Wonderful Movie

Rating: 10/10 (12 September 2009)

I can hardly believe that this movie is 35 years old. It is so fresh and appealing; it might have been filmed yesterday.
Polanski has given a Technicolour take on the noir genre and come up trumps. There are no technical aspects with which I can take issue.
Jack Nicholson turns in a splendid performance for a Hammeresque gumshoe of the period, easily as good as Bogey or Mitchum - Sardonic, cynical, unafraid but still very human. I'm surprised he didn't do more. Whilst Faye Dunawaye makes an equally plausible take on the 'broad who is damaged goods'.
It's the usually convoluted tale of a private dick retained to investigate a missing person and then finding himself in a whole mess of hot (read cold) water. An especial challenge for Nicholson is that less than halfway through the movie, a switch-blade thug (played by Polanski himself) opens his nostril. For most of the rest of the time he is forced to play his part with this clownish, carbuncular dressing on his nose. That he still continues to offer an entirely believable performance is a measure of the great man's talent. A lot of actors would simply have refused a role that so obviously disfigured their pretty faces.
All of the other ensemble turn in sterling performances, too.
The vintage period is captured extremely well. There are some wonderful choices in motorcars.
Script is slick, witty and hard-edged, just like a good noir should be. It certainly pays to listen.
And finally, no movie is complete and many are spoiled by an inappropriate or unmemorable music score. Here again, 'Chinatown' hits just the right spot with a slow jazz number, headed by a maudlin trumpet lead. You won't forget it.
Thoroughly gripping entertainment in every aspect, no technical issues to criticise; what can I do but give it 10 stars?