Sunset (1988)

Blake Edwards' 1988 film *Sunset* takes an imaginative dive into the glitz and grit of 1929 Hollywood, presenting a truly unique buddy-cop premise: "Tom Mix and Wyatt Earp team up to solve a murder at the Academy Awards in 1929 Hollywood." Starring Bruce Willis as the legendary silent film star Mix and James Garner as an aging Wyatt Earp (serving as a technical advisor on Mix's latest Western), the movie thrusts these two iconic, yet vastly different, figures together when a high-profile killing rocks the nascent Academy Awards ceremony. As they navigate the studio backlots, the changing landscape of cinema, and the high society of the Golden Age's dawn, this unlikely duo must pool their distinct talents—one an actor playing a lawman, the other a true lawman—to uncover the truth behind the murder. While *Sunset* may not be universally hailed as one of Blake Edwards' masterpieces, its inclusion on a "Best Blake Edwards Movies" list is appropriate for showcasing his consistent thematic and stylistic fingerprints. Edwards was a master of blending genres, particularly comedy with mystery, and *Sunset* is a prime example of this, offering a unique period mystery infused with his signature wit and sophisticated slapstick. The central dynamic between the flamboyant movie star and the grizzled lawman is classic Edwards, a comedic pairing of mismatched personalities forced into collaboration, reminiscent of his successful *Pink Panther* films. Furthermore, the film's stylish recreation of 1920s Hollywood and its exploration of the changing entertainment landscape provide a rich backdrop for Edwards' visual storytelling and keen eye for absurdity, making it a fascinating, if sometimes uneven, entry in his diverse filmography that nonetheless embodies his distinctive directorial voice and ambition.