Matthew McConaughey, Adrien Brody, and More at Last Night’s New York City Premiere for White Boy Rick

Matthew McConaughey’s Sobering Words at Last Night’s New York City Premiere for White Boy Rick

White Boy Rick is the heroic vigilante film we didn’t know we needed, audiences discovered at last night’s New York City premiere hosted by Columbia Pictures and The Cinema Society. Set in 1980s Detroit, the film portrays the true story of Richard Wershe Jr., whose Robin Hood rise haphazardly makes him the FBI’s youngest informant, at fourteen years old.

It’s an extraordinary story but not unfamiliar to some, even for the cast. Jonathan Majors, who played the kingpin of the Curry gang that embraced Rick as their own, elaborates. “To me it didn’t seem like an unfamiliar story. It was, however, unfamiliar to put into the world. I mean here we are at the Paris Theater and Central Park is right there!...This is a story about a socioeconomic group that is completely marginalized and so that made me want to get involved, to advocate for people I recognize and that I know and in some cases I come from.”

One of the most entrancing things to see in the film was the father son duo played by Matthew McConaughey and breakout star Richie Merritt. “When I saw the screenplay and it had the father and son relationship, that’s when I made a personal connection to it,” director Yann Demange said. Despite the brutal (and at some moments hard to watch) crime sprees punctuating the film, there was a tenderness to McConaughey and Merritt’s chemistry. Merritt, in a jet black embroidered Saint Laurent top, talked about his first film experience. “It was amazing...I’ve never had this opportunity before and I just tried to do my best.” Merritt talked about how much fun he had celebrating his 16th birthday on set with the cast and crew, rivaling any Sweet Sixteen fantasy. “They got me three cakes and a lot of wings! I love wings!” Another gut wrenching performance was made by British actress Bel Powley, who played Rick's sister. Her hair raising scenes caused the audience to go from laughing at her wisecracks to gasping at the ravages of her addiction.

After the film, guests headed to the Skylark where they sipped on Wild Turkey Longbranch cocktails aptly named The Informant and Detroit Dream, gazing out at a Gotham-like fog 30 floors above Times Square. Crispy duck wontons, seared tuna bites, and mini mahi-mahi tacos were passed around the party where Ice-T and his wife Coco weaved in and out of the crowd. McConaughey, whose affectionate parental onscreen performance is already getting Oscar buzz, held court in a windowed corner. How does he expect people to feel after watching this film? McConaughey had a sobering answer: “You know who's got a great answer to that? I’m going to steal it—young Richie Merritt, who plays White Boy Rick. What he got from this movie is that life is fragile. So your loved ones, think about the last time you talked to them. If something were to happen, they were gone or you were gone tomorrow—did you say enough, did you say the right thing, did you say goodbye the right way?”

White Boy Rick opens in theaters on Friday, September 14th.