yahyahyah said: "Her Norma felt like an insincere clown show with stellar vocals. Like a drag queen poking fun at Norma with a SUNSET tribute mashup—with all the knowingcampiness of “those famous lines” etc. I didn’t believe her outside of the songs. Why the ridiculous stage gymnastics and splits? It was all as if the director and star wanted to telegraph that they thought this role, woman and material was ridiculous. So why bother? She is a talented pop vocalist, sure, but character and true storytelling is not happening here. It’s all extremely studied vocal dynamics and calculated emotional affectations in the songs—supported by a very talented sound design team. Not powered by the truth of a real actor like the likes of Glenn, Patti, Betty, etc. I think she betrays herself by telling us she thinks she’s ridiculous/campy, so we can never trust her to protect Norma’s heartgoing forward. Not the work of a serious actress."
I was watching the original Sunset Boulevard last night, and Gloria Swanson was giving one of the biggest, campiest performances I'd ever seen in a mainstream movie. Rather than being a bad actress, I think Nicole Scherzinger just understood the assignment.
In terms of protecting Norma's heart, Sunset Boulevard is fundamentally mean to it's main character. It's punching down, making fun of a group of actresses who used to be famous. Mary Pickford allegedly turned down the role because it was satirizing the stars of her generation. Losing your career to ageism is a grounded in reality problem, yet Norma Desmond is written as delusional and violent.
Desmond being ridiculous and larger than life was always part of the story, the gymnastics and splits are just a new way of showing how she's always performing.