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All rights reserved.Chinatown (1999, DVD)
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What Does Chinatown Have to Do With ItReview created: 03/22/07(updated 03/22/07)
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0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Here is a movie with two plots during the 1930s: (1) Why did Mr Mulray get murdered? and (2) What is going on with the Los Angeles Utility Board?
Jack Nicholson as Jake Gittes is the detective hired by a false Mrs. Mulray to find her missing husband. It turns out that the real Mrs. Mulray is Faye Dunaway, who shows up later. While trying to find Mr Mulray, Jake gets involved in the second plot that has to do with diverting water into the Pacific Ocean, when Los Angeles is thirsting for water. This is the movie, where Jake gets his nose slit open in a grisly scene by a ruthless hit man, Roman Polanski, who directed the movie.
Behind it all is Evelyn Mulray's father, Lucas Cross, played by John Huston, who looks and talks mean even in real life. He is buying up land around Los Angeles so that he can control the water supply and get even richer. How rich can you get?
But the even bigger secret has to do with Evelyn and her daughter. Jake, of course, ends up falling for Evelyn but can't figure out what is the deal with the daughter. Why is she hiding her and why are they trying to leave the country? I'm not going to give that secret away. But there is a classic scene in movie history where this secret is disclosed. Why it even spawned a pretty good sequel to this movie called "The Two Jakes."
I think that Faye Dunaway played her part well. She has a classic beauty that has been molded to look like the 1930s. Jack Nicholson is his usual brutish self, a sort of diamond in the rough, who muddles his way through the movie toward the ultimate truth. Both were cast perfectly in my opinion.
You must focus on this movie, or you will not understand what is going on. In fact, I have watched it at least 5 times. And I still learn something new every time.
It was nominated for many Academy Awards including Best Actress for Faye Dunaway, Best Actor for Jack Nicholson, Best Director for Roman Polanski, and Best Picture. None of them won. It did win an award for Best Screenplay. It is well worth watching.
Jack Nicholson as Jake Gittes is the detective hired by a false Mrs. Mulray to find her missing husband. It turns out that the real Mrs. Mulray is Faye Dunaway, who shows up later. While trying to find Mr Mulray, Jake gets involved in the second plot that has to do with diverting water into the Pacific Ocean, when Los Angeles is thirsting for water. This is the movie, where Jake gets his nose slit open in a grisly scene by a ruthless hit man, Roman Polanski, who directed the movie.
Behind it all is Evelyn Mulray's father, Lucas Cross, played by John Huston, who looks and talks mean even in real life. He is buying up land around Los Angeles so that he can control the water supply and get even richer. How rich can you get?
But the even bigger secret has to do with Evelyn and her daughter. Jake, of course, ends up falling for Evelyn but can't figure out what is the deal with the daughter. Why is she hiding her and why are they trying to leave the country? I'm not going to give that secret away. But there is a classic scene in movie history where this secret is disclosed. Why it even spawned a pretty good sequel to this movie called "The Two Jakes."
I think that Faye Dunaway played her part well. She has a classic beauty that has been molded to look like the 1930s. Jack Nicholson is his usual brutish self, a sort of diamond in the rough, who muddles his way through the movie toward the ultimate truth. Both were cast perfectly in my opinion.
You must focus on this movie, or you will not understand what is going on. In fact, I have watched it at least 5 times. And I still learn something new every time.
It was nominated for many Academy Awards including Best Actress for Faye Dunaway, Best Actor for Jack Nicholson, Best Director for Roman Polanski, and Best Picture. None of them won. It did win an award for Best Screenplay. It is well worth watching.
Review ID: 10000000003229840
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CANDY is DANDY but INCEST is BEST: CHINATOWNReview created: 04/25/02
by: George_Chabot-- a member of Epinions and Advisor in Movies
Pros:
Production values, score, John Huston as actor
Production values, score, John Huston as actor
Cons:
Plot absurdities, Dunaway, otherwise weak casting
Plot absurdities, Dunaway, otherwise weak casting
Roman Polanski had a hit with his 1974 film noir Chinatown. Reminiscent of the original '40s noirs like Maltese Falcon or The Big Sleep, Chinatown featured a hardboiled detective sifting through clues trying to put together a puzzle where nobody was exactly who he seemed to be and everyone was more than a little bit guilty. In terms of technical execution it is a masterpiece, however there are some weaknesses that kept me from enjoying it enough to give it an unequivocal five star - two thumbs up rating. The Good: A fairly involving story and characters from the pen of Robert Towne sets the...
Review ID: 10000000000426415
Everything's JakeReview created: 07/28/05
by: spelvini-- a member of Epinions and Top Reviewer in Movies
Pros:
Great Noir from Polanski, Towne, and Evans, with great cast
Great Noir from Polanski, Towne, and Evans, with great cast
Cons:
would be great if they had actually shot the alternate ending that the screenwriter wanted
would be great if they had actually shot the alternate ending that the screenwriter wanted
The perspective of the Noir universe is as defined by the European mindset as it is by the Americans. This is the case with the success of "Chinatown". Roman Polanski brought his own Polish perspective and grand classicist tragic view to "Chinatown", and this become clear in the words of the director in the featured documentary included with the widescreen release. With a crackerjack original script by Robert Towne, and direction by Roman Polanski, and perfs by Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston (!), "Chinatown" in this DVD re-mastered edition is aces. Included is a rare insightful.
Review ID: 10000000000426424
We Now All Live . . . in CHINATOWN.Review created: 04/15/00
by: macresarf1 -- a member of Epinions
Pros:
Perhaps the most complex and layered film noir ever made.
Perhaps the most complex and layered film noir ever made.
Cons:
It really does require several viewings to begin to take it all in.
It really does require several viewings to begin to take it all in.
A rare true work of motion picture art, Roman Polanski's CHINATOWN (1974) exists, as art must, on several levels: its surface, its shape, the colors it carries, its elements, its psychology, its balance; then in retrospect, its personal statement, its social commentary, its place in the development of cinematic art, and its historical significance. The former elements always serve the latter. On the surface, CHINATOWN is a conventional private detective story, the tale of a man whose job it is to discover the truth and protect his clients. In the mid 1930's, Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson),...
Review ID: 10000000000426425
Chinatown, My ChinatownReview created: 05/19/02
by: MrsNormanMaine -- a member of Epinions
Pros:
Superb cast. Superb script. Superb direction.
Superb cast. Superb script. Superb direction.
Cons:
None - a modern classic.
None - a modern classic.
Rehearsals for Aida on Ice did not go well this weekend. Esther Williams showed up to begin learning her numbers as Amneris. Unfortunately, she decided to begin by executing one of her famous swan dives into the pool. She was under the impression that we were working with water rather than ice and she hit the rink at the Ice-A-Rama with a heavy thud and had to be carted off to Cedars Sinai with a concussion and a LeFort III facial fracture. I'm told she's going to be fine but it's put her out of the show and we're back to the drawing board trying to find an appropriate female costar. Joseph,..
Review ID: 10000000000426427
Chinatown is a tribute to classic Film NoirReview created: 03/15/00
by: kmhinman -- a member of Epinions
Pros:
Great part for Jake Nicholson, a masterpiece of film making
Great part for Jake Nicholson, a masterpiece of film making
Cons:
a slight stray from typical film noir.
a slight stray from typical film noir.
"Chinatown" (1974) is a tribute to classic Film Noir with a twist. I recently watched this film (on 16 MM no less) in my Intro to Film class here at Ole Miss. I have to say I enjoyed every minute. For anyone who appreciates great film direction, you can't go wrong with this masterpiece by Roman Polanski. "Chinatown" is Film Noir through and through until the end. Why do I say that? Well, let me give away the ending. In the end, Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) the ex-cop, detective hero of the film, does get the girl. Actually, Evelyn Cross Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) is killed and her daughter is...
Review ID: 10000000000426423
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