White Boy Rick

White Boy Rick has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Starz Apple TV Channel. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 1,215 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Matthew McConaughey's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, White Boy Rick is worth clearing space for. The plotting gives White Boy Rick its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. 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. Matthew McConaughey and Richie Merritt lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2018. The plot mechanics of White Boy Rick never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in White Boy Rick. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Matthew McConaughey's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.