No, it really isn't the best movie ever

Rating: 8/10 (2 June 2005)

Does that mean it's bad? Certainly not I wouldn't suggest that it's a really good movie, probably even a great movie but certainly not the best. Newsweek named it the most influential movie of the 1970's. They must not have seen the Godfather Parts I or II or a virtual host of other movies (Jaws, Rocky, Patton to name just three) that were more famous and much more noteworthy to the public. True this was one of Nicholson's best and most famous performances (along with The Shining, A Few Good Men, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) and the same is true for Faye Dunaway perhaps her most famous role. She was young, beautiful, and talented and I know Ali McGraw couldn't have touched her performance in 2 million years. I have not seen this film for quite some time which explains why I don't believe it was the greatest film of the 1970's if it was I would have watched it more than a couple of times in my entire life. I never had much respect for Polanski's work and it had nothing to do with the accusations he committed a crime. I just didn't connect with any of his characters or his directing. No slam against him but I just didn't. If I remember correctly Detective Jake Gittes in L.A. is hired to investigate charges of adultery against a wealthy, influential man. When he turns up dead Gittes investigates and turns up a nefarious money making scheme involving the deceased's wife and his father-in-law turned business partner. I don't feel I need to throughly explain this movie as I'm sure it's been done a thousand times on this site but I do think people should view it as it is what I consider a classic. It's was just not that memorable to me aside from the ending which was pretty unexpected.