Sunset Boulevard: Resilience, Belonging, & the Impact of Film

This movie was selected by our Patreon Supporters over at the Cinematic Doctrine Patreon. Support as little as $3 a month and have your voice heard! 

Kathryn joins Melvin to discuss Sunset Boulevard, a timeless, tragic, Hollywood fairytale. The two meditate on what its like to be transported back in time, the importance of resiliency, finding a place of belonging, and “the medium is the message” as it relates to photography and film. 

Topics:

• (PATREON EXCLUSIVE) 30-minutes talking about the Avengers: Doomsday trailer, the roster of heroes confirmed, the ones missing, and why there’s more excitement behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day (PATREON EXCLUSIVE)
• Kathryn, “Like seeing the source code for filmmaking.”
• The opening act tone setting is really strong.
• Sunset Boulevard is grounded, but it has a touch of the fantastical.
• On belonging, resiliency, stagnation, and empowerment.
• Kathryn notices the mention, or visual use, of animals kept popping up in Sunset Boulevard.
• Talking about, as Kathryn calls it, “the car, the other car, and the nose”.
• Melvin talks about how photography and film, as mediums of communication, can uniquely impact the world and people, and proposes it as a read for understanding Norma’s neurosis.
• Talking about the haunting, tragic ending.

Recommendations:

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) (Novel)
• Ed Wood (1994) (Movie)

Sunset Boulevard is Approved. It features William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, and Nancy Olson. Directed by Billy Wilder. Sunset Boulevard is available here.

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Melvin Benson is the Founder, Editor-In-Chief, and Lead Host of Cinematic Doctrine. Whether it’s a movie, show, game, comic, or novel, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s rich, he’s ready and willing to give it a try! His hope is to see King Jesus glorified as far as the east is from the west!

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