Sunset Boulevard (1950)

26 December 2021

"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille," is a famous misquote from this film, and a disturbing film at that. This film follows struggling Joe Gillis (William Holden) as he falls into the life of faded silent film star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson). This drama feels like an updated telling of the Dickens' tale Great Expectations, and it's a haunting story about the toll fame takes on celebrities. The real life cameos of faces like Cecile B. DeMille, Buster Keaton, and others help make this feel like less a work of fiction.

This film was nominated for 11 academy awards and won 3 (screenplay, music, art direction). All About Eve took the most awards away. At the time off this writing though, it's 61st on IMDb's top 250. 10/10