Well Rounded Film Noir Work

Rating: 9/10 (25 March 1999)

CHINATOWN is a classic example film noir. It is must viewing for fans of the genre.
The Oscar winning script is extremely engaging. Polanski's directing is his best work. The sets and costumes are period perfect. Nicholson is perfect in the protagonist role, and Huston does a perfect "creep."
The only weak area is Faye Dunaway who looks like she is walking through the role. The true film noir femme fatale has a contained emotion the viewer can sense lying underneath her expressionless facade. She is a smoldering volcano only appearing dormant on the outside. Ms. Dunaway got the expressionless appearance right, but we sense no heat underneath. For true examples of femme fatales, think Lauren Bacall in THE BIG SLEEP, Barbara Stanwyk in DOUBLE INDEMNITY, or Marlene Dietrich in TOUCH OF EVIL. Or more modernly the steamy Linda Fiorentino in JADE or THE LAST SEDUCTION.
Still, CHINATOWN is a film not to be missed.