Drupal: Displays the output of a view, assumed to be a block display.

gistfile1.php

<?php
/**
 * Displays the output of a view, assumed to be a block display.
 *
 * @param $view_name
 *   Machine name of the view.
 * @param $display_name
 *   Machine name of the display within the view.
 * @param $args
 *   (optional) Array of arguments for the view display.
 *
 * @return
 *   String containing the view output. If the view was empty, an empty string.
 */
function module_display_view($view_name, $display_name, $args = array()) {
  $output = '';

  // Load the view.
  $view = views_get_view($view_name);

  if ($view) {
    // Override the URL so that exposed filters will work on blocks even without
    // AJAX.
    $view->override_url = current_path();
    $output = $view->preview($display_name, $args);
  }

  // Check for no content.
  if (!strlen(trim(strip_tags($output)))) {
    $output = '';
  }

  return $output;
}