Amazing Film Noir

Rating: Null/10 (24 December 2006)

This is a noir mystery, with a dark, haunting story, great acting and a brilliant direction. Its ambiance is just perfect. In this story, every character has complicated issues that can't be solved, a troubled past and sins they can't atone for. It's all very dark and mysterious, and it gets you in the edge of your seat. The political part of the mystery keeps you guessing and it's incredibly competent, but the character development and their personal issues are even better.
The screenplay is mind-blowing. All of its subplots are perfectly developed and are understood just at the right time, they keep you guessing. The characters are all believable and interesting: Gittes (Jack Nicholson) and his obsession, Evelyn (Faye Dunaway) trying to get her life back together and, Noah Cross, the personification of evil, have a convincing, elaborated relationship with each other. They are all, in a way or another, trying to atone but in Chinatown there's no redemption. The dialogs have a lot of meaning and are thought provoking. Some show the hypocrisy of people and others just their weakness, always in a tense, disguised way. There are a bunch of quotable lines too. The ending is surprising but well done and very fitting. The themes are spoke of with maturity and sensibility.
The acting is great. Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston have a very believable, amazing chemistry between them, they seem to be always messing with the other's mind, trying to mistake him and convince him. All this is noticed just by a gaze, a movement or a blink. It's very subtle, but it makes the performances outstanding. Jack Nicholson creates a haunted character, strong but human. Faye Dunaway makes her character remarkably vulnerable and sad, even if at the same time a bit of a femme fatale. John Huston is evil, in his two scenes he's just perfect. All the secondary actors are talented and they make this movie better.
I highly enjoy Polanski's way of shooting, all the angles and camera movements he tends to use. He does a great job once again. The movie never gets tiring and some of the shots are breathtaking. They are a beautiful homage to older noir movies, even if still have their originality.
The music is haunting and it gives a movie a touch of originality. The editing pays homage to the noir movies from the 40's, showing the many layers of the story slowly and there's not one minute tat shouldn't be there. The cinematography, glossy but dirty, with an harsh, dark lighting creates the right ambiance. Just brilliant and unmissable.