Sunset Boulevard

“So they were turning after all, those cameras. Life, which can be strangely merciful, had taken pity on Norma Desmond. The dream she had clung to so desperately had enfolded her.” What a fucking movie. It’s not only a great depiction of how Hollywood changed with the introduction of talking films, and how silent stars like Norma were affected by this, but it also shows how people are discarded by Hollywood as they age. The film does a great job at showing this through someone who is going crazy trying to cling to the stardom she had. Gloria Swanson gives a fucking phenomenal performance as Norma Desmond, a fading and aging actress who can’t seem to let go of her former fame. Betty is introduced as a foil to Norma for Joe, as a young woman who wants to make it big, working for the fame Norma once had. That final scene is amazing, showing how far she has fallen mentally. This film teaches a great lesson and that is to always keep a spare tire.