Find a flaw? I can't!

Rating: 10/10 (13 June 2000)

Next to The Godfather, this is the movie I would take with me to a desert island (given a choice of one movie). I own this film on VHS, but if it's showing on cable and I happen upon it, I end up watching it anyway. I truly can't find any flaws with it, and although the story can be a bit confusing for first time viewers, it gets better with every repeated viewing. If the Devil exists and I wind up in Hell when I die, I would definitely expect him to be in the guise of Noah Cross. He is the most vile screen villain I can recall; even Tommy Udo from Kiss of Death would have difficulty matching up to him in the meanness category. The final scene of the movie matches up with any other in movie history - "C'mon Jake, it's Chinatown". Existential film noir at it's finest. Don't bother with the sequel if you love this movie. I saw a double feature of Chinatown and The Two Jakes at the New Beverly in Hollywood - big mistake! LA Confidential is a more true sequel, although they chickened out and gave it a happy ending.