Chinatown
Chinatown
R | 20 June 1974 (USA)
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Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together.

Reviews
Inclubabu

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

Sameer Callahan

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

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Kirandeep Yoder

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

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Nicole

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

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suniljannat123

Now I understand why they call this one greatest movie ever. Ending is hurtful but you know "forget it jake it's Chinatown". Truth is after watching this movie you will never forget it(don't know about others but I'll never). Very sorry but i am just writing what I am feeling about this movie. Just watch this masterpiece and you will understand....

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MichaelMRamey

The reason I put this film on was because I like crime stories and Jack Nicholson. The film can tend to feel longer than it actually is and drags on. There are some slow parts, but unfortunately they are important to the overall story, so there is no way around then.How ever it's a decent crime noir that will have you wanting to watch the entire thing to discover what is really going on in this whodunnit. Jack Nicholson puts in a good performance and I'd only recommend to fans of crime stories because I don't think a casual film fan would enjoy this.

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LeonLouisRicci

As Perfect as a Motion Picture can be, "Chinatown" is considered a Masterpiece in "Critics" Circles and Public Opinion Decidedly Doesn't Differ much.It's one of those Films where all the Ingredients that make up a Movie Synthesize in a Symmetric Conglomerate of Cinematic Class.Nominated for 11 Academy Awards (winning only 1, Best Original Screenplay) the Movie was a Bono-Fide Hit with Critics but the Public took a while to Warm Up to its Charms. The Final Box-Office Toll for the Year...it came in 15th.However, since then it is Fondled Over by Fans and Film Historians as an Object of Affection. Movie Making at its Best. A Flawless Film that is Firing on All Cylinders. Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston and a Great Supporting Cast Deliver the Robert Towne Script Effortlessly.Bathed in a Sun-Baked Glow of Burnt Brown and Yellow with Highlights of Bright Red/Orange, the Cinematography of John Alonzo was an Attractive Anomaly for its Time. Most Films of the Era were Shot in Stark, Gritty, Realism in Sync with a Postmodern Template and Hays-Code Busted, Unfettered, No Frills Format.Alonzo's "Chinatown" is Dreamy as it Lights the "Nightmarish" Underbelly of Evil Displayed by the "Money Men" and Forgers that gave Birth to Los Angeles. It's Pulpish Tonality adds a Lush Layer to the Lured.Jerry Goldsmith's Haunting Score is also Memorable in its Minimalism of Horn and Single Note Piano. Goldsmith was brought in at the Last Minute and Composed the Music in 9 Days.Director Roman Polanski Considers this His Second Best Film after "The Pianist" (2002). Most Agree that the Maestro of "Chinatown" was Surely on Top of His Game with this Homage to Film-Noir where He took Chances with Conventions, Filming in Glorious Color, No Voice Over Narration, and Wide Screen for Example.The Film has many Fascinations and Stands Up to Repeated Viewings. It's a Feast of Film-Making Techniques that, in fact, may Require Repeated Viewing to Fully Appreciate.

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Bodo

I knew CHINATOWN was hailed as the paragon of a film noir, and that's why I finally got down to watching it. However, despite having known about the movie for quite a while, I wasn't really prepared for just how dark it could be. The movie starts slowly, with a private detective taking on what looks like a routine case. But soon he finds himself enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, murder, lies and deceit. The plot is like a perfect machine that relentlessly moves towards a final resolution that is truly epic and truly soul-wrenching.In a recent New York Times piece, they called CHINATOWN "a meditation on evil", which is spot-on. Set in 1937, this movie is just all-round perfect, first and foremost how everything is connected within the grand structure of the movie, that is rich in themes (water, evil, trust, guilt, greed) and even richer in suspense, as the audience—just like our protagonist—tries to find out what is happening. The story is "complex" for sure, but it's not "complicated". Everything makes sense in the end and the complexity pays off big time.Besides the impeccable screenplay, everything else about this movie is perfect as well. Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway carry the movie with sophistication and dignity. Dunaway's stunning performance in particular fills every scene with an aura of mystery as you are trying to find out what her motives are. The set pieces are beautiful, the score is compelling; and camera-work and editing could not be any better. There is a reason this one is called a classic! So, if you're ready to delve deep into a richly layered exploration of the dark side of humanity—enjoy the ride. But don't expect to come back unscathed.

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