Off the Boulevard (2011) – New DVD Movie Reviews

By Justin on Tuesday, 30th August 2011

Click Here to Buy Now!

With a title like “Off the Boulevard,” it should be no surprise that this film hasn’t exactly received a lot of attention. By the very definition of its title, this is an independent documentary about independent artists. Throughout the documentary, the filmmaker will speak with a random group of people who have seen and felt the highs and the lows of the entertainment industry. Some of them have experienced more success than others, but they all seem to have the same attitude about their work. For them, it isn’t about the money or the fame, it’s about doing what they love. They won’t let anything stand in the way of their dream, even though they know very well that they may end up penniless and alone because of it. This is the plight of the true artist, as for them it is a labor of love. If it were anything else, it wouldn’t be a worthy cause to fight for. As you hear their stories, you may be surprised to find that you have more in common with them than you’d think.

Off the Boulevard features a slew of interviews with several different independent artists. Some of them are in the music industry (Nick Nicholson, Keith Jackson) and some are in the film industry (Troy Duffy, David Della Rocco). However different their goals may be, they seem to tell similar stories about the difficulties of maintaining their dreams. Rocco’s story is particularly interesting, because he played one of the most dynamic characters I had ever seen on screen in The Boondock Saints, but sadly he was never able to take his success in that film and make a career for himself. Instead, he spent the next 8 years in an apartment in Los Angeles, barely getting by. In addition to artists like him, you’ll also see a lot of shorter interviews with people who have become living legends, and their thoughts on independence in art. To put it simply, this documentary covers several different angles and still manages to tell a somewhat linear story about the lengths one must go through to do what they love.

Jeff Santo, best known for This Old Cub, his documentary about his father Ron Santo, has created another fantastic film that any dreamer should be proud to own. If you’re serious about being a part of any entertainment industry, this documentary should be required watching material. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve known who thought they could be a part of it all, only to discover that the path they took was not going to work. As Duffy says in the film, “You have to work hard in order to work.” It’s not about proving yourself to the right people, it’s about keeping the dream alive and working at it even when you think you’ve got nothing left to give. This is a documentary brought to you by the people who have lived that life, and their message to you is that it’s not as easy as you might think it is. Don’t get me wrong, nobody wants you to give up on your dreams, they just want to show you what it really takes to get what you want.

As much as I loved Off the Boulevard, I can’t exactly tell you that it was perfect. There were a few issues here and there, but overall the film is excellent. The main issue I took with this movie is that it’s not your typical documentary. As much as it follows a similar style to the typical documentary, featuring several different interviews, it doesn’t really have one specific goal in mind. Instead, what you’ll find here is a completely untethered look at the lives of the people who almost made it. Okay, so some of them have done far better than others, but they’ve all been down similar paths, and that’s the only unifying factor for this documentary. There were also some smaller issues with the documentary, but they are hardly worth mentioning. Simple mistakes such as audio problems, with background hiss present during some of the more silent scenes, only take place once or twice during the entirety of the film. It’s hard to fault something this good for something so petty, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t mention it.

Over all, this is one of those movies that you just want to share with everyone. Off the Boulevard is completely off the cuff, and presents viewers with a look at the world that they rarely get to see. It is an incredibly insightful documentary that gives dreamers the incentive to keep their dreams alive. So many young people flock to Hollywood, hoping that they’ll be able to become a movie star and make their dreams come true. This is a film that purports only to show you the reality of the situation and where you’ll most likely end up. Most of you will get there, find out that it’s harder than just showing up, and give up on your dreams. However, for those of you who are a bit more tough skinned than the rest, this movie is for you and you owe it to yourself to check it out. Off the Boulevard hasn’t been released yet, but if you’re interested you should check out the trailer below and get ready for this one to hit the streets in early September.

Final Synopsis: Off the Boulevard is a documentary that will cheer up and entertain the best of us. If you’ve ever had a dream that you just wouldn’t give up on, this is a movie you really need to check out. It’s not perfect, but it’s a pretty damn good movie.

Points Lost: -1 for being an atypical documentary without a defined purpose, -1 for audio issues/other small problems.

Lesson Learned: Starving artists are awesome.

Burning Question: So who’s the real Troy Duffy? The one his friends made to look like an asshole? Or the one who’s just trying his best to make his dreams a reality in this documentary? Hmm…

Off the Boulevard

8/10