"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."

Rating: 10/10 (3 August 2007)

In "Chinatown," Jack Nicholson plays Jake Gittes, a private eye who bites on to more than he can chew when he begins to investigate the murder of a big-shot in the L.A. water industry.
Characters/Plot: 10/10 The screenplay of "Chinatown," which is arguably the best ever written, won the film's only Academy Award. Why? Because it's amazing! There are so many memorable lines in the film, and every twist in the plot is completely unpredictable. The characters are of course ingenious as well.
Acting: 10/10 The film has two great leading performances, one great large supporting performance, and a ton of great smaller turns. Jack Nicholson gives the performance of his career as Jake Gittes, while Faye Dunaway complements him nicely as Evelyn, a mysterious woman with a twisted past. John Huston is also terrific as Noah Cross, a bigwig with a suspicious demeanor. My favorite of the smaller performances was that of Roman Polanski (the director) as a knife-wielding goon.
Technical: 10/10 The violent scenes are shockingly realistic for a 1970s film, the sound and visual effects line up nicely, the cinematography is completely amazing, and the score is classic.
Atmosphere: 10/10 The atmosphere of the film is its true strongest point. The costumes and at direction give off the feel of old-time Los Angeles, and the film manages to be creepy and mysterious all the way through. The score for the film is subtle but brilliant.
Entertainment: 9/10 The plot moves along very well, and the film never really lets go of you once you start watching. There are really no unnecessary scenes either.
Final Score: A+ 9.8/10 (49/50)