White Boy Rick

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.

I 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.

The 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.

White 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?

I 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.