Sunset Boulevard
*"I am big. It's the pictures that got small."
*
It should be no surprise Sunset Boulevard
is so highly regarded as it absolutely nails many things, but most of all this film nails atmosphere.
Atmosphere is a great indicator of a director's skill; poor atmosphere often signals an amateurish director. The framing, lighting choices, and overall mise-en-scène in this film are incredible. Said atmosphere gives the film a very surreal quality, which can be felt even without the use of color film.
Acting performances are definitely the other major strength of this film, and while all are good, Gloria Swanson was a cut above the rest no doubt—although her character certainly allowed for more eccentricities.
Hard to really talk about this film without mentioning the ending, even so, I won't go into detail. I’ll just say it’s quite good, though I was expecting something a bit more. I know that probably sounds crazy to those who’ve seen the film, but I digress.
Overall, a great picture. I'm glad I finally checked off one of the first films on my watchlist after all this time.
**(4.5/5)
**