White Boy Rick (2018) is a crime drama film directed by Yann Demange, based on the true story of Richard Wershe Jr., a young man who became involved in drug dealing and was later sentenced to life in prison. The film is set in Detroit in the 1980s and is inspired by Wershe’s life, which was marked by his early involvement in the criminal world
The story follows Richard Wershe Jr. (played by Richie Merritt), a 14-year-old boy who, in the mid-1980s, becomes an informant for the FBI, providing information about local drug dealers. However, as he becomes more deeply entrenched in the drug trade, he also starts to sell drugs himself. Despite being a teenager, Rick rises through the ranks of the drug world, working for powerful figures in the city’s criminal underworld.
His involvement with law enforcement, combined with his own illegal activities, ultimately leads to his arrest. Rick is charged with drug trafficking and sentenced to life in prison when he is just a teenager, which sparks a controversy over the fairness of his conviction and the FBI’s role in his criminal path.
The film explores themes of betrayal, the impact of crime on youth, and the complex relationship between law enforcement and individuals caught in the system. Matthew McConaughey plays Rick’s father, who tries to navigate the challenges of raising a son in a tough environment, while Jennifer Jason Leigh portrays his mother.
White Boy Rick received mixed reviews, with praise for its performances (particularly McConaughey’s) and its exploration of a real-life story, but it was criticized for being somewhat uneven in tone and pacing. Despite that, it remains a compelling portrayal of the systemic issues in both the criminal justice and law enforcement systems.