I am very much in minority here

Rating: 7/10 (25 March 2009)

I realise I am very much in minority here but, I don't rate this movie anything like as much as most people clearly do. It is enjoyable, fairly clever and just about holds the interest but there is a big problem. Probably the very best thing in this is Jack Nicholson, trouble is he virtually is the film. Much as I enjoy watching the man when he is on top form like this, he does distract from the working of the film. Also, good though his performance is, he does not convince of his attraction to Dunaway. Talking of the leading lady, I may as well try an deal with another irritation, this whole mystery surrounding her and its clarification at the end. I think the whole mother/sister incest business is another distraction and just a little too close to home with regard to the director and his known sexual preferences. Basically I think Polanski wanted to make a noir, he loved the idea of using the iconic Nicholson and he got off on the Dunaway secret both aspects subsequently, for me alone it seems, conspiring to defeat him.