White Boy Rick 2018 movie (recap) - Philippine Documents and Movie Review

White Boy Rick

Today we will read the movie title “WHITE BOY RICK” which is a crime drama film released in 2018 directed by Yann Demange. The film is based on the true story of Richard Wershe Jr., whi became the youngest FBI informant in history in the 1980’s. The film explores his life in Detroit, his involvement in the drug trade, and his complicated relationship with his family and law enforcement starring Matthew McConaughey (Richard), Richie Merritt (Rick), and Bel Powley (Dawn Wershe) with a duration of 1 hour and 51 minutes.

The story begins in 1984 a boy named Rick he is at the Fire Arms exhibition with his father. At a young age Rick was forced to drop out of school due to the condition of his family because his mother left them and the only ones taking care of Rick were his father and his older sister.

Rick was very close to his father Richard who was an arms dealer bought 2 AK-47 rifles made in Egypt and a pistol for $1500. At that time Detroit was known as a city full of violence and drugs.

However, Richard is confident and says that this city will get better. He will work hard and do everything to make a living and when he has enough money he wants to build a DVD rental shop to support his family without having to buy and sell weapons.

When they got home, Richard saw Dawn’s boyfriend’s car parked in the front yard. He is upset because the man has become a bad influence on her daughter. He immediately too the newly bought AK-47 rifle and chased the man away. He also scolds Dawn when he hears Dawn yelling at him and saying that he is the worst father in the world.

Richard goes to the basement to make a silencer for the rifles then he tells Rick that the silencer can double the price of the gun. That night Rick was sleeping when Dawn woke him up as if she wanted to run away with her boyfriend before she left she gave Rick a phone number so he could contact her if he needed help.

In fact Rick didn’t want her to leave to be with her boyfriend but Dawn was in love with her boyfriend so everything Rick said was completely ignored. After saying goodbye she left quietly but without realizing it her father woke up and saw her leave through the window.

The next day, Rick went to sell his father’s weapons to some gangsters and at the same time two FBI agents named Snyder and Byrd scouted the area. Rick immediately offers his gun to the leader Johnny and Leo. At first they were a bit wary of Rick’s presence because he was white and in the 80’s most whites were raises but after learning that he was Richard’s son he invited Rick to exchange the weapon he had bought.

Apart from selling rifles, he also offered silencers when hearing offer. Johnny and Leo bought them for $100. Rick was introduced to Boo a gangster treasurer he invited Rick to hang out. At night Rick goes to the club with Boo where he meets a girl named Cathy. Niece of Mayor and Johnny’s fiance seems to be involved between official children and gangster is a common thing in Detroit. Especially if those gangsters keep bribing the officials. In that place Boo invited Rick to have fun.

The next morning Snyder and Byrd go to Richard’s house to get information about their target Johnny and Leo but Richard refuses to give the information saying he knows nothing about them. The two agents didn’t get an answer so they immediately called Rick and questioned him immediately. He shows pictures of some people with Johnny but Rick doesn’t want to tell the truth so Richard eventually kicks the agents out.

Rick spent the days hanging out with Boo and his friends and becoming a criminal he even dared to use a weapon even though he only used it to kill rats. That night Rick found a doll in a pile of trash but since it was still in good condition he brought it and intended to give it to Dawn.

Afterward, Snyder approached him and Byrd suddenly told him to get in the car. They told Rick to be their informant because he was close to Johnny’s gang. At first Rick refused but he knew that if he refused the FBI would arrest his father. After accepting the job Rick is hired to buy some drugs and pay for them.

The FBI uses the drugs as evidence of the crime to arrest Johnny. After Rick got home, Rick hid the money in a shoe box so his father wouldn’t find out. The next day Johnny takes Rick to look for a dress to wear to his wedding. At that moment Johnny advises Rick to take good care of Boo because he is a valuable asset to his gang. After hearing this, Rick said that Boo is his best friend and he would never be a traitor. Before he attends Johnny’s wedding party Rick’s prepares to wear a dress bought for him. Upon learning this Richard offered to accompany him there but Rick felt that he did not have to go along.

At the wedding there was loud music and drinks, Rick seemed to really enjoy the party. At that moment Boo walked around him while introducing the important guest. Besides it was the first time he talked to Cathy and he was a little nervous especially when she had time to help him to fix the tie.

While going home with his friends, Rick meet his old crush Brenda because he still has felling for her, He asks if they go out to see movie. At the drive-in cinema while watching a movie Rick admits to Brenda that he admires her a lot and in the end their felling for a long time blossom again.

The next day, Rick met again with the FBI agents who told him to sell drugs so he could get close to the dealers including Johnny and as usual the FBI would reward him. Rick immediately accepted it while getting to know the drug dealer. Rick also digs up information secretly.

After the medicines they prepares they immediately sold them on the streets. A few months later Richard sells guns to a woman who needs something to protect herself during the negotiation he sees Rick in a car with FBI agents.

He immediately went home and immediately entered Rick’s room then he searched the room carefully until finally he found a shoe box full of money. Then he waited for Rick to come home in front of the house with the shoe box in his lap. When Rick got home, Richard immediately asked what his relationship was with the FBI agents and because Rick didn’t want to answer.

Richard is forced to teach him a lesson that night. Rick decides to meet his sister at a restaurant. Seeing this Dawn condition worsened due to her drug addition. He invites her home and says that he really misses her but refuses Dawn especially if she has to meet her father.

In the middle of the conversation, Rick saw that someone had stolen his car. He immediately got out and tried to stop him. Unfortunately Dawn shot him and the local police heard it. So they were both arrested. Fortunately FBI agents arrived and let them go even though they were charged with attempted murder in possession of a weapon.

When Rick came out of the Police Station, His grandfather scolded him because the stolen car was his. His Grandpa tells him to be careful and then father and son talk about Dawn not coming home yet. He didn’t know how to fix the situation.

That night Rick goes to Johnny’s headquarters to hang out. As soon as he arrives Johnny warns him no to let Boo into his drug business because the police have already caught him. His punishment is more severe because the American Police are very rude to black people and they often give unreasonable punishment.

Johnny and Leo visit a man ho owes them several months. The man said he couldn’t pay yet but promised to pay them in Las Vegas, He even promised to buy ticket to watch boxing later. Rick was invited by Johnny to join him in Las Vegas where he partied and gambled.

While enjoying the luxury, he did not feel it before but when they was going to watch a boxing match their ticket were stolen by groups of gangsters. Johnny didn’t want to fight and beat them so he tried to stop himself. To entertain they self Johnny invited Rick to attend the party held by his business partner.

Rick took advantage of those moments to meet Johnny’s colleague. In the middle of the party, Johnny meets the gangster who stole his ticket. At this time Johnny couldn’t control his anger because the man insulted him for no reason so he took a bottle and hit him on the head.

That night the man who owed Johnny left his two nephews at home, After he left a group came to his house and immediately massacred everyone inside. The next day the incident was broadcast across the country revealing that one of the nephews had been killed in the incident.

Seeing this tragic news Rick begins to realize that the world of criminals is a circle that can harm innocent people. Worried and scared Rick immediately looked for a gun in his father’s basement just in case because sooner or later he would definitely face great danger.

Seeing this Richard tells his son to stay away from the criminal world and go back to school but Rick has no intention of leaving the criminal world and cannot return. Richard was a bit angry especially when he saw his son wearing a Jewish necklace he thought that his son had changed his religion but as a father he could not forced his children and in the end he chose to let him do what he wanted.

Rick visits Johnny’s headquarters at the moment Johnny is frantic and panicked because last night’s shooting may cause the police to blame the blacks even if they are not found guilty. Johnny told all his subordinates to keep their mouths shut and not engage in illegal activities.

Since then Rick has avoided FBI agents and Johnny’s gang. He felt a dilemma between defending Johnny and his gang or being on the side of the FBI agent. While Richard decided to throw away his weapons so that the police would not suspect him because he knew there was a chance that the killer would buy a weapon from him.

After a while, Rick came to him with a pancake made by his Grandpa with a faint smile on his face. Rick tells his father that he wants to go back to school when Richard hears this he feels better. Moments later one of Johnny’s men visits Rick’s house and being good host he offers him a drink but Johnny’s staff apologized and suddenly shot him in the stomach luckily Rick was saved in the hospital,

Richard looks worried and continues to swear that he will kill the shooter mercilessly. FBI agents also arrived to guard the room to prevent suspicious people from entering. They also tell Richard that the prime suspect is Johnny’s men. Soon Dawn came to the hospital in a hurry and couldn’t hide her worry.

When FBI agents focus on taking care of Rick. Richard is determined to finish off the person who dared to shoot Rick. He waited for Johnny’s men but for some unknown reason they showed up Richard’s hand suddenly trembled and his eyes filled with tears in the end he failed to retaliate.

Later when Ricks finally wakes up, Dawn feels worried after her surgery that her life is surrounded by dangerous people because she is so young. The next morning Snyder comes to visit he calms Rick by saying that she and the other FBI agents are going to arrest Johnny and his entire gang as the person who shot him but he asks Rick not to release information about the arrest so that he and his family is safe from threats.

After the visit Snyder mobilized his accomplices to arrest Johnny and all his gang members. After a few days Rick began to recover and was allowed to go home. Unfortunately Rick will not be able to study for the safety of his other students because the gangsters will definitely target him especially Johnny’s co-workers.

A year later a child visit Ricks house and tells him the shocking news that Brenda has given birth to his child. Rick immediately remembered the last time he and Brenda met and they found out that Brenda had not told him about her pregnancy.

His father was very shocked by the news but as a responsible man Rick and his father decided to visit Brenda. Rick carries the baby while Richard looks eager to teach Rick how to hold a baby properly. It’s sad that Rick won’t be able to take care of the baby because he’s not yet safe from threats.

Richard tries to comfort rick who seems unsure and doesn’t know how to be a father. He says he didn’t expect Rick and Dawn. At first he and his wife had no intention of having children because of their difficult economic situation but when they were born Richard’s life became more colorful and from then on he decided to raise them despite various obstacles.

When he returned home Rick proposed to his father to go back to selling drugs because in their current situation they needed more money to raise the baby but Richard strongly refused and wanted to just make money legally way even though he knows himself that the only way to get enough money is to sell drugs.

When they were fighting Richard became emotional and lost control of his car fortunately he was able to stop it. When they got out of the car Rick started to car and one last time he urged the father to help him sell drugs for the sake of his son.

After his father agrees to have Rick use his connections with Johnny’s colleague to get the drugs. When someone took that guy Rick when back to selling drugs on the streets because Johnny and other dealers were arrested. Rick was one of the absolute no competition.

The money from his sales was used to buy things that Brenda and his son needed. One night Rick and Richard went to a boarding house to pick up Dawn. Dawn’a place is filled with drug addicts when the see Dawn her condition is dire. Rick forces her to return to their house but she refuses because she is still angry with her father.

Rick who promised that their father had changed but instead she screamed when she saw Richard. When they got to the house Dawn was quarantines to get rid of her drug addition. Richard didn’t really have the heart to lock his daughter up like that but it was the only way she could get well.

As time passes Dawn gets better and Richard feels relieved to see his daughter back to normal after a year. He has successfully built the DVD rental shop of his dreams. He celebrated with his family and this time Dawn was completely clean of drugs.

Meanwhile Rick met Cathy again the woman was alone after her husband was imprisoned felling worried. Rick begs him to talk Cathy tell him that Johnny will be imprisoned for 20 years. Upon hearing this Rick pretended not to even know Johnny’s whereabouts in prison.

That night Cathy and Rick got comfortable and both slept together. When Rick returns home he find his father looking at his grandmother’s house. Of course he was happy because his family was settled but unfortunately it didn’t last long because two months later FBI agents raided their house and immediately arrested Rick on the charge of distributing drugs with a total of 8 kilos and because he was a minor they also arrested Richard as guardian. Panicking Dawn tried to stop them but she couldn’t do much.

Then Richard and Rick meet with Snyder and Byrd they offer that Rick can get out of jail Richard has to become their informant again to bring down the corrupt mayor. Richard agrees to do this then he asks for a written contact between them but Snyder refuses as it will look suspicious in the investigation process.

He only promised that he would not be a traitor and asked him to trust her. The next day Rick uses Cathy to arrest her uncle who became the mayor of Detroit. Not long after that the FBI arrested powerful people in the government who were corrupt and related to drug dealers but for some reason Rick’s name was mentioned on the TV news even though FBI had to keep his name.

The FBI didn’t care about Rick’s fate because in court Rick was found guilty and convicted to life in prison even though he helped government. Upon hearing the judge’s decision Rick’s family did not accept it. In the end Rick had to go to jail and handcuffed his hand and feet. He underwent a very strict examination.

After that the guards took him to his cell while telling that he could not call his family without permission from the warden. On the other hand Richard saw Snyder and Byrd he asked for an explanation but the two FBI agents acted like they didn’t know anything.

At that time, Richard realized that he was cheated and betrayed by two agents. Richard and Dawn visited Rick while carrying Rick’s son. They asked Rick how he was doing. He showed a sad face at the punishment he received despite his efforts to bear the pain Rick finally couldn’t hold back his tears.

Especially when he saw his son after that, Richard said that everything will be fine because he will fight for Rick’s freedom. He also told him that the prison could be reduced by 6 years but Rick gave up on his situation because after all he made a mistake.

Since that meeting Richard died in 2014 while Rick served 27 years in prison and was released on parole in 2017. It was reported that while he was in prison there were several assassination attempts targeting him even in 2016 there was a former hit man who says an officer hired him to kill Rick but he survived and live a good life.

This is where our film WhiteBoy Rick ends. I hope you like it. Thank you very much.

Main Cast of White Boy Rick

Richie Merritt
Richard Wershe Jr/Rick

Matthew McConaughey
Richard Wershe Sr

Bel Powley
Dawn Wershe

Jennifer Jason Leigh
FBI Agent Snyder

RoryCochrane
FBI Agent Byrd

RJ Cyler
Boo

Jonathan Majors
Johnny

Taylour Paige
Cathy

Bruce Dern
Rick’s grandfather

Piper Laurie
Rick’s grandmother

YG
Leo

Kyanna Simone
Brenda

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When was White Boy Rick released?
- September 2018
How long is White Boy Rick?
- 1 hour and 51 minutes
Who stars in White Boy Rick?
- Richie Merritt (Rick)
- Matthew McConaughey (Richard)
- Bel Powley (Dawn)
Who directed White Boy Rick?
- Yann Demange
What genre is White Boy Rick?
- Crime
- Drama
Who was the editor of White Boy Rick?
- Chris Wyatt
Who wrote White Boy Rick?
- Andy Weiss
- Logan Miller
- Noah Miller
Who was the producer White Boy Rick?
- Darren Aronofsky
- John Lesher
- Julie Yorn
- Scott Franklin
Who was the cinematographer for White Boy Rick?
- Tat Radcliffe
What is White Boy Rick rated?
- R