Such a good movie, yet so depressing. Sure, that’s honestly the true magic of this movie, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less. On a technical level, this movie is immaculate, with gorgeous cinematography and a fittingly melancholy score. Couple that with a twist-turning story that only gets more shocking the further it unravels, and you’ve got a quintessential film noir to look back on. On a performance level, I honestly didn’t see how Jack Nicholson could fit into this role (which ironic given how screenwriter Robert Towne wrote the character with him in mind), but like any good actor he pulled off a commendable performance. Meanwhile, Faye Dunaway provides the perfect counter to Nicholson with a ton of depth and layers to pull back from. But to me, the film’s smoking gun is John Huston, whose performance just has to be seen to be believed. Overall, Chinatown is one of those films that works on almost every aspect, but even then, it’s with its ending that it leaves a lasting mark on those who’ve seen it.

I was not ready for the unrepentant bleakness of this movie. Absolutely deserves every bit of praise.

9.9/10 Jerry Goldsmith’s jazzy score is impeccable. His use of piano adds to the tension, while the trumpet in the main theme is almost melancholic. The cinematography of “Chinatown” matches its story. Shots linger on subjects, going unbroken for longer than most films. This reflects the voyeuristic nature of Jake’s profession. It should come as no surprise that Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway are excellent in this film. However, despite only being in a couple scenes, John Huston delivers a perfectly unlikable performance in his role as Cross. All of that is great, but where “Chinatown” really shines is in its screenplay. The characters, especially Jake, are incredibly well built. Every scene adds something to the story. There’s really no fluff, and it all comes to an ending that’s next to horrific. My only very slight knock against “Chinatown” is that it moves slow. Most of the time, this is in a good way, as it allows the viewer to really sit with the atmosphere and characters, but occasionally it becomes a bit dull.