Review of Sunset Boulevard (1950) by Emerson B — 17 Aug 2013

Another movie about the movies. Billy Wilder directs Gloria Swanson as a distressed film star who's fallen from her status of worldwide fame and William Holden as an opportunistic and hedonistic screenwriter looking for his next big break. As part of the film noir genre, unexpected plot twists and dramatic lighting are abundant as well as a sense of distress.

This is very much a tribute to the dark side of Hollywood we see in the stars who start to believe their own false reality they portray in their movies. As taken as a staple of the great American film cannon, this is a perfect piece to be looked at over and over again. The mystery of Sunset Boulevard in many ways isn't solved with the film's conclusion but only expanded. A wonderful breath of fresh air even though it may be at the expense of the well being of fictional characters.