Chinatown
Cast
Jack Nicholson as J. J. (Jake) Gittes
Faye Dunaway as Evelyn Cross Mulwray
John Huston as Noah Cross
Perry Lopez as Lieutenant Lou Escobar LAPD
John Hillerman as Russ Yelburton, Deputy Chief of Water Department
Directed by
Roman Polanski
Rater #2 has description and review
Rater #1
Has Not Seen Movie
Rater #2
Please note: I saw this movie edited for TV, so my review may have
been different if I saw it unedited.
8/10. Chinatown plays much like an old film-noir, except this is in color,
which, for some reason, works very well. In it, Jack Nicholson plays
Jake Gettes. He's a private dick and is hired by Evelyn Mulwray (Faye
Dunaway) to look at her husband, since she thinks he's cheating on
her. He then gets involved in a murder case and something with losing
water in L.A. (which was quite smaller in the 40's, I learned).
Don't watch this alone! Actually, what I mean by that is watch it
with someone else so you can ask them questions during the film. I'm
glad I had that advantage. It's a really entertaining movie that also
keeps you enthralled, not knowing what's going to happen next. Yet,
it deservedly won its Best Original Screenply, which includes one-
liners like: "Is that your phone number?" "I don't know, I don't call
myself that often." I laughed a couple times, which lightened the
mood. I liked the mystery; I kept on guessing, but in the last half
hour or so, I decided to just stop and let the entertainment speak
for itself.
Nicholson did a very good job, what with the sliced nose and all. He
made me believe that he was a P.I. The camerawork, though nothing
impressive, showed us the timepiece, and I really thought I was in
the 40's, set in some old noir that came to color. I supposed that
was director Roman Polanski's idea all along. By the way, Polanski
has a cameo as the hood who slices Jake's nose. Dunaway seemed to be
perfect for the part, at least on what I've seen in the few old noirs
I've seen.
The reason I didn't give Chinatown a higher rating is that I found
myself playing with a paper clip a few times. I also wasn't
really "thrilled" much, just into the mystery. The music was scarce
but it was effective. I wish I could say more, but my memory's hazy,
so I'll leave you with just saying "see it"!
Rater #3
Has Not Seen Movie.
Rater #4
Has Not Seen Movie
Rater #5
Has Not Seen Movie.
Rated R for language and violence.
Running time: 131 minutes
Back Home