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Chinatown (1974)


 

rector Roman Polanski's neo-noir detective story is set during a heat wave in 1930s Los Angeles, whose residents are suffering from a water shortage as a result of an ongoing drought. Private investigator Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) runs a detective agency specializing in matrimonial strife and infidelity. When a client posing as the wife of the L.A. water commissioner hires him to spy on her husband, who is rumored to be having an affair with a younger woman, Jake uncovers a plot against the commissioner--but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Yet to emerge are a sex scandal implicating the actual Mrs. Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway), with whom Jake is destined to become more closely acquainted, and a real estate swindle of tremendous proportions devised by her father, powerful tycoon Noah Cross (John Huston), who has a vast network of corrupt city officials and landowners backing him up. With stellar contributions from Robert Towne, whose script recalls the hard-boiled cynicism of the writings of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett; director of photography John Alonzo; production designer Richard Sylbert; and composer Jerry Goldsmith, CHINATOWN evolved into a complex and superbly crafted period drama that represents Polanski's most critically acclaimed film.
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1.5 out of 10 Chinatown
Sarah from Dublin, 21 Jun 2007
Was a little bit disappointed with this one. Realise it was an epic from the 1970s and was Roman Polanski's comeback film but I don't think it ages very well. The pace is slow and the film itself is quite dark and moody. A classic Jack Nicholsan performance but if you are looking for high octane action give this one a miss. The incest storyline and the story of corruption in the water plants is extremely strange and a when the final scence comes you are left a little baffled???
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4.5 out of 10 Chinatown review
antoinette from Clare, 12 Feb 2011
Really this is just the ultimate in the film noir genre, with the added bonus of seeing roman polanski playing a cameo part in a rather eye watering scene!!the exceedingly young jack nicholson is a pleasure to watch not to talk of a very nasty john huston and a very beautiful fay dunaway what more do you want people!!
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5 out of 10 Excellent
Niall from Cork, 02 Jan 2008
Polanski delivers an irrestible combination of intrigue and corruption in 1930s L.A. Nicholson is in mischievously good form as smart alecked Private Eye, Jake Gittes. By turns funny, chilling, poignant and thought-provoking, this is cinema at its best.
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4 out of 10 Holds up throughout the 40 years
david from Galway, 20 Apr 2012
Very good movie. The desert scenery is excellent. Great acting from Nicholson. Bit of a murder mystery, but very good humanistic acting from all involved. Polankski is the man
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4 out of 10 Holds up throughout the 40 years
A member from Dublin, 20 Apr 2012
Very good movie. The desert scenery is excellent. Great acting from Nicholson. Bit of a murder mystery, but very good humanistic acting from all involved. Polankski is the man
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