I don't know a lot about film noir, but I think Sunset Boulevard seems to capture it perfectly with the music, voice over, and over dramatization. The opening shot is of a man shot dead in a pool. This seems to be an allusion to The Great Gatsby. We are then introduced to the main character Joe, a struggling write, and the story plays out from there.
Ah the protagonist deals with the age old dilemma: dream vs. stability.
Betty Schaefer: "I heard you had some talent"
Joe Gillis: "That was last year, now I'm just trying to make a living"
This quote, along with many others shows the type of humor throughout the movie. Voice-overs are generally a hit or miss, but being a regular necessity in film noir, the voiceover was used perfectly. A look inside Gillis' thoughts over events and things he is seeing help shape the image the viewer has in their mind as well. For example, the big mansion he happens upon being compared to the old house in Great Expectations helped give a sort of personified feel to the house. Is that a monkey?? Along with the monkey, or chimp rather, is the introduction of Norma Desmond: A washed up movie star representing the egotistical society of hollywood stars. Throughout the movie the craziness of this peculiar character is unveiled. While Joe is getting a place to stay and clothing handed to him for free, it seems that he has come to care a genuine amount for Norma. By the end of the movie you see him give up his love to make her happy, but in the end ends up dead in a pool. I love the movies that show you the ending in the beginning, but you either don't know it yet, or don't know why.
The music was pretty similar throughout the entire movie, and if you seemed to miss an important fact or plot twist, the music and dramatic close up would make sure you understood it. Overall I really enjoyed this movie. It kept me captivated the entire time and I came to care for the characters, but also hated them for the choices the made.
I give this movie a 8/10.
The music was pretty similar throughout the entire movie, and if you seemed to miss an important fact or plot twist, the music and dramatic close up would make sure you understood it. Overall I really enjoyed this movie. It kept me captivated the entire time and I came to care for the characters, but also hated them for the choices the made.
I give this movie a 8/10.
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