The extraordinary true tale that is White Boy Rick has landed on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download. Missed it in theaters, be sure to check out this stunning film that stars Matthew McConaughey and introduces the world to the supreme talent that is Richie Merritt.
There is a terrific line in the film,where someone responds the real-life story of Rick Wershe Jr. (Merritt) by uttering, “No one will believe that a 15-year-old was an informant for the FBI.” To which his father, Richard Wershe Sr. (McConaughey) responds—aghast that it is even questioned—“But… he was.”
After witnessing the heartbreakingly raw flick, one can see why White Boy Rick (his nickname given to him by one of his associates that sticks) it is so hard to wrap your head around the fact that this happened to the Detroit native in the mid-80s.
Director Yann Demange keeps this gritty drama compelling and does justice to Rick and his experience. Before watching White Boy Rick one thing needs to be known, Rick’s thirty-plus years he spent in prison is the longest in Michigan history for a non-violent offender. And given how much he helped the FBI and then was abandoned by them, that may be the biggest crime of all in White Boy Rick.
As the film commences, Wershe and his boy are at a gun show. In a matter of moments, it is painted impeccably what these two are all about on one hand and on the other, we know exactly the pool we will be swimming in for the next two hours. Wershe is not going to win any father of the year awards. He and his 15-year-old son are in many ways equal partners in this gun-sales business that papa operates out of the trunk of his car and the basement of his home.
The FBI approaches, led by Jennifer Jason Leigh’s Agent Snyder, and dictates that Rick either aids them—and the Detroit PD Narcotics Office—by running crack on the streets of the Motor City, or his father is going to jail for selling weapons that are used in murders. Just like that, White Boy Rick becomes a drug dealer… something he’s quite adept at. His job is to be an informant and as a benefit (besides his father not going to prison), he gets to keep the cash from the prolifically profitable gig.
Demange works the story that ebbs and flows over three years with a steady hand. The performances of all involved, particularly our leading father-son dynamic duo. McConaughey is sublime as a father who keenly knows the life he has created for his children (his daughter Dawn, played by Bel Powley, is a drug addict) rarely has a happy ending. Yet, he is doing the best he can. Detroit is a poor city and opportunities for folks are scarce. One can have a lot of sympathy for their collective plight and that is largely why a seriously faulted couple of souls are worth cheering for in White Boy Rick. Through McConaughey and Merritt’s stunning turns, our heart strings are firmly intertwined in their character’s dark fates.
Merritt is a find. Creating a compelling soul that audiences will want the best for, given that he starts the movie as a gun runner and closes it as a kingpin, is an almost impossible endeavor. In the hands of the young thespian, our heart breaks at his fate. Merritt and McConaughey have a chemistry that is simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.
White Boy Rick is the rare movie biography that captures the spirit of what it is that made a true tale stand out in the pages of history in the first place. This chronicle of a teenager—tapped to be an FBI and local PD informant—who must navigate the treacherous waters that lie ahead of him, is at its heart a searing indictment of an economic and justice system that has failed.
The highlight of the White Boy Rick DVD bonus features must be the exclusive audio interview with the real Wershe Jr. from prison. He reveals stunning details of his experience and even shares photos and videos from his life that add priceless layers to the cinematic experience. Do not miss this featurette, entitled The Unknown True Story of Rick Wershe Jr.
The Three Tribes of Detroit: The Cast featurette puts a spotlight on the sensational ensemble that brings this true tale to life. Of note is McConaughey’s insight into how he turned his hard-to-like character—due to how he leads his life and raises his kids—into someone that we cannot get enough of, all through his titanic talent. It also is a joy to hear from Merritt and get his take on making a big splash in his first big Hollywood role. Think the kid has talent in spades on the screen? His charm off the screen is equally as indelible.
The Making of White Boy Rick takes us inside the creative genius that is the team that helped Demange bring this jaw-dropping tale to life. One of the greatest aspects of the film is how filmmakers breathtakingly recreated the mid-80s Detroit that is grungy, poor, desperate and yet bristles with life that illustrates that uncanny human trait that is making something from nothing.
Movie Grade:
B
Bonus Features: B+