THE STORY – Newly released after being locked up in his teens, 30-year-old Ricky navigates the challenging realities of life post-incarceration, and the complexity of gaining independence for the first time as an adult.
THE CAST – Stephan James, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Titus Welliver, Maliq Johnson, Imani Lewis & Simbi Kali
THE TEAM – Rashad Frett (Director/Writer) & Lin Que Ayoung (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 112 Minutes
One of the most widely accepted myths in American culture is the idea that the carceral system intends to rehabilitate inmates and set them up for a brighter future after they’re released. More often than not, our beyond-imperfect criminal justice system chews up and spits out criminals with disdain. “Ricky,” the new film from director Rashad Frett, examines how imprisonment can rob people of valuable years and experiences, setting them up for an inevitably difficult, if not impossible, return to society. It’s a powerful look at redemption and how hard it can be to achieve even for those who approach it with the best intentions.
As the film opens, our titular character (Stephan James) has recently been released on parole from a 15-year sentence. He’s 30 years old, and some quick math indicates the troubling fact that he spent as much time in jail as he did out of it. As such, he’s thrust into the outside world without having experienced many of the markers of growing up that most adults encounter. After being gracelessly dismissed from his job loading trucks, he struggles to find legitimate work, as demanded by his parole officer Joanne (Sheryl Lee Ralph). For the time being, he makes ends meet by cutting hair for under-the-table clients.
The camera follows Ricky as he moves through his new life on the outside. The plot is light, with Frett instead choosing to observe him in a variety of situations that are typical for most adults but difficult for Ricky. For instance, he doesn’t have a driver’s license, limiting his ability to get to important places like his parole meetings. “Ricky” also features one of the more thematically relevant sex scenes in modern memory, with this unorthodox learning experience approached with care by the actors and filmmakers. Smartly, the film never underlines these milestones of delayed adulthood in a way that makes them off-puttingly heightened. Ricky is a soft-spoken, agreeable person, and the film’s tone generally reflects his attitude. Still, there are times when other characters behave in a certain way only to seemingly make situations more unnecessarily stressful. Of course, stories crave conflict, but some of how “Ricky” elevates the stakes of a scene feel inauthentic to the film’s grounded feel.
James is incredible, commanding nearly every scene of the film. His huge frame is countered by his gentle nature, and James is an expert at showing the fear and trepidation quietly brewing inside him whenever he feels ill-equipped to handle a situation. After all, his internal growth was essentially paused at 15 years old, and there are times when he manages to convincingly look like a frightened child trapped inside a grown man. This acting choice further emphasizes the film’s focus on the time that was stolen from him.
Ralph delivers a commanding supporting performance, shifting focus to her character whenever she’s on-screen in a way that makes it clear her character feels in charge at all times. The film’s best scene is one of the rare moments that doesn’t feature Ricky at all. Instead, it’s when Ralph’s Joanne and Ricky’s mom Winsome (the powerful Simbi Kali) come together and must put aside their differences for Ricky’s welfare. The rest of the ensemble is entirely populated by committed, emotionally effective performances. Imani Lewis is relatable and charming as Ricky’s new friend Jaz. Ricky’s younger brother James is brought to hilarious, heartfelt life by the charismatic Maliq Johnson. Andrene Ward-Hammond plays Cheryl – a fellow attendee of Ricky’s required group meetings – with a realistic level of volatility that’s necessary to sell some of her character’s more dramatic moments.
“Ricky” is a heartbreaking, inspiring story that shows how difficult it can be to do good when the odds are so decidedly against you. It’s powerful and surprisingly funny in the unexpected way that even the most stressful of stories, and life itself, can be.
