Salvation Boulevard

"Salvation Boulevard" is a 2011 comedy-drama film directed by George Ratliff and starring Greg Kinnear, Pierce Brosnan, and Marisa Tomei. The plot centers around a former Deadhead-turned-Baptist preacher who finds himself in the middle of a murderous plot hatched by a mega-church pastor.

The movie opens with Carl (Kinnear), who has just converted to Christianity and is attending a mega-church led by Pastor Dan Day (Brosnan). During one of his sermons, Pastor Day claims that true faith can survive any kind of doubt, prompting Carl to question his own beliefs. Later that night, Carl goes to a nearby bar where he runs into a former Deadhead, Honey (Tomei), who invites him to a party at her apartment. During the party, Carl witnesses Honey's boyfriend, a renowned professor and atheist, being murdered by Pastor Day’s bodyguard (Ed Harris). When the police arrive, Carl becomes the prime suspect and goes on the run.

As Carl tries to clear his name, he starts to see the questionable practices of his former pastor and the mega-church. Along the way, he meets a few interesting characters, including Honey, her estranged father (Bradley Whitford), and the security guard trying to bring him to justice (Jim Gaffigan). Carl must figure out what he truly believes in and if he can trust those around him as he becomes more embroiled in the church's dark secrets.

The film is a dark comedy that satirizes the mega-church phenomenon in America. It tackles themes of faith, doubt, corruption, and even murder in a lighthearted manner. The cast includes some well-known actors who do a great job portraying their complex and often humorous characters. Kinnear plays the perfect confused and overzealous pastor-turned-victim, while Brosnan delivers a perfectly over-the-top portrayal of the sleazy mega-church pastor. Harris brings an intensity to his role as the bodyguard, and Tomei brings a touch of whimsy to her character that offsets the severity of the situation.

The movie's pacing is well done, and the storyline keeps the audience engaged, with a few twists and turns along the way. The cinematography is also noteworthy, with some beautiful shots of the California coast juxtaposed with a darker, grittier side of the state.

Overall, "Salvation Boulevard" is an intriguing and entertaining film that delves into the complexities of faith and religion in the United States. The movie is filled with enough laughs and twists to keep the audience engaged throughout, making it a definite must-see.