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09-07-2023, 02:59 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Boulevard_(film)
I've heard about this movie forever, it's touted as one of the greatest movies of all time, cinematic perfection, amazing acting and so on. I was familiar with the plot and I've always thought it sounded creepy and intriguing, but I had never taken the time to watch it.
So I watched it lastnight, and it was just as great as they said.
Several times I thought, "They're all hating on Norma, but her life doesn't seem that bad to me." Lol. I kind of thought she had it made, TBH. Everyone "on the outside" was just a joke anyway.
It was one of those movies where none of the characters were really all that likeable, IMO. They all had flaws that prevented you from really caring about them that much. Max was the most interesting character to me because he was mysterious, and when you found out about his story, it was almost like a mini plot twist.
Norma was my second fave character, and I think if she had been a little less dramatic and actually OWNED her shit, she would have been more likeable... but of course, then it would have been a completely different plot and outcome.
Gloria Swanson dominated every second of her screentime. She was... glorious.
There's just something about those old hollywood movies. They used such brilliant tactics to make a connection with the viewer's emotions, and even their bodies and surroundings. That's powerful art right there.
They merged the story playing out on screen with the actual physical world of the audience by breaking the fourth wall, acknowledging the audience viewing the film in the dark... it was eerie and electrifying.
My emotions during the ending scene took me by surprise. I didn't expect to be moved by it. I had seen the ending before, out of context, because it's one of the most famous and iconic movie scenes of all time. But it still totally got me.
I've seen a lot of funny, off-base takes on the ending, one of them being that when she moves toward the camera, the picture fading symbolizes her fading into obscurity for good. And I guess that's one way to look at it, but that's not what they were going for.
One should note the unique qualities of the "blur" effect that was used at the end of the scene, it wasn't just a simple fade...
If the audience member had been participating properly, they would have tears welling in their eyes, coinciding with the exact moment the watery blur effect takes place. It brought you into the film, and brought her into your world at the same time. Genius. Masterful.
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Seems pretty obvious this song/video was inspired by Sunset Boulevard...
The original of course being by "Talk Talk" which is one of the rants Norma goes off on in her first scene.
Could be coincidence, but it's a pretty fabulous one if so.
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1:45 obviously the music video was a nod to "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?" (1962) as well...
Which is a far more legendary film than Sunset Boulevard in my book.
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You wanna talk about plot twists... holy shit. I saw that movie when I was a kid and it's been one of my top 5 faves ever since.
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These old black and white movies man... whole other level. I love 'em. Not as much as I did when I was a kid but... they still hold a special place in my heart.
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Funny how hollywood started talking about its own history in these iconic films... a true sign of having jumped the shark, and that was 70+ years ago.
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They even acknowledged all the plastic surgery in Sunset Boulevard... just as normal as going to the dentist for a cleaning. Hollywood culture has been so incredibly lost for so long... basically from its very conception at this point.
I don't know if it was their intention, but it really showed what a joke chasing fame and stardom really is, a totally artificial goal for artificial people.
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I do think they could have taken Sunset Boulevard in a few directions that would have been just as epic.
Max could have cleaned up Norma's mess somehow and kept her isolated in her dream world, that would have been a twisted ending.
Too bad they don't make alternate versions of movies when they film them, that would be fun. Choose your adventure kinda stuff.
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Thank God Gloria Swanson wanted the role... they shopped it to other classic actresses of the era but they were horrified by the plot or just offended by even being considered. I think it was an amazing opportunity and the leading role couldn't have been more perfectly cast.
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Dick Cavett, so hot.
0:20 oh my God, it's Janis fucking Joplin.
Wooow, I didn't expect a pairing of two larger than life legends, that's wild.
Dick loved Janis, it was pretty obvious. Well, she turned his crank. Dunno if love is the appropriate word, lol. But still charming in its own way.
They say Gloria Swanson was a very kind woman.
1:13 roflmfaolol.
5:25 I could listen to her talk for hours.
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Pretty sure I saw a silent movie once... I think I watched it on 2x speed and it actually flowed pretty well, could still read all the words in time. Can't remember what movie that was. I think it might have been Nosferatu, and the double speed made it even creepier.
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I think I actually watched it on closer to 3x speed because I had a browser add-on that offered faster speeds than YouTube does by default.
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I do love the idea of silent film. You could watch it in the background with your own soundtrack or while you're watching something else. Seems pretty groovy. Maybe we should bring it back. Mindless fidgety dopamine junkies (AKA 70% of the world's population at this point) probably wouldn't like it, but they suck anyway.
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If most people don't like it, it's probably good... there are few exceptions to this rule if you ask me.
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(09-07-2023, 02:59 PM)Chatwoman Wrote: Several times I thought, "They're all hating on Norma, but her life doesn't seem that bad to me." Lol. I kind of thought she had it made, TBH. Everyone "on the outside" was just a joke anyway.
It was one of those movies where none of the characters were really all that likeable, IMO. They all had flaws that prevented you from really caring about them that much.
Even though Joe vaguely did the right thing in the end, it still wasn't enough to make him likeable. At least he admitted the truth of his place in the situation and imparted that realism to Betty. It was good, but not good enough.
I think do think Norma had it made... she just needed to get her shit together and hire some landscape/maintenance workers. That was the only thing wrong with her life. Her problem wasn't that she ignored the outside world, it was that she used cheap, vampiric emotional ploys to maintain control of the few people in her life.
For example, in the scene where she calls Betty, if she had just owned it and said, "Yeah, I called that little bitch! What of it?!" then she would have been a straight fucking gangsta, IMO.
But the self-harm and the emotionally manipulative theatrics were by far her worst traits, and this kept her from being the most likeable character.
They should have made at least 2 alternate versions of this movie. Filming alternate versions would up the production costs obviously, it'd be like filming several movies instead of just one... but I think it'd be so worth it.
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(09-07-2023, 02:59 PM)Chatwoman Wrote: They merged the story playing out on screen with the actual physical world of the audience by breaking the fourth wall, acknowledging the audience viewing the film in the dark... it was eerie and electrifying.
Different people notice different things about the movie... when I was watching it, I didn't really make the connection between what she said and the fact that I was indeed in the dark, lol.
I could have just as easily been watching the movie during the day in a fully lit room, I do it all the time. But she was right... I was in the dark.
She also talked about astrology in the movie several times, which surprised me. To most people, what she was saying would have sounded like nonsensical jargon, but it actually made sense to me. It's clear that the people who made this film were utilizing some "spooky action at a distance" to achieve max impact... brilliant.
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There are some very fascinating, soulful principles of storytelling and art that have been lost for many decades in popular film. It's almost of the spiritual plane... I'm not sure how you'd even describe these methods, or how and why they work.
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The scene of Norma's face in the hallway mirror after Betty leaves is actually my favorite scene (apart from the ending) and I wish I could find it on YouTube. It was so good. Swanson was in such ownership of that role, so devoted and totally perfect in her delivery.
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I feel like the ending scene was the main vision, and the rest of the plot was just built around making it possible. Which is fine.
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(09-07-2023, 04:03 PM)Chatwoman Wrote: The scene of Norma's face in the hallway mirror after Betty leaves is actually my favorite scene (apart from the ending) and I wish I could find it on YouTube.
https://64.media.tumblr.com/441b0a9e233a...9af42.gifv
https://64.media.tumblr.com/3a565c1a2480...26638.gifv
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