Review of Sunset Boulevard (1950) by Thorin M — 23 Sep 2010

I would say Sunset Blvd. is one of those near perfect movies. It's a completely original and interestingly dramatic film noir. I love how very first shot sums up the entire film with the words "SUNSET BLVD." This works as a great title, symbolizing the rest of the film. The name gives a kind of dark impression and so does the narrative.... and that doom like atmosphere is exactly what that first shot is promting you to pay attention to for the rest of the movie. The name works as symbolism for the dying career of Norma Desmond, and also for the life of Joe Gillis, which ends soon enough after entering "Sunset Blvd". On that boulevard everybody seems to fade away.

The entire house of Norma Desmond, who is attemping to make a desparate last grasp at what she once was, remains the way it was back in the days of silent movies when she was a famous star. Her life was consumed entirely by fame and she is unable to accept that the once adoring public has forgotten all about her as a "star of yesteryear". She remains in the old house on Sunset Blvd reading phony fan letters from her servant and former husband Max, who first made her a star and now spends all his time keeping her from realising her fall from stardom. She also has her own movie theatre in which she watches her films with Joe, who finds himself unable to leave, due to his employment as a pet writer for her 'comeback' screenplay. Joe also finds himself in a relationship with her, becoming part of the fame obsessed actress' spooky old house. He soon is dressed in strange outdated fashions and living in an exact replica of a year dated two decades ago. When he does try to break it off she attempts suicide and he is forced to stay, even with his romantic interest with his freind's fiance. He stays with her until plot climax, where the entire story has been eniterly revealed by Joe, who narrates his short but fateful stay on Sunset Blvd. Norma finally makes headlines as a murderer of Joe, after realising the public hasn't wanted her since sound in theatre. This pushes her into a state of complete denial, living in her own made up world where she is a bright, shining, star.

One of the best movies of it's time. (And apparentely the best according to David Lynch).