On Demand Weekly

On Demand Weekly provides new movie reviews of hot movies on demand and from the POV of watching from the comfort of your home. Today’s review:  SALVATION BOULEVARD (IFC)

Can Pierce Brosnan Save SALVATION BOULEVARD?
By Chris Claro

George Ratliff’s SALVATION BOULEVARD is a madcap, scattershot comedy that makes a block party of the hypocrisy-filled confluence of big business and big religion. Starring Pierce Brosnan as a charismatic preacher who believes only in himself, Jennifer Connelly as a parishioner who believes too much, Ed Harris as a writer who believes nothing, Greg Kinnear as a guy who doesn’t know what to believe, and Marisa Tomei as a Deadhead who doesn’t remember what she believes, SALVATION BOULEVARD has star power to burn.

With strong supporting turns from Ciaran Hinds (ROME) as Connelly’s skeptical father, and Jim Gaffigan (AWAY WE GO) as Brosnan’s lackey, Ratliff’s film avoids cheap shots at religion in favor of a “Wrong Man” scenario that sends Kinnear pinballing hither and yon to clear himself of a murder rap.

With a cast like that, you can’t go wrong, right? Well, no. Some of the biggest comedy bombs of all time have had a Murderers’ Row of stars that couldn’t save them. Look at the runaway train that was TOWN AND COUNTRY, with Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn, and Garry Shandling. Or check out Shandling’s own Mike Nichols-directed debacle, WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM, which featured the aforementioned Kinnear as well as Annette Bening, John Goodman, and Ben Kingsley. As these titles and other prove, despite able casting, comedy can’t fly without a serviceable script.

So it is with SALVATION BOULEVARD. Taking its title – and little else – from the novel by Larry Beinhart, who also authored WAG THE DOG, the film’s preposterousness is trying. When Carl Vanderveer (Kinnear) sees Brosnan’s Pastor Dan Day shoot atheist Paul Blaylock, (Harris), it clumsily triggers a schematic narrative that puts Carl on the road to clearing his name and questioning his faith.

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By Britt Bensen

Movies On Demand Premiering This Week (January 16, 2012)

- THE IDES OF MARCH
- BUCKY LARSON: BORN TO BE A STAR

THE IDES OF MARCH – Premieres January 17

Might I interest you in a film written, directed and starring George Clooney? Okay, so Clooney isn't the lead (he is in that other movie getting Oscar buzz not on demand yet), but just look at the rest of the cast: Ryan Gosling, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood. The once up-and-comer Ryan Gosling, is now a leading man. He's in interesting films, if not box office bofo (DRIVE, BLUE VALENTINE) and who doesn't love a political thriller. Hoffman and Giamatti are perfectly cast as rival campaign managers. I'd watch a series based on their two characters and the sleeze they would bring to office every four years. Hello HBO, Showtime, AMC? Kudos to whoever brought them on board. Unfortunately they're never on the screen at the same time. But they use the other characters to carry out their needs on the campaign trail.

I'm not crazy about the actual plot IDES revolves around. It missed the opportunity to be an iconic political film with this stellar cast. Clooney includes some impressionable dialogue as potentially pragmatic politician, but his actions belie a more scandalous, manipulative persona. It leaves you less enamored with an idealogue you would want to believe in. A notion we're all too familair with in real life. An idea that refutes any hope for change.

The unfortunate storyline aside, IDES is well acted and worth a rental to just watch these superb actors.
Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
R, Drama

Same day as DVD.

BUCKY LARSON: BORN TO BE A STAR – Premieres January 17

Adam Sandler continues to astound with the movies he produces. GROWN UPS. JUST GO WITH IT. ZOOKEEPER. JACK AND JILL. And now BUCKY LARSON. Your movie demanding privileges should be revoked if you rent this.
Nick Swardson, Christina Ricci
R, Comedy

Same day as DVD

*Title dates and availability may vary by system. HD not available in all systems.

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The Week's Top 10 Movies On Demand

- Britt Bensen