88. NICKEL BOYS

Lit to Lens

The guys discuss the film adaptation, NICKEL BOYS, based on the 2019 Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Colson Whitehead. … Nickel Boys tells the story of Elwood Curtis, a black teenager growing up outside Tallahassee, Florida in the 1960s. One day, as he attempts to hitchhike his way to a historically black technical school to take courses for college credit, he unknowingly catches a ride with a wanted thief. When they’re pulled over shortly thereafter, Elwood is found to be an accomplice to the crime and sentenced to spend the rest of his teenage years at the Nickel Academy, a reform school for boys based on a real school called the Dozier School (which itself only shut down in 2011). Of course, this school is more than meets the eye. And though he meets a friend, Turner, he faces all forms of abuse, humiliation and racism until it all comes to a head. Themes include: finding hope in the hopeless, reclaiming identity, and affecting change in an unchanging society. … The film adaptation was directed by RaMell Ross (Hale County This Morning, This Evening), written by RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes, and stars Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger, David Diggs, Jimmie Fails and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. The film has been nominated for two Academy Awards including Best Picture and most importantly (for our purposes) Best Adapted Screenplay (Ross, Barnes). … Topics of discussion include the differences from the novel, the sentient perspective and its potential in future filmmaking efforts, the climax and how it’s handled differently between media, the incredible metaphors (especially in the film), and how to run away from an alligator. … (0:00) From the book … (1:05) Fast facts, recap, trivia … (13:42) A word from our sponsor … (14:09) Studio pitch & novel breakdown … (27:20) Trailer … (28:35) Learn you something, differences from the book … (1:05:34) Coming up next, and outro … Coming up next: MICKEY7 The science fiction novel by Edward Ashton gets a big-screen adaptation from Academy Award winner Bong Joon-ho (Parasite, The Host, Snowpiercer) that tells the story of Mickey, who has signed up to be an “expendable”: a disposable employee on a human expedition to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous — even suicidal — the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of its memories intact. The film will be released on March 7th and stars Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette and Mark Ruffalo. Get the book at your local bookstore or library! Stay tuned for that episode! … If you would like to get in contact with us about anything regarding the show, feel free to shoot us an e-mail: [email protected] … Or reach out on social media: twitter.com/littolens instagram.com/littolens