Robin Williams' final onscreen performance is not a comedic one. In fact, it's a very restrained dramatic role in a new indie flick "Boulevard." Time Warner Cable News’ film critic Neil Rosen filed the following review.
Williams plays Nolan, a longtime, loyal bank employee who has been married for many years to a kind, undemanding woman named Joy, played by Kathy Baker. At 60 years old, life for Nolan has become a series of orderly, but dull routines. While driving home one night after visiting his ailing father, Nolan changes his route and winds up on a seamy street. It is there that he picks up a young male prostitute named Leo. For the first time in many decades, Nolan awakens long-suppressed urges. He begins to realize that he has been living a lie his entire life, and throughout the film, he tries to come to terms with the fact that he is gay.
Nolan pays to see Leo on a regular basis, but their encounters are not of sexual nature. Nolan just wants companionship, and over the course of the film, he gets entangled in Leo's dangerous world. As he confronts who he really is, Nolan tries to figure out if he can really change his entire life around at such a late age.
Director Dito Montiel and writer Douglas Soesbe have a crafted a slow-paced film that's maybe a bit too lethargic at times. We have seen this topic tackled before in other films, so there is nothing that revelatory plot wise. However, what makes this film worth seeing are the performances.
Bob Odenkirk as his best friend is quite good. Roberto Aquire is excellent as Leo, and Williams' scenes with both him and Kathy Baker - who also truly shines - are superb.
But it's William's who steals the show. For his final role, his finely nuanced turn here is both believable and memorable. It reminded me of how just good this Oscar winning actor could be when he shed himself, on screen, of his unique comedic gifts. He is certainly missed.
Neil Rosen’s Big Apple Rating:
Two and a Half Apples