“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” is the Helnweinian version of Hopper's famous “Nighthawks”.
In this painting, Hopper's characters are replaced with Elvis Presley as the bartender, Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart as the couple, and James Dean, in place of the seated man who turns his back towards the viewer. Further emphasis of the Arnoldian characters is their way of sitting is characteristic of Stars of their calibre. Despite this, the same message of Hopper's painting can be felt among the famous people: solitude. ( lonely emptiness ) The characters in Boulevard of Broken Dreams are not taken by chance. It represents the tragic fate of the most beloved celebrities of the decade. Presley died from complications due to prolonged use and abuse of alcohol and drugs. Marilyn died from an apparent overdose. Bogart's death was attributed to esophageal cancer caused by alcohol abuse, and James Dean died in a tragic car accident. All lives cut short either due to alcohol and drug abuse or road accidents. All avoidable deaths. Every form of life and talent wasted.
