The War Boys (2009) Reviews

• Tackling Tough Taboos - Successfully!

  gradyharp2011-05-29

  THE WAR BOYS is a low budget, small film by first time director Ron Daniels and written by relative newcomers Naomi Wallace and Bruce McLeod that puts more conflicts before the audience than most hyped Hollywood movies. Where this little film succeeds is in its ability to present the bumps in the lives of young men struggling with the conflict of stepping out of the familial heritage into a world of unknowns. Populated by a very strong cast of young actors, THE WAR BOYS takes us to places other films have feared to go and does so very well. The location of the film is a small town somewhere near the border between the US and Mexico. The War Boys is the name of a group of lads who in highschool worked their own kind of border patrol, finding illegals and chasing them. Among this triad are Hispanic but American born Grigorio (Victor Rasuk) who joins the action to escape the derision by his classmates as a 'beaner', David (Benjamin Walker) whose father Slater (David Gallagher) has money and has sent David off to Duke University to become a lawyer, and George (Brian J. Smith) an insecure lad whose father is a cab driver and whose mother is supportive (their family also includes a young Mexican girl named 'Cat' (Cheyenne Serano) who runs about the little town dressed as Zorro, acting tough but really in need of love from her new brother George. David is home from college on a spring break (he actually was suspended for stripping nude in one of his classes!) and rejoins George and Grigorio for mischief. David learns that his father brings contraband from Mexico into the US and with that surprising inside information the three plan a heist of what they believe to be a truckload of televisions: the escapade goes terribly wrong when the true contents of the absconded truck are discovered. The stories that unfold about each of these boys are what make the film gel. Grigorio is a virgin and is infatuated with Marta (Micaela Nevárez), an older but beautiful owner of a doughnut shop: the interaction between these two needy people - the virgin Grigorio and Marta afraid to become involved with someone younger than she - speaks mountains about relationships versus infatuation and physical needs. David and George have a past history of acting out a physical attraction and this comes forth in a set of scenes that address young male sexual identity challenges in some of the most beautifully realized and subtle scenes on film. David and Slater have father/son relationship problems that come to a crisis with David's attraction to George: the surprise is how sensitively this conflict is worked out. George and Cat have never related but when George confides his sexual secrets to Cat she is the supportive bulwark of understanding - again in a very sensitive and subtle way. Given these character developments and the many critical topics the film addresses (prejudice against illegals, taking advantage of the built in crime of the border towns, sexual identity challenges, etc) the ending of the film is intensely dramatic and leaves the audience with a profound message. An excellent young cast and a fine director make this a powerful little film that should not be missed. Grady Harp

• Trouble at the borders

  enway2010-07-22

  It's hard to believe there aren't tons of reviews for this film! It handles numerous "taboo" subjects with aplomb, and gives the viewer a whole lot to think about. The three youthful leads give outstanding performances all around, Peter Gallagher does a fine job in support, and Teresa Yengue ices the cake to perfection. Many other fine performances here, don't get me wrong. Try on a "thinking" movie for a change. I think you'll find this most rewarding. Not sure whether this is out on video yet, but please don't give it a pass when it comes your way.

• Looking forward

  fardarter2011-05-06

  This is a courageous movie, full of stirring moments, sensuality, authentic emotions, love, hatred, ignorance, self-discovery. Had it been launched in Europe, in France perhaps, it would have had major success. In the US, the race discourse, commingled with Jesus talk, environmentalism, identity politics, etc., completely overshadows the genuine merits of plot and cinematography. Acting is not always great, but the roles are not as hard as they look. There is one love scene between two young men in which the tension and the mutual attraction are so well calibrated that anyone, straight or gay, is inevitably touched. Anyone, male or female, gay or straight, can identify with the daring, the fear, the unavoidable accumulation of desire that turns the adolescent into adult. I love how the scene cameos the way the whole movie stages fear and anger, the major emotions in the story, and shows how love can channel them into something positive and constructive. The two young men are perhaps only in lust with one another, at least in that specific scene, but as we know from the plot they also love one another. They have known each other since childhood. This is a powerful story, tragic and beautiful, and true, and perhaps it will earn viewers a sense of peace. Odd that it id not make a bigger splash. 9 out of 10 stars is the minimum.

• A movie that portrays more reality than most.

  Gendarmist2011-11-21

  This movie is a coming of age tale of 3 young men who are thee same but very different. Living in a border town does things to you and the acting in this movie portrays exactly what life in the desert is like from a modern perspective. The plot is rather ill defined and apparently some people are unable to find meaning in it. But for me, I understand the complex nature of this screenplay. The Director did a great job putting a time line on what has happened. My hat is off to the entire cast and staff for making this movie interesting and memorable. I enjoy a movie where I have to think and this one just presented the characters in a slice of time with little else to go on. Very Brave, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

• i have no words for this (in a very good way)

  chr_tofiros2012-02-06

  i do not know why, but this film seems so calm and then such a nice romance and a strong story evolves.. i don't know, its like laying down on the couch and just going with the flow.. love the picture, the faces, the dialogues.. it's not flawless, but neither as life. all have their reason to be, dealing with many issues.. i thought 'the shelter' was my favourite gay-themed movie, but this 1 actually won my heart. please give it a try and let me know... don't expect any drugs, or trans or even anything else seen before in so many gay movies... this is not actually a gay movie, but rather a strong bond among 3 friends... LIFE PRESENTED INPERFECTLY PERFECT