It's got one of the most depressing endings to a movie, if not the most.

Rating: 10/10 (1 May 2020)

"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."
A true work of art. A classic that still holds up to this day. With Roman Polanski as the director, Jack Nicholson, and Faye Dunaway's performance, also its film noir approach was enough to hold my attention until the very end.
Chinatown is a mystery film. Jack Nicholson plays Jake Gittes, a private detective who is hired by a woman to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, finds himself in the middle of the water scandal. Through the course of the film, he realizes that the situation he's in is full of mystery, murder, corruption, and deception.
What makes this film so great is its screenplay which is regarded as one of the greatest screenplays of all time. There isn't a single scene you'd find unnecessary. Every interaction, every choice, even the smallest details have their purposes of being there and do add to the whole of the film. As Jake Gittes figures out something, we as the audience learn about that information too. This isn't just about solving a murder mystery, it also focuses on the hero complex and the dark side of humanity.
You can see the influence of earlier film noir. The haunting and evocative music, the stylistic approach to the cinematography creates a peculiar atmosphere, also its captivating storytelling certainly makes it a genuine film classic that requires multiple viewing. Not that it's complex to understand but to appreciate it fully. As a fellow internet citizen said, "It's got one of the most depressing endings to a movie, if not the most." I was sort of in a hypnotic state after finishing the film. I can't talk about this enough. I love everything about this film.