White Boy Rick

Movie
German title	White Boy Rick
Original title	White Boy Rick
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Publishing year	2018
length	111 minutes
Age rating	FSK 12
Rod
Director	Yann Demange
production	Darren Aronofsky , ; Scott Franklin , ; John Lesher , ; Jeff Robinov , ; Julie Yorn
music	Max Richter
camera	Did Radcliffe
cut	Chris Wyatt
occupation
	Matthew McConaughey : Richard Wershe Sr.; Richie Merritt : Richard "Ricky" Wershe, Jr. ; Bel Powley : Dawn Wershe; Jennifer Jason Leigh : Alex Snyder, FBI; Rory Cochrane : Frank Byrd, FBI; Brian Tyree Henry : Detective Jackson; Bruce Dern : Grandfather Roman Wershe; Piper Laurie : Grandmother Verna Wershe; Eddie Marsan : Kind of Derrick; RJ Cyler : Rudell "Boo" Curry; Jonathan Majors : Johnny "Lil Man" Curry; Nickoli Link : "Lil Tic" Curry Gang; Taylour Paige : Cathy Volsan Curry; YG : Leo "Big Man" curry; Danny Brown : Edward "Black Ed" Hanserd; IshDARR : Steven "Freaky Steve" Roussell;

White Boy Rick is a crime film by Yann Demange about the drug trafficker Richard "White Boy Rick" Wershe, Jr. , which was released on September 14, 2018 in US cinemas and on March 7, 2019 in German cinemas.

action

Richard Wershe Sr. dreams of opening a video store chain, but he still makes a living as a dealer in silenced weapons. His son Rick shares his entrepreneurial spirit and sells it to local drug dealers.

When federal agent Byrd and his colleague Rick Jr. arrested, the teenager agreed to work as an undercover informant for the FBI in the 1980s, but with the knowledge he acquired during this time he soon became infamous himself Drug mogul, even though his own sister Dawn was addicted to drugs.

Biographical background

Richard Wershe Jr. was one of the most powerful drug traffickers in the United States in the 1980s when he was just 17. He was also an informant for the FBI.

production

Directed by Yann Demange . It is Demange's second feature film after '71 from 2014. The film music is composed by Max Richter . The recording was made in autumn 2017. The soundtrack was released on September 21, 2018.

Up- and-coming actor Richie Merritt took on the role of Ricky Wershe Jr.

The German synchronization was based on a dialogue book and the dialogue direction by Sven Hasper on behalf of Berliner Synchron GmbH Wenzel Lüdecke. Benjamin Völz lends his voice to Richard Wershe in the German version, Marco Eßer lends his voice to his son Richard Wershe Jr.

Filming took place in Cleveland , Ohio (March 2017), Detroit , Michigan, Miami , Florida, and Las Vegas . Here Demange worked with the cameraman Tat Radcliffe .

A first German trailer was published in early June 2018. The film premiered on August 31, 2018 as part of the Telluride Film Festival and celebrated its international premiere on September 7, 2018 at the Toronto International Film Festival . It was released in US cinemas on September 14, 2018 and in German cinemas on March 7, 2019.

reception

Matthew McConaughey at the premiere for the film in Toronto

Age ratings and reviews

In the USA, the film received an R rating from the MPAA , which corresponds to a rating of 17 and over. In Germany it was approved by the FSK from the age of 12, but is allowed from the age of 6 if accompanied by the parents. The statement of reasons for the release states: “The film is set in a desolate environment and in a run-down city where even the police are corrupt. However, viewers over the age of 12 are able to recognize these representations as part of a critical milieu study and to process them accordingly. Violence and drug trafficking are central themes of the film, but drug use is not glorified, but portrayed as destructive and acts of violence are not played out in detail. ”It goes on to say that the condemnation of the young protagonist to life imprisonment makes it clear that this is not a heroic story is told. A disorienting role model effect is therefore not to be feared.

Overall, the film received mixed feedback from the critics.

Anke Westphal of epd Film writes that White Boy Rick combines social drama with drug thriller to accuse the system. Again and again in the film scenes can be seen that address problems of cultural appropriation : "If the film asks questions of racism , for example by distinguishing between white prison time and black prison time in a dialogue , then it is also about a systemic injustice. The unscrupulousness with which the FBI is proceeding in turning a minor into a criminal casts an unfavorable light on US government agencies . "