Flawless--New American Cinema at its best---Neo Noir at its best

Rating: 10/10 (9 March 2006)

This is my brother's favorite film, and I had resisted seeing it for the last two years or so simply because of that fact. Hey, we are brothers. Upon watching it Wednesday night, I can see what he's talking about. Sitting here, I can remember not a single flaw in this film. Nicholson, Dunaway, and all the actors are consistently great, even brilliant, and the cinematography is amazing. Roman Polanski's life's story is so sad, it's amazing the level of art he is able to craft in his pictures. Really, I had a sense of awe walking out of Cheray on Wednesday night, a similar feeling I had after seeing The Pianist a few years ago. The difference is, I didn't leave Chinatown hating humanity and all of human history.
Jack Nicholson is incredible in this film. As outgoing and brass as he is in The Last Detail, it's amazing to see him so coy and careful in this picture. As each week goes by we are seeing his legend grow, and it's really thrilling.
Next, I want to comment that I was not expecting such a great mystery story going into this. It was like watching one of these detective TV shows, but instead of flat characters and predictable story lines I saw a brilliantly round bunch of people living a huge twisted life. It's violent and it's loving, it's suspenseful and heartbreaking. I can't say enough about how perfect a film I think this is.
Next, I want to comment on the use of the score in this film. The trumpet solos are simply haunting. They add age to the film, in echoing the popular music of the time, and they add a sort of eerie tone. It's absolutely perfect for a mystery like this.
I also want to comment on the credits being at the beginning of the film. Not only does this show importance with regards to the entire production staff, but Polanski presents them in such a way that immediately set the time of the movie. The script is old-fashioned, the background is an old-fashioned theatre curtain, and the colors are deep browns, black, and white. So, when the first scene finally shows up the viewer already knows he is in a time and setting that is looking back, and that he's in for a story.