A beautifully crafted, true-crime thriller that, alas, gets more and more pointless the longer it goes on.
Yann Demange’s film is set in the Eighties and tracks the rise and fall of a working-class Detroit teen caught between mobsters and the FBI. Richard Wershe Jr is played by grubbily cherubic newcomer Richie Merritt, who holds his own among a host of big names, including Matthew McConaughey as Rick’s flaky, gun-mad father.
McConaughey loves nothing more these days than dressing down. His hair has never looked greasier, and he all but secretes globules of grief as Mr Wershe tears around town trying to protect his son.
So many cool actors give committed turns. Jennifer Jason Leigh is plausibly frazzled and ruthless as a federal agent, while Eddie Marsan as a sleazy drug dealer wears cheesy garb with glee. Bruce Dern and Piper Laurie as Rick’s decrepit and fitfully splenetic grandparents are glorious. Note, too, that one of the film’s producers is genius director Darren Aronofsky.
Maybe Hollywood’s interest in this story helped provide the real Rick with a happy ending (spoiler: the kid rots in jail but not for ever). As a viewing experience, however, this one feels woefully familiar. The TV-movie clichés pile up (there’s a junkie sister in need of redemption, as well as a sexy, savvy object of desire).
Clearly, it was wrong for the FBI to use a 14-year-old as an informant. But when you ask yourself: “What’s so special about Rick?” The answer is: not much.
