Great Film for a number of reasons

Rating: Null/10 (27 May 2002)

Briefly, on first viewing this film, I was not sure about the relevance of the location known as Chinatown. Later I read that the writer, Robert Towne, suggested (rather, insisted) that this was a metaphor and was better left that way. I humbly suggest that I agree with that, but who am I to judge such a brilliant film?
The best aspects in retrospect are:
1) The water theme: this appears throughout 2) Jake Gittes in every scene 3) The period: great cars etc 4) But the enduring impression, rarely mentioned, Jerry Goldsmith's music - although we don't hear the full main theme until late in the film, the entrance of the brass solo sends shivers down my spine!