Sunset Blvd. (1950)

Sunset Blvd.
Director: Billy Wilder
Starring: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim

A classic that I had never seen before. I should have known as soon as I saw Wilder's name that it would be great. The guy has made a ton of movies that are entertaining and artistic. They are just as interesting and satisfying as anything made today (actually, way better than most).

This is an iconic movie that I think I saw a parody of on Tiny Toons once (this happens with a lot of films though: Citizen Kane, Rear Window, etc). A struggling young writer randomly finds himself on the doorstep of a washed up silent movie era starlett. She is planning her big comeback (I'm sorry, "return") to the movies and wants him to fix up her script. Of course, he takes the job. There's a ton of money to be taken from this old broad. Things go sour when she falls in love with him and wont let him leave the house. Also, she kills him (this is not big spoiler, they tell us at the beginning).

From the opening shots, I was already impressed with the camera angles and atmosphere. This movie has style. It's got all the characteristics that make film noir great. We have deadpan voiceover narration, black and white cinematography, and a moody soundtrack. The strongest piece of the puzzle, though, was the screenplay. The dialogue is so witty and perfect. Holden read the narration like a man who was helplessly away of his tragic fate.

The real joy of the movie, though, was the twisted performance of Swanson as Norma Desmond. She played her part just like a silent movie queen would, with raging facial expressions and piercing eyes. I was on edge every time she was on the screen. So creepy, pathetic, and dangerous. She was a shell of her former self. It sort of reminded me of Grey Gardens. A lot actually. She had lost all sense of reality and lived in the past.

Sometimes, I think classic movies are overrated. This is not one of those times. The final scene on the staircase gave me chills. Everything was so well done. See this movie!

Lesson learned: A car is not worth losing your life.