RICKY
(director/writer: Rashad Frett; screenwriter: Lin Que Ayoung; cinematographer: Sam Motamedi; editor: Daysha Broadway; music: Simon Taufique; cast: Stephan James (Ricardo ‘Ricky’ Smith), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Joanne), Titus Welliver (Leslie Torino), Maliq Johnson (James), Imani Lewis (Jaz), Simbi Kali (Winsome), Andrene Ward-Hammond (Cheryl); Runtime: 112; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Pierre M. Coleman, Simon Taufique, Rashad Frett, Sterling Brim, DC Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Josh Peters; Blue Harbor Entertainment; 2025)
“An observant prison drama.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
“Ricky” is an observant prison drama, shot as a character study, about life after incarceration for an ex-convict seeking to turn around his troubled life and fit into society as a productive citizen. It’s the feature film debut by director Rashad Frett, who co-writes it with Lin Que Ayoung.
The 30-year-old Black man Ricky (Stephan James), from a Caribbean immigrant family, has spent half his life behind bars, serving a 15-year-sentence when tried as an adult. He has learned how to be a barber in prison and wishes to use that skill as a civilian so he could lead a productive life as he’s paroled.
Ricky moves into the cramped apartment in East Hartford, Conn., in a Caribbean neighborhood, with his demanding but supportive mother Winsome (Simbi Kali) and younger brother James (Maliq Johnson). He reports regularly to his tough-love parole officer (Sheryl Lee Ralph) for guidance. He meets the single mom Jaz (Imani Lewis) and she becomes his love interest.
Despite the broken system, his own imperfections and the odds against him succeeding in an uncaring world, the hope is that Ricky, a decent sort, can now lead a clean life if he gets the opportunity.
Rather than using melodramatics, “Ricky” is a thoughtful and well-acted film on getting a second chance. We don’t learn until later in the film what was his crime.
The quality film lets us know in a understated way how much the criminal system is broken and needs to be fixed, but it also disappoints by having too many dry spots in its narrative where nothing much happens for long stretches.
It played at the Sundance Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 4/22/2026 GRADE: B
dennisschwartzreviews.com