supporting actresses who MIGHT show up in the five-wide Supporting category... if they can get around about seven leading ladies.

BABY CLYDE: The Academy can be a stuffy and old fashioned institution. Adverse to change and reluctant to move with the times, it’s taken decades of pressure to finally get a casting prize added. The poor stunt performers are still without a statue in their honor, so it’s come as a great surprise that a new award has been instituted this year a without any prior announcement or fanfare at all.

They’ve done away with Best Supporting Actress and introduced the ‘Best Lead Actress in a ‘Supporting’ Role’ category. To secure spots for all of those poor unappreciated A List, millionaire, billed above the title, Leading Lady Stars, they’ve been given their very own spill over category. This will ensure the ceremony has as many big names as possible and isn’t encumbered by character actors, theatre performers or anyone over the age of 50 that Tik Tokers won’t recognize...

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