I enjoyed most of this film. There were a few slow parts and its just as much a family drama as it is a crime/action flick. I thought newcomer Richie Merritt did a good job. He is likable and I found my self rooting for him throughout the movie. The setting of the film is early to mid 80's Detroit when factories are closing and the city is starting to spiral downward. This is a bit depressing but the city itself is kind of a character in the movie because of this. You understand why young men turn to a life of crime when there are no other ways to make a living. White Boy Rick was more a victim of his surroundings and environment than anything else. I can't recommend that you sprain an ankle running out to see WBR but it is worth seeing.
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billgamble18 September 2018
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masonfisk23 September 2018A believe it, it's true tale of the youngest drug dealer to be caught & sentenced to life imprisonment for dealing over the maximum weight allowed by law even though he was a stoolie for the Feds. Cue the early hip hop tracks & we're thrown into the depressing world of Rick, a latch key kid growing up w/a loving yet irresponsible father (Matthew McConnaughey), a drug addicted sister & some well meaning grandparents. In trying to save his dad's life, he volunteers to go undercover for the FBI & police to keep track of the players involved in the drug game. In a case of being overwhelmingly over his head, Rick tries to play both sides of the law as best he can but he's not the brightest bulb around so his days of being a player are numbered. Nothing we haven't seen before (it kinda reminded me of Donnie Brasco w/its cop/crook dynamic) but it does move when it needs to & the cast of supporting players are vivid & of the moment. The lead played by Richie Merritt, who's never acted before, acquits himself nicely & if he decides this is his life's vocation, the acting world will be better for it
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larryct4826 September 2018I like White boy rick. The casting was done correctly. Rick was believable as a teenager gangster who gets caught up in the drug business. I believe the chemistry between the Father and the son. The story progress well adding a punch of drama one after the other until we get the conclusion of his life.
I like the set design a lot. The music, the city, the clothes haircut and all that. Transported me to a time I did get to experience.
I recommend this movie to my family and friends.
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stephanie-jones2113 September 2018White Boy Rick: This is a true story based in the 80's about a 15-year-old, Rick Wershe Jr, who worked as an undercover FBI informant. I hadn't read up on this story, because I wanted to watch the movie not knowing any details. I was pleasantly surprised. This movie was not what I was expecting. I went in thinking it would be a Pablo Escobar kinda movie, but it was not. It's about a teenager trying to figure out how to survive living in a low income part of Detroit. It was heart wrenching, and even had some very funny parts. It also had some parts that made you shake your head and say, "what is he thinking?" In my opinion, it's definitely worth the watch. Also, I was completely blown away by Richie Merritt's performance. Especially since this was the first time he's acted, ever.
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MarcoParzivalRocha24 January 2021The story of Richard Wershe Jr., a 16-year-old who became an FBI informant, and one of Detroit's biggest drug dealers.
It's a shame that this film does not have the right pace and storyline, turning out to be a missing shot (pun intended).
The performances are generally good (especially by Matthew McConaughey), although the characters navigate in a narrative that tries to go from action to drama, without making a transition that makes sense.
I'm a fan of the duo director / cinematographer (they made some eps of Top Boy), so I don't find the tone and atmosphere strange.
The problem is the lack of details and interesting scenes, which make this film really easy to forget. -
aciessi22 September 2018White Boy Rick is the cinematic equivalent of Sloppy Joes. It tastes good, but it never coalesces into something satisfying, with a solid base of support to keep it together. White Boy Rick has all the ingredients of a great film. A stellar all-star cast, excellent cinematography, razor-sharp editing and a story that keeps you invested the entire time. But something seems missing. For one, some of the story seems rushed to get to the more interesting aspects, without properly explaining how we get there. For example, how did the FBI hone into Rick and his father for an FBI investigation? The agents just appear in the beginning, and we're supposed to roll with it. Now you understand why I compared it to Sloppy Joes. The exposition, at times, is pretty sloppy. But fortunately, never once did that take me out of the film. White Boy Rick is a thoroughly good time at the movies. The performances, notably from McConaughey, are top notch. White Boy Rick himself garners sympathy as a lost soul, and that's important to clarify. Some people might write this off as a run-of-the-mill crime thriller biting off "The Wire". If I was so inclined to be jaded, maybe I'd agree. But always give things the benefit of the doubt. Give it a watch?
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Aktham_Tashtush15 December 2018The movie is apparently based on a true story,, the script was good ,, the acting was phenomenal ,, but to be honest in here ,, i don't think of the story itself as a really good one ,, like a a Matthew McConaughey good ,, but it turned out fine at the end i think ,, the movie was good ,, emotional ,, and thrilling at times ,, one of many stories in Detroit at the end of the last century.
The plot of the story as i said wasn't perfect ,, lie wasn't the best drug story of the year ,, but as i said ,, the due of Matthew McConaughey and Richie Merritt was amazing ,, the two engaged really well ,,, i mean , McConaughey is McConaughey ,, but for "white boy rick" this is his debut and i just loved his cold innocent face expression.
Anyhow,, the movie is good ,, and yep recommended, and it's the only McConaughey movie this year ,, so don't miss it. ;) -
SuperSlim45119 September 2018The movie isn't bad. It isn't mouth dropping awesome but it is highly intriguing. Its a movie that starts off a little slow but the speed starts to pick up and it stays steady. Its not the most ideal story but its one that when you watch it you start to question why things happen the way they do. Why pick from the lower level families but then that's typical. The trailer tells enough of the story that you get the gist of it.
The FBI essentially picks up and recruits the kid that turns to be the youngest informant. They get what they need and then done. But then it is Detroit back then and it hasn't been painted in a nice picture. Now is it worth watching a second time? That's most likely a no unless you have nothing else to do. Its good for that first viewing but beyond that you'll be better off spending your money on something else. -
muamba_eats_toast5 February 2020I enjoyed it throughout but until the end it never really hit as hard as it probably could and should have still an insane story to think he's still in there given the whole story and the crime.
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peeedeee-9428118 September 2018I was expecting a movie that showed the rise (and fall) of the youngest gangster in America, but I ended up getting a movie with an identity crisis. It didn't know if it wanted to be a crime drama or a family drama. Too many details were skipped or fast forwarded, like Rick's rise to power in the second half of the movie. Then it all comes down crashing so fast, I felt like they ran out of time trying to tell the story. The acting was average, I didn't see any particular standout performances, and it was hard to feel empathy for any character. Overall, an okay movie, worth streaming maybe somewhere down the road.
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MOscarbradley18 December 2019Rick Wershe Jr's claim to fame, or infamy if you prefer, was that at fourteen he was the youngest ever FBI informant before becoming a kingpin drug dealer at sixteen. Yann Demange's (he made "'71"), film "White Boy Rick" is a 'Serpico'-like account of how Rick got into this and it makes for surprisingly sobering viewing. It didn't help that his dad, (an absolutely terrific Matthew McConaughey), was a low-life gun dealer and his sister, (Bel Powley, brilliant), a junkie. You might say that with a family like this, a life of crime was inevitable.
It's a tragic story that Demange never exploits and if it isn't quite in the same class as "'71" it may be because this is material we've seen too often in the past. In the title role newcomer Richie Merritt is excellent and the film looks terrific, (Tat Radcliffe was the cinematographer), moving nicely from Hollywood crime movie gloss to documentary realism often in the same scene. In the end, this is a grim, downbeat little movie but it's hard-to-believe true story is one worth telling and Demange tells it very well indeed. -
kjproulx12 September 2018Although there is just more content being made today than in any other decade in history, it does seem like films based on a true story have become even more prominent throughout the medium. Not knowing much about this particular story, known as White Boy Rick, I went into this film not truly knowing where it would end up, but still managed to feel a little unsatisfied with it as a whole. There are many biopics out there that handle material in a unique way, but everything about this film feels safe. While the story itself is quite fascinating and the character of Rickie enjoyable to watch, I can't help but reflect on the fact that this film strayed as far away from taking risks as it possibly could have. Here's why I believe White Boy Rick is an enjoyable film to watch, but won't really surpass anyone's expectations of it.
Being an insider for the FBI, White Boy Rick follows young Rick Wershe Jr., played by Richie Merritt in his breakout role, as he dives deeper and deeper into the crime of drug trafficking, becoming too involved for his own good. Since stories like this have been told before, I was hoping for something a little more interesting in terms of structure, but it really just feels like a series of events and set pieces that will eventually lead him to his eventual downfall. There is a through-line that gives this film a beginning and an end, but it really just feels like a character progression and evolution, rather than a film that has been structured as three acts. This was a little disappointing, considering the plot itself could've shown a slightly darker side. This is where the movie started to lose me a little.
Although the story is meant to be light-hearted in most moments (due to the nature of this crazy story), there are quite a few dramatically effective scenes to go along with them, but it almost felt like the movie was getting a little too serious for the writers, so they had to take away from some of the emotion by adding jokes. The best portions of this movie are when Rick is having a great time with his "friends" and hanging out at the roller rink or breaking laws. This is what the movie needed more of, but the family dynamic is a little too prevalent in my opinion. White Boy Rick needed a better balance between its storylines, but maybe that's just me.
On top of everything, I think the most disappointing aspect of this movie is the fact that everything feels very standard in terms of filmmaking. From the editing to the direction, to the score and songs throughout the movie, it all felt very formulaic. I felt like I was watching a movie that kept wanting to take risks but decided to play it safe in order to appeal to the real people involved, as well as appealing to the masses. That being said, for a movie that relies heavily on family, the performances need to be top-notch. Otherwise, it would fall apart.
Matthew McConaughey gives one of his best efforts in a while and a particular scene actually had me in tears. This really shouldn't come as a surprise, though, seeing as everyone expects him to bring a lot to the table nowadays. Newcomer Richie Merritt is the one to talk about, however. While his performance isn't something that people will be talking about for decades to come, this was quite the impressive first impression. The actor himself has had experiences like this film's premise throughout his childhood, so maybe that added to his talent here, but I'd say look out for his future work.
In the end, White Boy Rick has a stellar cast and a talented crew across the board, but it never feels like it's trying to impress or surprise. This is a series of events that lead up to today's current state, and while the story itself is very interesting and makes for a very enjoyable movie, it doesn't have the energy that it promised from its trailers. This is a very slow-moving film, with a great story and fine execution of every technical aspect. White Boy Rick is a good time at the movies, but I don't believe it's a must-see. -
boatsfra16 December 2018Hello- Watched WBR last night because I love Matthew M in anything he does. I did read the reviews and have to agree with the middle of the pack here: the movie is entertaining, but the plot goes from side to side which makes for an unpleasant watch. Did it leave a mark in the annals of movies that I have seen? Yes, but only because it's based on a true story. All the actors pour it on but the acting isn't enough to save this movie from being really great. WBR is a good movie and the ending is satisfying, but for two hours it's a mishmash of story lines. I do recommend watching MM in a supporting role here, but don't get too excited.
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masonsaul5 August 2021It's narrative has plenty of predictable moments and it's story is not as insane as it thinks it is but White Boy Rick is still a good fact based drama that's reasonably emotional and shocking. Richie Merritt gives a pretty good lead performance and Matthew McConaughey gives an incredible supporting performance. Yann Demange's direction is also really good, it's well filmed and relatively well paced. The music by Max Richter and Thomas Newman and the soundtrack are both good.
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lansche4 March 2019Good stories make good movies. This one is slow-paced but very watchable and it's always nice to see Piper Laurie and Bruce Dern. Jennifer Jason Leigh continues to morph into her father, Vic Morrow. My only complaint is this mumbling squinting Baltimore-accented non-actor who plays the title role. He runs the gamut of emotions from A to B and his facial expression is stuck on "sullen". Were there no working young male actors who could have taken on this role? What was the Casting Director thinking?
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brandomarlon200315 September 2018"White Boy Rick" is a true story set in the 1980's about a 15-year old Detroit teen who worked undercover for the FBI as a drug dealer. Matthew McConaughey (in an excellent, Oscar-worthy performance) plays the boy's father.
The film is consistently interesting and has excellent 1980's atmosphere. Well worth watching. Richie Merritt is also impressive as the title character.
The one criticism is that Bruce Dern and Piper Laurie are underused. -
pablo_perez16 May 2019The best of the movie happens during the first 30 minutes. Then the film gradually falls until it reaches boredom. It does not get to have any type of consistency from the middle of the movie.
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This movie makes up for a lot of it's shortcomings by the sheer depth and volume of it's characters' and how it sort of makes them from 2d to 3d in front of your very eyes. A lot of this is done with the help of the performances, which are all around solid.
This movie didn't end up being what I thought it would, somehow again tells the story of someone lead into crime by a inherently broken and downright corrupt system, and unfortunately it's still a major major issue. I would have liked to see some more of Detrot, but then again it's called 'White Boy' Rick, so, I guess we saw enough of it.
All around pretty good. -
31Byrnsey17 November 2020I went into this having never heard of Rick Wersche Jr or his story of rise from youth arms dealer to drugs kingpin.
It's an intriguing story. White Boy Rick holds your attention because you are under the premise that you'll get into the detail of the 'how?'. But it never really delivers that, which is a shame as I think, with an over two hour run time, it had the opportunity. I was longing for more insight into the FBI's involvement and manipulation of Rick. How did he achieve the rise within the drug scene? And to what level did he reach? Local dealer? Detroit Kingpin? Some questions left frustratingly unanswered.
McConaughey and Merritt are great in their roles. They did well to portray the dysfunctional yet underlying closeness of the unconventional father/son relationship.
Ultimately, it's a good watch. There are some decent scenes and cinematography. But genuinely believe in the hands of a Scorsese, White Boy Rick could've been turned into a great. It just lacks the depth required to get to that level. -
cyifly-224 January 2019White Boy Rick started off pretty well. I knew nothing about it and didn't know the background of the 'true story.' After watching the movie, I'm not sure I do now either. The movie had good people in it, but it plodded along pretty slow. When the story seemed to pick up or get interesting, it just dropped right back off and went kind of limp.
It left more questions for me after than I had at the beginning, and never really gave any answers. Just when it had the opportunity to wrap up all the questions, it stopped, leaving giant plot holes. Rick was supposed to turn into a drug kingpin. They movie barely even told you how he got into selling the drugs and did NOT ever show him as a 'kingpin.' Barely a low-level street dealer. So how were we supposed to believe he was this 'kingpin?' Here are some more holes you could drive a truck through:
1. Why did that kid shoot Rick? He apologizes, then shoots him -- Which makes me think someone sent him. Who? Rick gets out of the hospital and works right in the same circle of people as the guy who shot him. Why wouldn't they want to shoot him again? Why would Rick go back there? Everyone acted like nothing ever happened.
2. If he ever did become a 'kingpin,' he was selling in the same area as the guys who shot him earlier. Drug dealers are extremely territorial. Why would the let him cut in on their action? Why would they let him in the door of their hangout? It was almost like they started working for him, but they didn't really elaborate on that. Again, they shot Rick earlier... Why not kill him to stop him from dealing in their spots?
3. Who had the 8 kilos of drugs? Where was it? The police busted Rick for it, but never showed he even had it.
4. Were we really supposed to feel sorry for a drug dealer going to jail? He begged his dad to let him deal drugs. He started dealing drugs. He got busted for drugs and went to prison for dealing drugs. What's the confusion? The end of the movie turned weird... like we were supposed to hate on the judicial system for putting criminals in jail or over-punishing them. It was like a propaganda piece developed to say the police framed him and his sentence was extremely harsh and we should blame the crooked police and the judicial system and feel sorry for the drug dealer for getting life in prison. I kind of felt sorry for him because the movie did a very poor job in showing how much he was dealing. It hardly showed him distributing at all. But if he was a child 'kingpin,' like the ads and movie posters say, then he belongs in prison.
5. What happened to his baby's mother? She only showed up when the baby was born, then was gone for the rest of the movie a minute later.
It would have been much easier to watch something else than to walk away with all these unanswered questions. -
macinasent25 September 2018I went to see this with an open mind as the reviews were mixed. I actually enjoyed the movie. Yes, some parts were slow but this is not Infinity Wars people (the Marvel generation wants an explosion or murder every 2 minutes). I actually found the dad's character as the most believable. His struggles in life and poor decision making was the actual catalyst for most of the stuff that went on. I say go see it for yourself. May not be a date movie but definitely a guy movie for sure.
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Wizard-822 October 2019While I knew this movie didn't do very well in theaters when it was initially released, I decided to give it a chance when I spotted the Blu-ray in my local library, since it would be a free viewing. Under those circumstances, I did find the movie worth my time. The atmosphere in the movie feels very authentic; you can really feel the cold and poverty of the Detroit setting. All the actors do a pretty good job in their roles, and the movie always remained interesting and never boring. However, I didn't think that the movie was as great as it could have been. While the movie runs about 111 minutes, all the same it seems to be biting off a lot more than it can chew. It tries to do too much with not enough time, and as a result many characters and subplots don't seem to get as much depth as they needed to make a full impact (Bruce Dern, for example, hardly gets anything to do.) I don't know if this is how the movie was originally scripted, or that the movie got severely cut down in the editing room (though I suspect the latter.) The movie is still worth a look, but I recommend that you see it the way I did, as a free viewing and with expectations not too high.
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kimperry-7301814 September 2018Really wanted to like this but got lost in its meandering style and poorly structured narrative. Performances were OK, but it was hard to invest in the characters or care about the outcome. Overall a major disappointment.
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clarke-illmatical4 September 2020You have good actors, a good production... now where do we go from here? How about the script? I'm being silly, but this is how this movie felt. You finish this film and wonder if this story warranted a film in the first place. I couldn't figure out who Rick was. A dumb White guy, or a guy who became a street legend. Not horrible, just not worth watching if you have something better to do.
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Jackblyth827 December 2021Matthew McConaughey is appropriately casted in a film that explores the themes of family, suffering and guilt alongside masterful displays from Richie Merritt and Bel Powley.
A teenager, Richard Wershe Jr, becomes an undercover informant for the FBI. But his links with the criminals lead him to become a drug dealer.
Any film that delves into drugs and criminal behaviour is guaranteed to be one with serious philosophical subjects as well as continually expressing a regimented structure throughout. White Boy Rick is a heartfelt display on the value of family, encapsulating the frustration of the difficulties that lie within.
Based on a true story, the movie was grossed just $26 million from its $29 million budget; though naturally the portrayals of the characters and the radiated emotions are there to be admired; the cast is certainly the bright spark surrounding a slow-paced watch which tends to stray into a slightly fatiguing watch, with the actors demonstrating their quality to contribute effectively in providing a convincing and powerful cinematic exhibition.
The movie is successful in bringing a significant story to our screens; though struggles to remain on its focus and is found gradually meandering away from its core.