Cedar Boys [DVD]

By Clint Morris

What could’ve been an important expose into the oft-discussed Lebanese community instead plays out like an enjoyable but hollow Aussie take on “Smokin’ Aces”. That’s not a bad thing, it just means people will likely be paying to see one thing and getting another.

Big-timers Rachael Taylor (“Transformers”, “Shutter”) and Martin Henderson (“Torque”, “Windtalkers”) return home to feature in Serhat Caradee’s debut feature, the story of three Lebanese lads who hatch a get-rich quick scheme that ultimately blows up in their face.

Friends Tarek (Les Chantery), Nabil (Buddy Dannoun) and Sam (Waddah Sari) are all looking for more from their lives. Solution? Rob some drug-dealers.

Before they know it, the three men have the cops and a gang of serious criminals (Martin Henderson, Daniel Amalm) on their tail.

Taylor plays a young woman who Tarek gets involved with, seemingly to try and gain acceptance beyond his own culture…. At least that’s what I think was the deal there?

You see, much like the intrigue and ostensible impetus of the film, Taylor’s character inexplicably disappears from proceedings half-way through the film…. It’s as if she was suddenly called back to the states to do re-shoots on a pricier, seemingly more important studio flick. Or maybe Caradee just realized her character was an unnecessary last-minute tack-on? No, I don’t completely agree with that – there could’ve been a great cross-cultural romance subplot here, but there’s not.

As for Henderson, can’t quite figure out what attracted him to the film – not because he has nothing to do – in fact, it looks like he’s having a bit of fun – but because he’s merely just playing the same character he played in the Hollywood actioner “Smokin’ Aces”. And he was just as forgettable in it, too.

Much more memorable than his Hollywood counterparts, Les Chantery is a revelation as Tarek. He’s one of the film’s saving graces. He really does carry the film. And despite the injustices of the story, or the second-half dip, he remains a commanding presence – you want to follow his journey. Chantery is going to go far.

With a tweak here and there, and a bit more emphasis on the Lebanese community, there could’ve been more of a reason for the film to exist. But look, it’s a commendable debut for Caradee, one that proves he’s a confident, adaptable filmmaker – one that’ll hopefully hit it out of the park next time around.

Extras

A few interesting extras on here – a handful of webisodes (fixing on the location scout, the casting – and so on), a making-of, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and a Q&A with the cast and crew – but nothing that’ll be of any real interest to those that didn’t think much of the film.