Boulevard

There's some nice cinematography and atmosphere. The film makes you feel the cold of the Toronto streets where the prostitutes ply their trade. It has a nice streets of the city, Scorsese "Taxi Driver" atmosphere.

Unfortunately the characters, despite some nice acting by the cast, are pretty one dimensional. They are constantly doing things that are required by the script, but make no sense. For example, why does the lead character Jennifer stand freezing on a street after arriving in Toronto instead of getting help? Why does she go with a pimp (Lou Diamond Philips) who she has seen abusing women, including her best friend, Ola. Why does her best friend, Ola, befriend the prostitutes on the street, but not report the pimp to the police when he kills a prostitute? Why does the pimp kill the prostitute? Why does the cop threaten to kill the pimp whom he knows is a murderer, but does not arrest him? Why does a ticket seller for Greyhound tell a psychotic looking boyfriend which bus she has taken, when he can just say, "I don't remember." The answer is that they are following a script that makes them all look stupid at every turn.

The movie's solution to the prostitution problems it raises is simple. Prostitutes and abused girlfriends should get guns and kill their tormentors. Police should just turn a blind eye when this happens.

Three stars for the cinematography and acting. Zero for everything else.

Boulevard (1994) is a Canadian film 🇨🇦 that I recently watched on Tubi. The storyline follows an abused woman with no family, forced to live on the streets. A prostitute takes her in and offers her a place to stay until she gets back on her feet. However, the young woman decides to become a prostitute herself, and when the harsh realities of the street catch up with her, both women's lives are put at risk. Meanwhile, her abusive ex-boyfriend is on her trail.

Directed by Penelope Buitenhuis (Tokyo Girls), the film stars Rae Dawn Chong (The Color Purple), Lou Diamond Phillips (Courage Under Fire), Kari Wuhrer (Eight Legged Freaks), and Lance Henriksen (Aliens).

This is one of those unpredictable films that keeps you hooked because you genuinely want to see how it unfolds. While it's far from perfect-with poor cinematography and some odd camera angles-the strong cast and authentic sense of desperation make it compelling. Rae Dawn Chong is stunning in this role, and as expected given the subject matter, there's plenty of nudity. The subplot involving the abusive ex-boyfriend feels a bit far-fetched and frustrating at times, but it does keep you invested in how it resolves. The violence is gritty and realistic, adding weight to the story, and the ending ties everything together in a satisfying way.

In conclusion, Boulevard exceeded my expectations and was an engaging watch. I'd rate it a 7/10 and recommend it if you're in the mood for something a bit different.

Small town girl Jennefer (Kari Wuhrer) escapes from her abusive boyfriend J-Rod (Joel Bissonnette) to the big city of Toronto after giving up her newborn baby for adoption. She ends up sleeping on the streets encountering prostitute Ola (Rae Dawn Chong) and pimp Hassan (Lou Diamond Phillips). Ola finally relents and takes her in. Hassan kills one of his girls which is witnessed by Ola and another guy. Police detective McClaren (Lance Henriksen) investigates.

This is an odd little exploitation movie. It tries to be hard and gritty. However, it comes off as a knockoff of a dirty 70's B-movie. Hassan is walking around with his cane and pimp gear. Even some of the cars are more 70s and 80s. The Chinese witness is in his stereotype kitchen gear. People are warming themselves with trash fires. Hookers are walking the streets. It's like a 70s movie dropped in the middle of 90s Toronto. The acting is uneven. I like Rae Dawn Chong. Kari Wuhrer is trying too hard to be the damsel in distress. The two women have some good moments and had potential to be something more. Lou Diamond Phillips is ridiculously pimplicious. This is definitely a B-movie.

Not since "Ramrod", Wings Hauser, in the ultra violent "Vice Squad" (1982), has a pimp been more memorable than the sadistic "Hassan", played with gusto by Lou Diamond Phillips, in "Boulevard" (1994). This film is the real deal, with Kari Wuhrer playing a small town girl on the run from her abusive boyfriend. Winding up in the Toronto "red light district" , she is befriended by a sympathetic prostitute (Rae Dawn Chong), while being pursued by the pimp and her old boyfriend. Lance Henriksen is a vice detective who tries to keep things from getting out of control on the hooker infested streets. This is without question one of the best exploitation movies dealing with pimps and ho's, and makes something like "Angel" (1984) seem like Disneyland. - MERK

Kari Wuhrer immediately gives up her new-born child to adoption and runs away from her abusive lover in this dark and bleak mess. Life on the streets of Toronto is tough though and she falls in with sadistic pimp Lou Diamond Phillips and psychologically tortured prostitute Rae Dawn Chong. The plot, what little there is, thickens when detective Lance Henriksen starts going after Phillips for killing one of his charges and Wuhrer's boyfriend starts a fevered search for her. The shoe-string production tries to intrigue by having somewhat notable names and then adding lots of violence and sexual situations. One of those films that should be avoided completely. Nothing to recommend here. Turkey (0 stars out of 5).