White Boy Rick (2018)

Directed by: Yann Demange | 111 minutes | crime, drama | Actors: Matthew McConaughey, Richie Merritt, Bel Powley, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brian Tyree Henry, Rory Cochrane, RJ Cyler, Jonathan Majors, Eddie Marsan, Taylour Paige, Bruce Dern, Piper Laurie, Raekwon Haynes, Ishmael Ali, James Howard

‘White Boy Rick’ is based on a true story. In itself this doesn’t mean much, but when it is advertised as explicitly as in (the opening titles of) ‘White Boy Rick’, there is a fear that the film must have it pure of this fact. That he cannot stand alone, in terms of the power of the story or the quality of the interpretations. Fortunately, this is great. Especially with regard to the latter. ‘White Boy Rick’ lasts long enough to be able to speak of a decent, entertaining film and is lifted to a higher level by the excellent acting. And yes, it also helps that it actually happened.

The film shows similarities with films such as ‘GoodFellas’ or (undercover) stories in which a relative outsider becomes part of a subculture of its own (and is too dragged into it); see also ‘Point Break’, ‘Donnie Brasco’, and the first ‘Fast and the Furious’. We see the ‘familiar’ montages of Ricky being embraced by his new (black) criminal friends, getting out of big cars, hanging out at parties, disco floors and roller skating rinks, picking out expensive clothes, all accompanied by cool soul and hip hop music. Ricky (Richie Merritt) likes it all just fine, were it not for the fact that he is (in the long run) undercover and aims to patch up his buddies.

He is therefore treading on thin ice, which on the one hand creates tension, but makes the entire viewing experience fairly grim and ominous. He is not helped by images of the shabby underclass that includes him, his addicted sister and his father (Matthew McConnaghey). In the beginning of the film, his father tells him a beautiful story about how they will one day transcend this life by setting up a bleeding video rental business. But while this is somewhat romantic, both son Ricky and the viewer feel that father and son are trapped in their current lifestyle. Tragically, although it sometimes borders on voyeurism towards the lower class, with the grandparents (Bruce Dern and Piper Laurie) living across the street and constantly walking around in their underwear or sitting on the porch and Rick and/or his son Ricky the skin. full of curses.

It’s hard to sympathize too much with Ricky, who, while being used and abandoned by the FBI, doesn’t make very wise choices himself. It is thanks to Merritt’s solid play that we remain interested in him. The same goes for Rick Sr., an unflattering but also unostentatious ‘Oscar bait’ role by Matthew McConaughey, who disappears completely into his character and makes Rick Sr. a tragic figure, who dreams of a life after – or outside – Detroit, but can’t get away from it.

‘White Boy Rick’ is a fine, excellently acted drama, which contains little tension or surprise, but because of the ‘true’ aspect it makes you sit up a little more and reflect on things such as abuse of power, situations in different social classes and the possibilities that freedom and free will really offer people. That’s quite a nice merit.