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Chinatown
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Metascore
86 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critics What's this?

User Score
9.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 54 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Faye Dunaway, Jack Nicholson, John Huston
  • Summary: Jack Nicholson is private-eye Jake Gittes, living off the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-war Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extramarital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together for one, unforgettable night in Chinatown. (Paramount)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    100
    A wonderfully brooding, suspenseful revisitation of the land of film noir, Chinatown is not only one of the greatest detective films, but one of the most perfectly constructed of all films.
  2. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    100
    A nearly flawless example of movie composition, with close examination revealing how carefully it was put together. For those who take a less studious and more visceral approach to movie viewing, it's also worth noting that Chinatown is a superior thriller - one that will keep viewers involved and "in the moment" until the final, mournful scene has come to a conclusion.
  3. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    [Nicholson's] performance is key in keeping Chinatown from becoming just a genre crime picture--that, and a Robert Towne screenplay that evokes an older Los Angeles, a small city in a large desert.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. AlexP.
    10
    A great movie even by todays standards with a great storyline, great acting and great camerawork.
    • 0 of 1 users said yes
  2. j30
    10
    This neo-noir, old school movie rocks. The masterful Roman Polanski directs this powerhouse of a movie with Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway are at their best. I can't recommend this movie enough.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. grandpajoe6191
    8
    I enjoyed Jack Nicholson's slow yet piercing performance as well as the cinematography, However what makes this one stand amongst other movies is Roman Polanski. His humor-full, danger-full, masterful direction hits the jack pot.… Expand
    • 2 of 2 users said yes

See all 17 User Reviews

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