Movie Review: White Boy Rick

White Boy Rick is a true story about a seventeen year old boy who gets caught up in the shadowy gang-drug world of Detroit.  The story takes place circa mid-'80s within the hood.  Rick lives with his dad, also named Rick (Matthew McConaughay), and his drug-addict sister, Dawn.  His father is not the most upstanding person in the world.  He sells guns, sometimes in a legal way and sometimes not.  But he loves his parents who live next door and really loves his kids.  
Rick gets propositioned by the police early on in the story.  They set him up with drug buys and then drug sells to give him the credibility he needs for information.  The drug lord eventually figures it out and Rick gets shot.

Once Rick comes home from the hospital, he is officially 'done' with police business.  He gets the idea (from the police) of selling cocaine and quickly becomes a kingpin of sorts.  At this point, Rick is seventeen years old.  His life gets better with the money he brings home.  His dad gets the video store he always wanted to open up.  Rick finds out he is a father.  And his sister gets sober.  Everything comes to a head-Rick gets busted and then is sentenced for thirty years.  Just this year in 2018, he finally gets out of jail.  
My Review: Wow!  What a story!  Made me sad, but also made me think. Immediately, walking out of the theater, I thought of Kim Kardashian and Trump.  Nonviolent criminals going away for thirty years is just unacceptable.  Rick was taught how to deal drugs by the police at fifteen years old.  Is anyone surprised that he chose to use those skills for his own benefit?  There is no responsibility by any law enforcement for this unhappy ending.  Rick was not a violent person, although he did shoot at someone who stole his grandpa's car.  Maybe in the long run he would have been a murderer, but we don't lock people up for maybes.  Rick got so screwed.  The movie got me wondering how many more Ricks are out there.  

I guess the bottom line is this: Whether or not you like Trump (not trying to be political), the man claims to want to reform these ridiculous sentences.  Let's take him up on his offer and make him be true to his word.  We can not continue to ruin people's lives for small mistakes.  Hey, if someone murders, rapes, beats, or molests, lock him/her up and throw away the key.  But a teenager selling drugs getting thirty years???????
Again, loved the movie and wanted to also acknowledge the amazing acting by the entire cast.  I would love to see Matthew McConaughay and Richie Merrit get Oscars for this.  The story is not perfect.  In fact, the beginning was a little disorganized in setting up who is who.  But things start coming together midway.  I recommend this movie to anyone who likes true stories.  4.5/5 Stars