One of the greats

Rating: 10/10 (15 November 2007)

Top notch art has layers. That is, a painting, a sculpture, a movie, can be recognized as superb no matter who is viewing it, because intellectual and emotional levels are struck to depth. Chinatown is such a work of art. Much must be assigned to the splendid performances of the leads, Nicholson and Dunaway. Jack never bit so deeply into a roll and found such flavor. His wise guy determination not to be screwed over makes the perfect foil for Dunaway's worldly innocence. All of the supporting actors pitch their tents on this base and none come up wanting. Of course Polanski was the genius behind the curtain and no matter what his personal foibles he gave us Chinatown, a period piece, humanistic commentary, railyard gristle, and detective story up with the best of them. This is first class stuff and worthy of any award that can be given to it.