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A private detective investigating an adultery case stumbles on to a scheme of murder that has something to do with water.
Jack Nicholson: J.J. Gittes
What is Chinatown? Simply put; An unrivaled and perfect thinking man's film noir that completely surpasses all expectations.
Chinatown(1974) is a tremendous collaborative effort that produced one of the most memorable Hollywood films of the 70s. Director Roman Polanski (his last film in America, and the first he made in America after the murder of Sharon Tate), stars Jack Nicholson & Faye Dunaway, and writer Robert Towne, all come together to create a detective story classic. At times it slows its pace down so the viewer can think along with Nicholson's character, to take in the environment as well as the situation he's in. The script has the perfect sense of luring us into a story, fueled by curiosity, grit, and cynicism, and engages the viewer by its realistic dialog between the characters.
J.J. Gittes (Nicholson, in one of his best 70's performances) is in Los Angeles circa 1933 in the line of private investigator, usually dealing with people who may or may not believe that their significant other is having an affair. Evelyn Mulwray feels this may be the case with her husband Hollis, and Gittes decides to take the case. However, this draws him into a deeper case involving the city's loss of water once Hollis - a major player in the water supply controversy in the city - is found murdered. This eventually leads him to Noah Cross (John Huston), a big businessman and who also happens to be Evelyn's father. Intrigue starts to develop, as Jake's own life begins to be at risk.
Interestingly enough Faye Dunaway and Roman Polanski were notorious for their on-set arguments; during filming, Polanski pulled out some strands of Dunaway's hair.
Also cinematographer Stanley Cortez was fired soon after production began because his classical style did not match the naturalistic style Polanski wanted for the film and proved too time consuming. Polanski had to find a replacement in only a few days and chose John A. Alonzo. As David Fincher and Robert Towne describe on their DVD commentary, two scenes shot by Cortez are in the film. The orange grove fight with the farmers (but not the following porch scene with Evelyn) and the drive back to Los Angeles at sunset are Cortez's work.
The original script was over 300 pages which still provides an insight to the details and intricacies on offer in the finalized scripting.
Another amusing on-set occurrence involving Roman Polanski and Jack Nicholson in a heated argument resulting in Polanski smashing Nicholson's portable TV with a mop. Nicholson used the TV to watch L.A. Lakers basketball games and kept stalling shooting.
As a intricate, detailed detective story the film is an above-average work, with Towne's script containing the maturity, and wicked sense of humour, of a James M. Cain or Raymond Chandler novel. When the thrills come they come as being striking and bold. When humanity and compassion become thrown into the concoction, the film reaches a whole other dimension of intelligence. The last third of the film could deter some audiences with the stories leanings, but it holds strong thanks to the performances. Nicholson doesn't over-step his bounds in any scene, finding the right notes in suggestive conversations. Dunaway is better than expected (though I'm not sure if it's an great performance).
Huston's Noah Cross is one of the more disturbing villains of that period in movies. Add to it some good cameos (Burt Young as a driver, Polanski playing the little guy in the infamous knife scene), and a smooth soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith, Chinatown comes out as strong piece of movie-making, and arguably one of the greatest in the crime/mystery genre.
The movie's line "Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown!" was voted as the 71st of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" by Premiere in 2007.
Also in 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the 21st Greatest Movie of All Time.
''What happened to your nose, Gittes? Somebody slammed a bedroom window on it?''
''Nope. Your wife got excited. She crossed her legs a little too quick. You understand what I mean, pal?''
10/10
