"All
right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." Giving new meaning to the
term, “famous last words,” Sunset Boulevard is a crime drama centered on
washed-up silent film actress Norma Desmond and her life leading up to the
murder of Joe Gillis. Joe, who narrates the film, is a struggling Hollywood
screen writer who wanders into Norma’s mansion, believing it to be deserted.
The months following this encounter focus on Joe’s ever-changing relationship
with Norma as he finds out just how insane the fallen movie star really is. I
classified this film as Revenge film.
Overall, I
really liked the movie. Gloria Swanson did a great job depicting Norma as this
former movie star turned mentally-disturbed recluse; she could go from bossy to
furious to oblivious all within the same scene and make it seem believable. One
of my favorite scenes was when Norma forces Joe to watch one of her old silent
films with her; there’s this somewhat-uncomfortable extended period of silence after
Joe’s narration while they watch the film, and then Norma starts to speak. She
starts out speaking very casually, but as she continues, anger continues to
drip into her voice until jumps up and vows that she will act again. Then she
turns her face towards the light of the movie projector as if it was a
spotlight and cigarette smoke blows past her face. It’s as if you’re watching
her slowly turn from some ordinary woman into a coldblooded murderer right
before your eyes; the shot of her facing the light is quite powerful.
The final
scene does a great job of wrapping up the film and showing Norma’s full
transition from has-been movie star into deranged murderer. As she says the
final line of the movie and steps towards the camera, Norma’s eyes are opened
unnaturally wide and her attempt at a toothy smile looks more like a dog
clenching its teeth before it attacks. She continues making this face and
stepping closer towards the audience as the camera fades out. I felt like, had
I watched this in a movie theater, I would have felt like she was going to try
to kill me next… creepy.
Overall, I
gave this movie 4 out of 5 stars.
-Caroline
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