Director Rashad Frett brings us a poignant and incredibly emotionally-driven narrative about a man named Ricky (Stephan James) who is released shortly after being incarcerated at the age of 15 for armed robbery and attempted murder. His harsh 15-year sentence takes a toll on his mental state which is what we, the audience, experience through Ricky’s journey in this film. As he navigates acclimating himself back to life outside of the four walls of prison cells and experiences life as an adult Frett’s film challenges you to ponder why the American justice system tosses and discards their inmates without any regard for their mental health or preparation for career opportunities.
This film is about second chances. But what happens if the second chance isn’t good enough? That’s truly what the film Ricky explores.
In a year where we currently have the leader of our country, a convicted felon, afforded the opportunity to have a second chance to become President of the United States, watching Ricky became all the more infuriating to watch. As more Black men are imprisoned for crimes and are racially profiled the American justice system truly is stacked against people of color.
Ricky has missed key milestones like navigating relationships, adapting to technology, and finding his footing in a fast-evolving world. In one scene, he needs help using a cell phone.
He meets a girl named Jazz (Imani Lewis) who helps him with this cell phone. There’s an instant connection between the two and he offers to cut her son’s hair. We also meet Terrence (Sean Nelson) who is a childhood friend of Ricky’s who helps him find work. We learn throughout this story there is a connective thread between these two which is quite compelling.
Ricky’s brother James (Maliq Johnson) has a complicated relationship with him and the two are trying to rebuild what was lost while Ricky was away.
Ricky’s journey is as much about self-discovery as it is survival. As he struggles to meet his parole officer Joanne’s (Sheryl Lee Ralph) strict requirements, Ricky must also navigate the tension of returning to his devout Caribbean mother’s home (Simbi Khali) in Hartford, Connecticut — a setting where faith and love clash with past betrayals. His strained but yearning exchanges with Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Joanne reflect a man desperate for guidance but unsure how to ask for it. Similarly, his scenes with his mother reveal an undercurrent of pain and hope, as James captures the complex emotions of a son trying to reconcile love and resentment. As Joanne, Ralph embodies a tough-love mentor, someone who sees Ricky’s potential but isn’t afraid to challenge him. Her stern demeanor is never overbearing; instead, it’s rooted in genuine care. In one of the film’s standout scenes, where Joanne confronts Ricky about his failure to meet expectations, Ralph skillfully balances frustration with compassion, making it clear that her demands come from a place of belief in his ability to succeed.
Stephan James delivers a raw, heartfelt portrayal of Ricky, blending the vulnerability of a betrayed boy with the strength of a determined man. His performance is gutwrenching. The hesitant body language, awkward pauses, and searching glances illustrate Ricky’s discomfort with a world that feels alien and overwhelming. Sheryl Lee Ralph is magnetic as Joanne, bringing layers of toughness and compassion to her role. She is the anchor in this story and not the antagonistic parole officer you would expect in a situation like this.
One thing that still haunts me about James’ performance were the emotional outbursts Ricky would experience when a situation got too stressful for him. It was like he didn’t know how to handle it. During the Q&A for the film Stephan James mentioned how he was inspired by the life of Kalief Browder. James beautifully depicts the sadness of how vulnerable this character is who is still trying to figure it all out to someone who is also brimming with anger at how he got an unfair advantage in life. We learn in his backstory about how he ended up involved in armed robbery which is a tragic story in and of itself.
I went on an emotional rollercoaster throughout this journey in Ricky. I laughed, I cried, and I was angry. And while there are stories like this that are very common, especially stories centered on Black men, I think telling them is important, especially now in this climate. If it is now precedent to have a convicted felon have the highest job in land, then every convicted felon who is bestowed their freedom, should be allowed to have any job they want without any repercussions. They should be able to find steady work with no conditions.
It’s a story that lingers, not just for its heartbreaking realism but for its resounding awareness of what’s wrong with our justice system. Rashad Frett’s feature debut is an unforgettable exploration of what it means to truly start over and why everyone deserves a second chance.
Ricky is currently screening at the Sundance Film Festival and will be available to screen online.
