← Back to Reviews
in
Chinatown
1974
Director: Roman Polanski
Screenplay: Robert Towne
Featured Cast: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, John Hillerman, Burt Young, Daryl Zwerling, and Diane Ladd.
Review:
"Godard once said that the only way to review a movie is to make another movie, and maybe that’s what Polanski has done here. He’s made a perceptive, loving comment on a kind of movie and a time in the nation’s history that are both long past. “Chinatown” is almost a lesson on how to experience this kind of movie." Roger Ebert.
This being said Ebert goes on to say that this movie is not just a period movie. It goes beyond telling a story that occurred in the 1940's to creating a contemporary movie that conforms to 1940's conventions. It is a 1940's movies shot in 1974.
Gettes, a streetwise, no-nonsense LA detective is approached by a women to perform some investigative work for her but is clearly not revealing her motives for wanting the investigation. Things get tangled up in a hurry when her husband turns up dead. Gettes knows that he is being lied to, but is unable to determine the motive behind these lies, which serves to draw him deeper into the case. The plot revolve around a complicated scheme to float a bond issue and build a dam to steal water from Los Angeles, in a time of drought. Gettes knows he is on to something big, but does not seem to realize the enormity of the scandal he has become entwined in. Townes takes great care to move you in to the plot so that you are always one step behind Gettes so it would be inappropriate to reveal much more of the story line. suffice it to say that by the end the film has several lose ends to tie up.
I gave the film a five because it achieves excellence in storytelling, plot development, acting, cinematography, etc. It succeeds on so many levels. In discussing Chinatown one must acknowledge Nicholson's success of capturing the character of Jake Gettes for the big screen; it seems tat Nicholson barely acting.This movie was filmed fourty-two years ago and Nicholson was already hitting his stride. Between 1973-1975 Nicholson appeared in seven movies including Chinatown and One Flew Over the Cuckoos nest.
This movie achieves o much while maintaining a broad appeal to many audiences. The story moves, the mystery draws you in, the acting causes you to experience empathy with the characters. This movie is recommended highly to most audiences.
Chinatown
1974
Director: Roman Polanski
Screenplay: Robert Towne
Featured Cast: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, John Hillerman, Burt Young, Daryl Zwerling, and Diane Ladd.
Review:
"Godard once said that the only way to review a movie is to make another movie, and maybe that’s what Polanski has done here. He’s made a perceptive, loving comment on a kind of movie and a time in the nation’s history that are both long past. “Chinatown” is almost a lesson on how to experience this kind of movie." Roger Ebert.
This being said Ebert goes on to say that this movie is not just a period movie. It goes beyond telling a story that occurred in the 1940's to creating a contemporary movie that conforms to 1940's conventions. It is a 1940's movies shot in 1974.
Gettes, a streetwise, no-nonsense LA detective is approached by a women to perform some investigative work for her but is clearly not revealing her motives for wanting the investigation. Things get tangled up in a hurry when her husband turns up dead. Gettes knows that he is being lied to, but is unable to determine the motive behind these lies, which serves to draw him deeper into the case. The plot revolve around a complicated scheme to float a bond issue and build a dam to steal water from Los Angeles, in a time of drought. Gettes knows he is on to something big, but does not seem to realize the enormity of the scandal he has become entwined in. Townes takes great care to move you in to the plot so that you are always one step behind Gettes so it would be inappropriate to reveal much more of the story line. suffice it to say that by the end the film has several lose ends to tie up.
I gave the film a five because it achieves excellence in storytelling, plot development, acting, cinematography, etc. It succeeds on so many levels. In discussing Chinatown one must acknowledge Nicholson's success of capturing the character of Jake Gettes for the big screen; it seems tat Nicholson barely acting.This movie was filmed fourty-two years ago and Nicholson was already hitting his stride. Between 1973-1975 Nicholson appeared in seven movies including Chinatown and One Flew Over the Cuckoos nest.
This movie achieves o much while maintaining a broad appeal to many audiences. The story moves, the mystery draws you in, the acting causes you to experience empathy with the characters. This movie is recommended highly to most audiences.