Boulevard (2014) User Reviews

Courageous effort from Williams

[jb_campo · 6/10 · 10 September 2015]

I liked this final Robin Williams film mostly because it shows how great an actor he really was. Williams stars as Nolan, a very nice, kind, sweet, unassuming 60 year old gentleman, who happens to be gay, but has kept himself in the closet for 50 years. His performance exudes happy frustration with his very being, making you wonder what really goes on behind the closed doors in his mind and home. How many stories in real life, Williams own included, have shown you seemingly happy people on the outside who, on the inside, can't take life anymore.

Nolan has reached this point by doing what was expected of him. He has worked in the same bank for 25 years. He lives with his wife Joy (Kathy Baker) whom he loves, but they don't do much other than have dinner and brief words. There is no intimacy, it seems they have never shared the same bed - no children. Obviously his wife must have known the truth. It makes me wonder why this issue never came to a flashpoint earlier.

This boring, risk-free life takes a change when Williams decides to chat up a male prostitute Leo (Roberto Aguirre) when he drives home past this known prostitute bridge. Why he chose this kid, it's never clear. Maybe he was thinking he could help this kid, who apparently used drugs, so maybe not a good choice, to lead a nice, happy, openly gay life. It's never clear.

The story goes on, a bit slowly, and Williams has to start building a web of lies to cover his contact with Leo. The consequences you might imagine are inevitable, but the ending offers you hope that, at least for Leo and Joy, perhaps things are working out for the best.

This is not a masterpiece, nor a must-see, but since we know it is William's last performance, you should see this performance that will remind you how great an actor we have lost. Now go out and rent Good Will Hunting or Good Morning Vietnam or Dead Poet's Society!!! Enjoy.

A heart wrenching story about being honest with oneself

[Lowbacca1977 · 6/10 · 26 April 2014]

Robin Williams takes on another serious role here as Nolan, and he does another good job in playing a serious role like this and handling a lot of raw emotions that really diverge from the image of Robin Williams in the role of comedy, although there's certainly some humour he brings to some scenes.

Really though, the film tackles a very somber and difficult topic as Nolan, long since married, takes a sudden leap into trying to acknowledge his homosexuality when he picks up a young guy off the street, paying him just to spend time with him. The idea of someone in a marriage having an affair usually is linked with boredom or disinterest, or some sort of deficiency present. What makes this powerful is that there is no deficiency in the marriage, it's simply something that Nolan can't choose to be. There is love between him and his wife, but they seem to be different loves.

To an extent, I found the film difficult to watch, particularly the scenes with Leo, the young man that Nolan develops an infatuation with, but part of the power of the film are those scenes, the awkwardness and uncertainty that Williams brings to Nolan, and the overpowering feeling that he's not sure how to accept what it is he wants. It's a very different sort of story than what I've seen of dealing with someone being gay, but it's strongly shown that it is a story that deserves telling.

Most poignant about the film, for me, wasn't the film itself so much as what was discussed during the Q&A, and an unusual coincidence that happened during the shooting of the film. One of the filming locations belonged to a couple that had been married for decades, but where the husband came out only a few years prior to being contacted by a location scout. That just adds something powerful to it for me, perhaps just as it really added to the sincerity of the film to have someone stand up and say that the heart-wrenching and painful scenes in the film can be very real, but that the underlying love, even if not quite romantic, is also very real.

I did find the film dragged, and there was a slow agony to it, somewhat like slowly removing a band-aid, so while I think the core of it is a very powerful set of emotions, as a film I was less impressed, and that as a film it was solid, but not stand out.

A Final Bow

[soncoman · 7/10 · 9 July 2015]

It's been nearly a year since we lost Robin Williams to a long-standing bout of depression that eventually led to his suicide. This led to an enormous outcry of grief all over the celebrity and social media world from those who had grown up on his movies, television and standup and caused many to reflect on this talent that we had perhaps taken for granted. No one can deny that his movies weren't always diamonds, but his work in them was almost always admirable and memorable. The fact that he spent the last couple of years of his life giving great performances in terrible little-seen direct to VOD films ("The Angriest Man In Brooklyn", "A Merry Friggin' Christmas"), with the occasional cameo in something truly awful ("The Big Wedding"), is a rather tragic thought. But fortunately, with Dito Montiel's newly released film Boulevard, Williams goes out strong, if not quite on top. Williams plays Nolan, a man who's stuck in your typical indie-film marriage, i.e. loveless. He's friendly and cordial with his wife, but is clearly missing something vital. One night he's driving home and spots a group of gay hookers on the sidewalk and after nearly accidentally running one over, he befriends him and starts to confront his closeted homosexuality. He gets advice from his friend Winston, played by Bob Odenkirk, who brings all the levity and spontaneity that you'd hope for from the guy who plays Saul Goodman in a role that could have felt a tad superfluous. He's clearly only in the movie to give Nolan a person off which to bounce his thoughts, but with an actor like Odenkirk in the role, it's hard to complain about such matters. If you feel like you've seen this film before, you probably have. We've seen this suburbia set-up many times over the last couple of decades, so when a film goes for this, you really have to count on strong performances and interesting surprises to make it worth your while. Thanks to Williams' tender, vulnerable, aching performance, the film always stays on the side of watchable, and often fascinating. An electronic synthesizer score often tends to call too much attention to itself and distract from the fine performances by not just Williams, but also Roberto Aguire as Leo, the young man whom Nolan befriends. Fortunately though, once the film firmly establishes what it's about, such distracting little director quirks either ceased altogether, or just stopped bothering me. Certainly for someone like me, a huge fan of his work, it's impossible to watch Williams play such a sad, morose character and not be reminded of what happened shortly after this film was finished. It's just unavoidable. But thankfully, that would just be me reading too much into the story. The man was an actor, and an excellent one at that. Remove all of the comedies from his resume, and you're still left with one of the most impressive collections of dramatic performances in recent memory. This film is no exception. Every time he smiles to avoid confronting the pain and confusion that Nolan feels so strongly, we don't question him in the slightest bit. When we see him look at Leo with his expression of sorrow and pity, it's impossible not to feel right there with him. It may not be best film of Williams' career, and it's a real shame that he never experienced the ultra renaissance that I'm sure was on the horizon for him, but as a film for an actor of this stature to go out on, he could have done much worse than "Boulevard". Grade: B

An incredibly gripping final performance in an average movie

[stephendaxter · 7/10 · 20 August 2015]

Boulevard stars the late Robin Williams and is the last on screen acting performance we will ever get to see of the man who changed so many peoples lives through his amazing performances in films. And this performance is no different, it is a different type of role, a very dramatic role and i have to say he has left us with one of the best performances of his long and incredible career. Boulevard may not be a fantastic movie but Robin Williams showed in every scene why he was one of the greatest of his generation. He manages to portray this character who is so kind and giving but at the same time conflicted with feelings that he holds to himself so amazingly that you cannot look away from the screen. And with such a small cast he shines as he carries the film from start to finish making you feel so many different emotions at the same time for this incredibly fascinating character. The small supporting cast were all great and all contributed to really understanding Robin's character and why he acts the way he does throughout the film. I speak a lot about Robin's performance when talking about this film because it really is the best thing about the movie and apart from a few other aspects the movie wasn't as fantastic as it could have been.

Another thing i thought was so incredibly interesting about this movie is that it deals with many different themes and ideas that you don't see often in mainstream movies. It highlights certain topics in American society and although it isn't the most accurate representation of these topics it does it's best not to sugarcoat what is happening and that really helped staying engaged in the film. The movie also takes on a very, very slow pace and i understand that the movie needed to have this pace in order to properly share this mans story but without the performance mentioned above driving the film it would not have been nearly as good. The movie has plenty of very slow emotional moments that almost bring you to tears but it also get fairly dark and intense and although the two tones could have been balanced better throughout the film i found myself on the edge of my seat most of the time. The last 10-15 minutes of the movie seemed to fly by and some of what it showed i thought was very relevant to concluding the story but some other things i felt were unjustly concluded, i guess i wanted a little more in the end but it was an alright finale.

In the end, Robin Williams is the reason to watch this movie because not only was it one of his last but it was one of his best and was a truly emotional performance. The film itself was somewhat engaging but a lot of what was wrong with the film was hidden behind Robin's great performance. - 6.5

Very poetic that this is the final Robin Williams movie. It's almost his way of telling us how he was dealing with his problems.

[cosmo_tiger · 7/10 · 31 August 2015]

"Sometimes it's nice to be somewhere else." Nolan (Williams) has a great wife and a huge promotion coming at his job. He has everything going for him, but he has been keeping a secret from everyone his whole life. When he meets Leo (Aguire) he finally finds a way to be himself, but he still struggles with revealing himself. There are some movies that are made better by casting choices. There are some things that a person is the perfect choice for and you can't imagine watching it without them (Gandolfini in the Sopranos). This movie is the rare combination of those plus real world events that makes the movie actually transcend the screen and makes it feel more real and it has that much more of an impact. In this movie Robin Williams plays a character that struggle with something that he has to keep hidden from everyone while trying to be who they want him to be. The fact that he himself was trying to hide depression from everyone while trying to still be "Robin Williams" really adds an extra dimension to the character and makes the movie all the more emotional. The movie itself if just OK, but the real world events are really what makes this a movie to watch. Overall, very poetic that this is the final live action Robin Williams movie. It is almost his way of telling us how he was dealing with his problems. For that reason I recommend this. I give this a B+.

An Uneven Average Film That Is Most Notable For Being One of Robin Williams Last Performances

[comicman117 · 5/10 · 30 August 2015]

Boulevard is not a particularly great movie, and suffers from its utter generic-ness and lack of ambition. The absolute best thing I can say about the film, however, is it contains one of Robin Williams's last acting performances, and in spite of such an average picture, he manages to turn in a fine, very restrained, dramatic performance. The kind we had come to expect from Williams.

The set-up of the story is simple. A bank clerk, named Nolan (played by Robin Williams, lives a pretty standard life. He and his wife (played by Kathy Baker) have set-up their marriage as a way to distract themselves from the outside world. All of this changes one night while driving. Nolan encounters a troubled young man, named Leo (played by Roberto Aguire), and his entire life changes, as he comes to embrace who he really is, and even his own sexuality.

Boulevard is a pretty atypical film. It's well directed by Dito Montiel (who also made Guide To Recognizing Your Saints) and the script is okay, even having some genuine laughs in it. The performances all around, not just Williams, are fine, including Kathy Baker as his wife, Roberto Acquire as the troubled youth he befriends and Bob Odenkirk in a small role as one of his accomplices and friend named Winston. It's really Robin Williams who shines through though. This may not be one of his absolute best performances, but for being one of his final roles, it isn't a bad role either. Williams isn't being manically over the top (overly dramatic) in this film. He's showing the level of restraint that he's usually showed in some of his best roles like Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society. For example, when he confronts his wife after missing dinner, instead of screaming and hollering, he tries to calm her down, and is very resourceful as playing it cool.

Boulevard is a rather short film with less than 90 minutes. The director clearly has skill in making a competent picture, but aside from Williams's performance, I wasn't drawn into much of the story. For being one of Robin Williams's last performances, it does make me sad, but either way, it was a good role for him to go out on.

Hmmm...

[fil-nik09 · 7/10 · 24 August 2015]

The fact that it is / was the last film of Williams add something to the viewing itself. I am not completely familiar with his death, so I can not really say how - maybe - this movie fits into his last months of life...But I can see that some stories can unfold something deeply hidden in someone and make an explosion.

This is a good drama. Williams is very believable in his role. It does feel genuine and somehow fits him good.

Someone wrote that the film is predictable.Well, for me, at least, I did not see that kind of an ending. I am not sure if I expected a happy ending with the boy, but... I am happy that my predictions ( whatever they were) did not come true.

Somehow, the slow pace of the movie and kinda darker colors / cinematography reminded me of the 60's and 70's and that added something moody, melancholic to the movie which I liked.

Seven from me.

An engaging story

[Gordon-11 · 22 August 2015]

This film tells the story of a seemingly happy sixty year old man, with a decent job and a lovely wife. A random encounter makes him reevaluate his life priorities, and he decides to shred his lies and lives the life he really wants.

As one of Robin Williams' final films, I'm so glad that "Boulevard" shines in just about every aspect, namely Robin Williams' performance, the plot and the brilliant production. The story is subtle but perfectly portrays the complex psychological battle that Nolan goes through. He's a man who is lonely, and yet he seeks attention from the wrong person, as in a person whose love is for rent. The final showdown between Nolan and Joy is very touching, because I feel for both Nolan and Joy.

"Boulevard" tells a very engaging story about a man finally coming to terms with his inner turmoil. I hope more people will have a chance to watch it, because Nolan's story is actually not uncommon in real life.

Disappointing

[madamezelda · 3/10 · 1 January 2016]

Very odd for a Robin Williams film. Great acting but completely lacking in story. I wanted very much to like this film. I really wish I had something nicer to say. Fortunately, I just watched it on cable so all I lost was my time.

The acting was so painfully superb that I could personally feel the loneliness, awkwardness and despair the characters experienced throughout the movie. Now that it's over, all I feel is the need to warn others about this movie.

The suspense factor gets an honorable mention as it did keep me watching until the end of the film.

Robin Williams nice job

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 27 March 2016]

Nolan Mack (Robin Williams) is a stiff banker married to Joy (Kathy Baker). They seem devoted but he's been a closeted homosexual for all of his adult life. His father is in a nursing home. His best friend Winston (Bob Odenkirk) has a young girlfriend. He is being primed to be the manager of a new bank branch. One night, he cruises a boulevard and runs over male-prostitute Leo. He tries to take care of Leo who is under the thumb of his pimp Eddie.

Robin Williams does a good job. There is a neediness in Nolan that is both off-putting and compelling. The story is almost quaint by today's standard. The problem is that he could come out to everybody and there wouldn't be any damage. Times have basically passed by this movie. Ten years ago, this would be edgy. Today, his homosexuality could actually help in his banking job. It would probably be a relief to Joy to let the secret out into the open and Winston would throw him a party.

A missed opportunity

[MOscarbradley · 4/10 · 1 January 2017]

Robin Williams could do serious as well as funny, and brilliantly too, so long as the role was creepy, (see "Insomnia" and "One Hour Photo"). In one of his last films, "Boulevard" he played a closeted gay man in his early sixties who falls for a young hustler. There are no laughs here and the only thing creepy about Robin was seeing him underplay to the point where he seemed to be stopping in mid-sentence. This is certainly no "Good Morning, Vietnam".

Robin may have been a great comic and a fine actor with the right material but whether it was miscasting or just a lack of enthusiasm there is no real engagement with his character here and even at under 90 minutes, the movie drags. It's the kind of film that feels well-intentioned if a tad pretentious, existing in its own precious little bubble and one that is poised to burst. A good supporting cast, (Kathy Baker, "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul's" Bob Odenkirk), are largely wasted.

'People leave, you know? But for some people, it just doesn't seem fair.'

[gradyharp · 10/10 · 5 September 2015]

BOULEVARD will always remain a remarkable film despite the fat that it did so poorly in the theaters. Written by Douglas Soesbe and directed with immense subtlety by Dito Montiel, this film is a fitting tribute to one of America's greatest comedians, the star Robert Williams who offers a performance that echoes the lives of many men who elect to lead their lives as gay men in the closet for whatever reason. Williams was 63 years old when he died of apparent suicide following a long struggle with depression and this, his last film, is dedicated to this memory.

Nolan Mack (Robin Williams in a performance so understated that it makes us forget during the film that he was one of the funniest crazies in the comedian arena) is 60, quietly married to an independent Joy Mack (Kathy Baker), quietly working in the same desk in the same back for years, tending his dying father, up for promotion as a bank manager, who turns down a wrong boulevard one evening – a street for hustlers and prostitutes and almost inadvertently picks up a young hustler Leo (Roberto Acquire) and begins a 'relationship' with him, supporting him financially and with attempts to find work for him, but never having a physically consummated act – just being in the hustler's presence is enough. We discover that Nolan is gay and has known since he was twelve but elected to never acted out on it. He has a close friend Winston (an Excellent Bob Odenkirk) with whom he communicates but never admits to anyone except his barely conscious father that he is gay. How he deals with his new discovery of the life for which he has yearned is the manner in which the film plays out – his confession to Joy, the rejection by Leo who has his own interpersonal relationship issues and flaws (a very impressive bit of writing that shows the insecurities of a hustler's mindset), and the trauma that finally exposes his real identity makes for a deeply moving though very quiet story.

The film, in retrospect, seems an homage to the other side of the comedy mask Robin Williams wore. In many ways it is his Ave Atque Vale. Sensitive, subtle, deep, and heart- wrenchingly real, it is a fine yet sad way to say goodbye to Robin Williams.

Dramatic bow from Robin Williams is interesting if minor character study in a low key

[moonspinner55 · 6/10 · 14 October 2015]

Robin Williams' final dramatic performance before his untimely death is an odd choice for the actor. Repressed 60-year-old gay man, married but living with his wife as if she were his sister, finds himself at a crossroads in his life when he finally decides to act upon his suppressed desire to have an intimate male friend. Williams picks up a young man who cruises the city streets, yet he is so closeted that he's afraid to touch him; turns out the boy is just as troubled and unhappy, and owes money to a drug-dealer. Tasteful, austere character study sort of bubbles under the surface until a last-act confrontation between Williams and wife Kathy Baker, which is extremely well-done. The characters are held at a distance from us, and the whole movie is set in a very low key, so the finale isn't as moving as it might have been. Still, the quiet but unsettling tone of the piece sticks with one, and the film has more resonance after you've thought it over rather than while watching it. **1/2 from ****

Disappointing!

[KeepYourGoodHeart · 4/10 · 16 October 2016]

As a big fan of the late Robin Williams, I didn't even hesitate to pick up this film when I saw him on the cover. Unfortunately I was very disappointed by the plot line. It builds slowly as Nolan begins to take care in some way of a destitute young man named Leo but it ultimately goes nowhere. There is very little action, very little intensity and I ended up being bored.

On a positive note though, the acting was great by both Williams and the others. Their roles didn't seem fake or forced, but the backstory left me feeling as though I should've skipped this movie. It wasn't the worst I've ever seen but it's not one I would recommend.

His Dramatic Swan Song

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 9 July 2015]

Greetings again from the darkness. The tragic death of Robin Williams last year left a void in the world of comedy, and his absence is also felt on the big screen where his dramatic skills were often under-appreciated. His final non-comedic role comes courtesy of a film that is probably not worthy of his talents, but leaves us with a reminder of what a skilled actor he was.

The premise feels at once a bit dated and also timely. Williams plays Nolan, a 60 year old man who works at his comfortable bank job (of 26 years), goes home each day to his comfortable suburban home, to a comfortable marriage to his wife (Kathy Baker) with whom he no longer shares a bed or much of anything else. He also periodically stops off to put a straw in the ginger ale for his near comatose father with whom he has never had much of a relationship. His entire life is a façade of comfort and life lived well enough.

"Are you happy?" That seemingly odd and innocent question from his boss sets Nolan off on a path of awakening. It turns out that since he was 12 years old, Nolan has suppressed his true identity as a gay man. A spontaneous u-turn on the titular Boulevard sends Nolan on a collision path with Leo (Roberto Aguire), a young male prostitute with whom he quickly bonds … through only talking and self-identification.

It's this awakening that brings a level of modern-timeliness as Nolan's story is not so different from that of Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner who has dominated the recent media with the late-in-life shift in persona. They are sixty-plus year old men who have evidently each lived a lie for much of their lives. It's difficult for many of us to relate to, but clearly it's a real thing, and director Dito Montiel and writer Douglas Soesbe capitalize.

The best and most uncomfortable scenes occur with Ms. Baker and Mr. Williams avoiding the issue through years of practice, and also the scenes with Mr. Williams and Bob Odenkirk who plays his long-time friend and confidant. These are three strong actors who work well with each other.

There is really nothing wrong with the film … it's slow pace designed to match that of Nolan's life … but the Nolan and Leo segment just never clicked, leaving me struggling with a third of the story. It's about a man who is totally not comfortable in his own skin, and lives a somber and unfulfilled life right up until the point where he takes a leap. It's not that he takes a leap, but rather the specific leap he takes that just didn't click for me. Still, it's a performance from Williams that is worth watching – in fact, must be watched if you are a Robin Williams fan.

it's robin williams...check it out!

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 6 February 2022]

Robin williams is nolan, married man. But he keeps secrets from his wife joy (kathy baker). One of his secrets is the young guy he picks up downtown; co-stars bob odenkirk, roberto aguirre. When he starts coming home late, his wife is onto him... she has questions, but doesn't push it. Nolan and the guy he meets just talk. But when it starts interfering with his work and his home life, we know its going to all blow up at some point. There's a lot of drama that comes with the hustler. And his wife is just as much in denial as nolan has been all these years. Very well done. Directed by dito montiel. Story by douglas soesbe.

A love story where sex is not a consideration.

[TxMike · 5 September 2019]

I watched this as a streaming movie on Amazon. Good movie for the patient, it is very likely Williams' last movie role, filmed just a bit over a year before he took his own life.

Robin Williams is Nashville banker Nolan Mack, 60, and long time married to the woman he loves. He is very organized and reliable, and in fact watches over his very sick dad who is in a medical facility. His boss at work tells him, after 25 years at that branch, the big boss is considering him for a branch manager job at a different location.

But he has been carrying a secret since he was 12, in his own nature he is homosexual. As we meet him he and his wife have different bedrooms in their nice upper-middle class home, they show kind affection and profess love for each other but mostly live two separate lives. They talk about going on a cruise but his heart doesn't seem to be in it.

Everything changes for Nolan when he makes a U-turn on the boulevard on his way from home and almost runs over a young man, a street hustler. Nolan is mysteriously and calmly attracted to him. They end up going to a seedy place, the hustler offers sex for money but Nolan isn't interested in that, he just wants to visit and talk. Eventually Nolan attempts to get the young man some work at a restaurant, and discussed his going to school, all in vain. Is Nolan trying to be the father that he had needed when he was a young man, struggling with his own homosexuality?

Williams is great in a difficult role within a difficult subject. His character here reminded me some of his character "Sy the photo guy" in "One Hour Photo". Robin Williams was a very funny guy but I think he did his best work in dramatic roles. He really was one of the best actors of my generation.

Plodding

[wdw_68 · 2/10 · 20 April 2019]

I like Robin Williams but this movie was slow, plodding, flat. A family member had bought it and I felt obliged to watch it. Waste of money and time. You couldn't pay me to watch it again.

Melancholy Movie with a Gentle and Low-Key Robin Williams

[LeonLouisRicci · 7/10 · 18 September 2015]

It Seems as though Robin Williams didn't do much to Hide His Personal Pain in His Last Dramatic Role. Either that or it's Reading Too Much into the Fact that Shortly After Completing this Film, He Apparently Committed Suicide due to a Lifetime Battle with Severe Depression.

It is the Story of a Gay Man who has Hidden His Homosexuality all His Life and at Age 60 Finds Himself Unable to do so anymore. Married with a Good but Thankless Job as a Bank Employee and a Compatible Wife With Whom He Loves and Relates, He is obviously quietly Hiding His Frustrations.

After meeting and Falling "In Love" with a Younger Gay Hustler, His Life is Forced from its Seclusion. The Film is a Melancholy Character Study that seems a bit One Note and is Hardly Exploratory Beyond the Obvious.

There are a few Poignant and Heartfelt Scenes, like when He comes to the Defense of His Friend with Great Peril to Himself, and His Interactions with His Wife who will Ultimately Bare the Brunt of Williams Life Changing Events.

Overall, a Low-Key Drama that Breaks No New Ground, but might be Seen as a Metaphor for the Recent Supreme Court Decision that Unleashed the Homosexual Community from an Eternal Struggle for Acceptance.

The Cast is Excellent but the Material is just too Familiar and Pedestrian to make this anything more than a Good Role for the Actor/Comedian and He Delivers one of His Most Restrained and Gentle Performances.

R.I.P….Robin Williams

Calculated and predictable

[ccorral419 · 5/10 · 9 July 2015]

Director Dito Montiel ("A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" and lead singer for "Gutterboy") joins forces with Writer Douglas Soesbe to present what ended up being Robin Williams' final on screen performance. Based roughly on Soesbe's own coming out story, the overall film is unfortunately calculated and predictable. The major cast members (relative newcomer Robert Aguire "Struck By Lighting" and the usually wonderful Kathy Baker " Picket Fences') all wear their wounded hearts on their sleeves, leaving little for the audience to root for and/or feel concerned amount. Luckily, Bob Odenkirk "Breaking Bad" adds a little self-absorbed heart-felt comedic relief. The blame here lies in the hands of the Director, Writer and Cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung. Look for this film to be over hyped, due to Williams' recent death, then fade away.

A quiet and simple film that showcasing the dramatic talents of Williams

[stinadianne · 7/10 · 18 July 2015]

The late Robin Williams was known throughout his colorful career for playing loud and bombastic characters: Mrs. Doubtfire, Armand Goldman of Birdcage, Mork of Mork and Mindy to name a few. Ironically, Williams' last role on screen before he left us was of a quiet and mild-mannered man in the film Boulevard.

Nolan Mack is a very simple man. He works at a bank and has been married to his wife, Joy, for many years. They have an easy-loving chemistry together, but they sleep in separate rooms. One night when driving home from visiting his father, who is dying in a nursing home, Nolan makes a U-turn onto a street lined with prostitutes. After Nolan almost hits a male prostitute with his car, he offers to give him a ride. From there he begins a journey towards realizing that he needs to be true to himself and live the life he wants.

Williams does some amazingly layered work here as Nolan. Early in the film he says that he has a fear of "hurting people"; this may be the reason he denied his true nature for so long. Williams does a wonderful job in showing you a man desperate to be his true self but blocked by the comfortable life he has built around him. His relationship with Leo, the prostitute, is almost wholly one of emotional affection- they never have sex. Nolan simply wants to care for Leo, as he does his wife and his father. It is only when Nolan realizes that he must live for himself and not only for others that he truly opens up and starts finally being who he really is.

Boulevard, like Nolan, is a quiet and simple film that showcases the wonderful dramatic talents of Robin Williams. It may go down as "Robin's Last Film," but it also sends a message that you are never too old and that it's never too late to live the life you want. To find your happiness.

Thank you Robin, you are and will be forever missed.

• See more at: http://www.mediumraretv.org/review/boulevard/#sthash.4YJebJGw.dpuf

Not Williams best work. 3/10

[leonblackwood · 3/10 · 19 October 2016]

Review: I am used to seeing Robin Williams being a comic genius in his movies but in this film, there isn't a touch of comedy at all. He plays a happily married man called Nolan Mack, who has worked in a bank for many years, and is due for a promotion, to run his own branch. One night when he is driving home, he picks up at male, street prostitute, Leo (Roberto Aguire), and after spending one night with the teenager, he soon becomes his regular pick up. Nolan ends up falling for Leo, and whilst constantly lying to his wife, Joy (Kathy Baker), about his whereabouts, he spends various nights in a hotel with Leo. When Leo's pimp, Eddie (Giles Matthey) starts to demand money from his worker, Leo turns to Nolan for the money, which he reluctantly gives him. The relationship soon turns sour once Nolan realises that he has been used by Leo, which costs him his job and his relationship with his wife. The movie seemed very basic, with average performances from the cast but there are some emotional scenes. Williams seemed a bit out of his comfort zone, mainly because he was restricted in many ways but it was good to see that he could cover different genres, and still put in a decent performance. The main problem that I found with the movie was that it was very slow and it seemed more depressing than entertaining. It would have been nice to see Williams final movie being a comedy, because he is known for his brilliant sense of humour and quick wit jokes, which is why I think this film failed at the box office. Disappointing!

Round-Up: This movie was directed by Dito Montiel, 51, who brought you. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints in 2006, Fighting, The Son Of No One, Empire State and Man Down. He certainly has worked with some A-list actors, like Al Pacino, Robert Downey Jr., The Rock and Channing Tatum but all of his movies have been mediocre. This film felt more like a TV movie, in my opinion, and I personally think that there wasn't enough elements to keep the movie interesting. People didn't really flock to the cinema when this movie was released, which was surprising after his sad passing in August 2014. I'm glad that he will be remembered for his comedy, and the fact that he made everyone around the world laugh, at some point in there life.

Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $128,000

I recommend this movie to people who are into their dramas, starring Robin Williams, Kathy Baker, Roberto Aguire, Giles Matthey, Eleonore Hendricks and Bob Odenkirk. 3/10

Robin Williams Mesmerises In His Final Dramatic Role!

[namashi_1 · 10/10 · 25 August 2015]

The Late/Great Robin Williams delivers a dramatic, challenging & ultimately mesmerizing performance in 'Boulevard'. The acting legend, who we tragically lost a year ago, makes us remember once again that he was an actor, who had the range that a very few do.

'Boulevard' Synopsis: A devoted husband in a marriage of convenience is forced to confront his secret life.

'Boulevard' works well as a film too. Its definitely depressing, but there are some confounding moments here too. Its slow-paced for sure, but watching the protagonist's struggle with his sexuality & life, holds your attention. You feel for him & Williams's performance anchors the show.

Douglas Soesbe's Screenplay is quite good. Even the dialogue, are natural. Dito Montiel's Direction is skilled. Cinematography is competently done. Editing is well-done.

Performance-Wise: Its Williams all the way. But even the supporting cast deliver incredibly. Kathy Baker is nothing short of astonishing in her portrayal of Williams's long-suffering wife. Her subtlety leaves you heartbroken. Bob Odenkirk is in good form too. Roberto Aguire is a revelation. He enacts a rather difficult part, with remarkable understanding.

On the whole, 'Boulevard' is a compelling watch, with a towering performance by Williams.

Definitely an Underrated Film

[dcarsonhagy · 7/10 · 5 October 2015]

Until I saw a preview for this film (On Demand), I did not even know it existed. When I saw it starred Robin Williams (in his last role), I knew I had to see it. I was very glad that I did.

"Boulevard" is a tale of a very desperate man, Nolan (played extremely well by Robin Williams). Nolan is a man trapped in his own personal hell. Involved in a marriage of convenience--whose, I'll let you find out--and dealing with his own personal demons, Nolan feels there is no life to live in his world; no passion, no happiness, but most of all, no love. Through the course of the film, you find he has just recently dealt with the death of his mother, and he now finds himself the "dutiful son," dealing with his father who is now confined to a nursing home. Nolan is so unhappy, he cannot even fathom a new start for him when his bank manager tells him he has recommended him for a promotion. And then one evening, Nolan makes a u-turn on the "boulevard" where he meets Leo (played by Roberto Acquire).

I am surprised more people did not know about this movie, nor have a chance to see it. I did not feel, as it seems most people do, the movie was a "downer." In fact, I felt just the opposite. The movie was uplifting for me because it shows even in the worst possible circumstances, we CAN find a way to survive.

Kathy Baker is simply superb as Williams' wife, Joy. It is almost ironic her name is joy when there is so little of that in her life. It was almost a complete surprise when I came to realize exactly what her life entailed.

Very tightly directed by Dito Montel, I think we've all been on that boulevard in some form or fashion. I recommend this one. Rated R for language and adult situations.

Dreary talkie...

[paulclaassen · 2/10 · 7 December 2018]

Ok, I'm just gonna blurt it out: I didn't like it. Not one bit. This is a perfect example of what one should NOT do, given the main character's situation. Note I said 'main character' and not protagonist, because he didn't come across as a protagonist hurting his wife the way he did.

I understand, the film is aimed at ageing guys living a closeted life and wanting to be free. To throw that closet door wide open (finally) saying 'here I am, this is me'. There's a reason why I don't really enjoy gay-themed films and this is a perfect example. Too many of them are dreary where silly situations arise and characters do the stupidest things. I can go on and on about how the film annoyed me, but I'll rest my case in saying I did not enjoy it and I certainly did not like the outcome. Good for the main character for finally taking the plunge, but I still didn't like it.

Robin Williams gives a very good dramatic performance. He is a very good actor and still one of my favorite actors of all time. Credit to Kathy Baker, as well, who played his wife. She was very good.