WHITE BOY RICK

Matthew McConaughey    Jennifer Jason Leigh     Richie Merritt     Bel Powley

Rory Cochrane     Eddie Marsan     Bruce Dern     Piper Laurie     Brian Tyree Henry

     

     Recipe for disaster:  A lower middle class family living in Detroit in the ‘80s near a predominantly African-American section of town; FBI agents who are aware that the father is dealing guns illegally (although they’re not pursuing him) and that the son is developing friendships with the drug dealers in the black community, recruit Rick (Merritt) to become an informant for them.  

     What could go wrong?  A lot.  The trouble is, there are additional unanticipated factors and events that will complicate the picture.  The father, Richard Wershe (McConaughey), is an eternal optimist (“I’m a glass-is-half-full kind of guy”) who hasn’t done well, but sustains his dream of owning a string of video stores that will make him rich and able to take care of his kids, Rick and Dawn (Powley), and no longer need financial help from his parents.  He is good at communicating with his son about his business plan of selling guns (which he is clearly overly attached to) to get capital for his dream, but doesn’t seem to have the foggiest notion about guiding Rick or Dawn in sensible behavior and avoiding pitfalls and destructive temptations.

     So a lot goes down, with Rick getting more and more entrenched in shady dealings, Dawn making poor choices in the company she keeps, and Richard trying desperately to hold everything together.  It’s a statement about unmet needs, skimpy education, and desperate plans that have slim chances of success.  But the film also takes punches at black-white disparities in the criminal justice system, unethical practices of government agencies, and the inability of government to deal with economically ravaged cities such as Detroit in the 1980’s.  

     This is a difficult, painful film to watch from beginning to end, in its exquisite picture of flawed parenting, inadequacies in government service, seductiveness of drugs in distressed populations and the resultant crime, and the disparities in black vs. white lifestyles and communities and the criminal justice system.  The only positive element in all this mess is the example of family loyalty, which would be the primary support sustaining Rick for the rest of his life.

     White Boy Rick is a realistic picture of the 1980’s, but, unfortunately, shows that we have not made as much progress in social welfare and justice as we should have (or as I wished we would have). It could have made sharper connections between family dysfunction, social services, and the legal system, and how factors in all areas had such an impact on a young man’s life.

     The esteemed actor Matthew McConaughey clearly holds this film together in his ability to make the screen come alive when he is present, and then have this presence echo in the scenes where he is absent.  For his first film, Richie Merritt makes an impressive appearance, at home with his character and able to show a range of emotion.  Although not much more than a cameo, Bruce Dern and his brilliant blue piercing eyes gives us an extra treat.  Max Richter’s score with its doomsday tones and dramatic thrusts is a worthy accompaniment.

I realize that films like this need to be made, but they are painful to watch because of their realistic commentary about contemporary life.

Grade:  C                                By Donna R. Copeland

THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL

--> Bel Powley     Alexander Skarsgard     Kristen Wiig     Christopher Malone

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           The execution of Diary is vey well done--artistically and movingly rendered; however, the way the material is handled by writer/director Marielle Heller leaves much to be desired. Apart from the beautiful palette, the clever animated cartoons, and the appealing main character, the story turns out to be a sad, sordid one with no responsible adult in sight.  And because of that, it's hard for me to believe a young woman could turn out as well as the protagonist does in the film. More likely she wouldn't be able to rise above her experiences and learn from them--as Minnie did--or worse could have resorted to more desperate measures to escape her life.

           The three main actors—Powley, Skarsgard, and Wiig—are gifted in their art and seamlessly portray their characters here.  As Charlotte the mother, Wiig shows her to be so narcissistic and shallow it's impossible for her to provide maternal care and devotion to her two daughters, despite her good looks and charming personality.  She has even conveyed to her older child that Minnie will never measure up to her, particularly in looks.  And in the end she has a plan for Minnie that will make her to be just as unhappy as she is.

           Skarsgard aces the role of the immature male Monroe who seems only to have enough ambition to retire early. He's always ready with an excuse for his bad behavior ("I have needs too" "I'm only human"), usually in the realm of blaming others.

           Powley is amazing in her characterization of confused teenager Minnie needing guidance but not realizing it. She's able to be the sexy young woman and child of wonder, while still posing existential arguments within herself.  

           While the actors are very good, this is a difficult film to watch.  It’s like reading someone else’s diary and feeling like a snoop.  Yet, I believe that it is a realistic picture of how a budding young girl and an older man can get started in an affair, especially in the context of an oblivious mother and an undisciplined man.  Only once is there a responsible adult intervening (and even he does not discuss what he has found out with the girl; he tells her mother, his ex-wife) and at no time is statutory rape mentioned.  The girl is left to figure things out for herself on her own.

           Diary was a hit at Sundance, and it’s praised for giving a tell-all account of a teenage girl’s life.  I just wish some material had been included that would show some positive influences on Minnie to help her get to the place she did.

A peek at a teenage girl’s inner life and risky behavior.

Grade:  B-                                   By Donna R. Copeland