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White Boy Rick

White Boy Rick

Crime · Drama · 2018

The story of Richard Wershe Jr., a teenager who became an undercover informant for the police during the 1980s, and was ultimately arrested for drug trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.

Movie details

White Boy Rick

“In 1980s Detroit, Ricky Wersche Jr. was a street hustler, FBI informant and drug kingpin—all before he turned 16.”

2018 Crime · Drama 1h 51m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.4 / 10

Community rating

The story of Richard Wershe Jr., a teenager who became an undercover informant for the police during the 1980s, and was ultimately arrested for drug trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over White Boy Rick?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Yann Demange

Written by

Noah Miller · Logan Miller · Andy Weiss

Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey

Richard Wershe Sr.

Richie Merritt

Richie Merritt

Richard 'Ricky' Wershe Jr.

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Alex Snyder

Bel Powley

Bel Powley

Dawn Wershe

RJ Cyler

RJ Cyler

Rudell Boo Curry

Rory Cochrane

Rory Cochrane

Agent Byrd

Eddie Marsan

Eddie Marsan

Art Derrick

Court is in session

Put White Boy Rick on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.