Boulevard (2014)

Genre

Drama

Director

Dito Montiel

Country

USA

Cast

Robin Williams, Bob Odenkirk, Kathy Baker, Giles Matthey, Eleonore Hendricks, Roberto Aguire, J. Karen Thomas, Brandon Hirsch, Landon Marshall, Clay Jeffries, Yedveta, David Ditmore, Philip Trammel

Storyline

Nolan Mack (Robin Williams) has worked at the same bank for almost 26 years in a life of monotony. He and his wife Joy (Kathy Baker) have embraced their marriage as a convenient distraction from facing reality. However, one day, when he meets a troubled young man named Leo (Roberto Aguire) on his drive home, Nolan finds himself breaking from the confines of his old life and coming to terms with who he really is.

Opinion

I will not deny I sobbed after watching the trailer for the first time. I don't know if those emotions were driven by Robin Williams's recent disappearance, or by the way the scenes were put together, I only know that now that I've finally managed to watch this film, I didn't feel nothing but disappointment.

Dull and poorly executed, Boulevard isn't a great nor engaging drama, but showcases the dramatic talent of Robin Williams.

The idea of a 60-year-old gay man hiding his sexual orientation for his entire life and his inability to deal with his sexuality could have been the base for a solid film. Also the film's storyline extending past sexuality gives anyone who is not living the life they want the opportunity to relate to. Unfortunately it is all presented in a very boring way.

The believability of the characters is also questionable here. Let's start with Joy, Nolan's wife. Throughout the film several clues should have made her figure out he was gay - they even sleep in different beds for god's sake -, but when she does find out, she over-reacts and seems false. His boss. For one time in almost 26 years that Nolan is late to work, he threatens to revoke a promotion. Is Nolan supposed to be a perfect human being? I just don't know. Probably there are some other things I won't mention because I failed at being focused for the whole time.

But there he comes, Robin Williams, who kind of "lights up" the movie. With the vacant look of a man who seems tired of living, Williams gives a heartfelt performance and well portrays the anguish of those who don't know how to deal with their own nature. Noteworthy performances also from Kathy Baker as Joy, and Roberto Aguire as Leo.

I wonder if Robin Williams killed himself having realised he was trapped like Nolan. Just think about that line in the trailer when Odenkirk says "It's never too late to start living the life you really want". Maybe he realised he would never be able to do that.

Quotes

Winston: Maybe it's never too late to start living the life you really want.

Nolan Mack: I drove down a street one night. A street I didn't know. It's the way your life goes sometimes. You drive down this one... then another. And now... another.