Chinatown

Name: Chinatown
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: June 20, 1974
Duration: 130 min
Rating: 92
Cast: Faye Dunaway, Jack Nicholson, John Huston

1974

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 378 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 378 Ratings

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Chinatown

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: June 20, 1974 | R

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 comeJack 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

Director: Roman Polanski

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 130 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Philip Frech

This film is flawless. Read full review

100

Michael Blowen

It's my favorite movie...Chinatown is a complex reminder of how movies were made when filmmakers held the cards - before product placement, marketers, and agents assumed control of the business. Before movies had to be sold to studios on the basis of zippy one-liners. I dare say that the movie wouldn't stand a chance of getting the green light today unless Julia Roberts was interested in playing Jane Gittes. [5 Nov 1999, p.D5]

100

James Berardinelli

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. Read full review

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

The dialogue is crackling ("Are you alone?" – "Isn't everyone?") and the set pieces, like the one in the antisemitic old people's home, are just superb. Polanski brilliantly shows that money and power are not what's motivating everyone after all. There's a lower stratum of sexual dysfunction and fear at work, which is difficult, if not impossible to understand:: the ultimate meaning of the chaotic "Chinatown" of the title. Unmissable. Read full review

100

Staff (Not Credited)

An outstanding picture. Read full review

100

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

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. Read full review

Gene Siskel

As much as I admire the work of both (Roman) Polanski and (Jack) Nicholson, I found Chinatown tedious from beginning to just before the end. [15 July 1974]

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User Reviews

MattBrady99

May 4, 2015

Ida Sessions: "Are you alone?"

J.J. Gittes: "Isn't everybody?" The story to Chinatown is about a private detective, Jake Gittes, hired to investigate an adultery case, stumbles on the plot of a murder involving incest and the privatization of water through state and municipalIda Sessions: "Are you alone?"

J.J. Gittes: "Isn't everybody?"

The story to Chinatown is about a private detective, Jake Gittes, hired to investigate an adultery case, stumbles on the plot of a murder involving incest and the privatization of water through state and municipal corruption, land use and real estate. If he doesn't drop the case at once he faces threats of legal action, but he pursues it anyway, slowly uncovering a vast conspiracy.

Some people may not know but I got a lot of things to do and those things are reviewing 8 Movies, three TV shows and two video games so basically that's why I'm a bit behind of the new releases. Then and now I have to take a little break or a day off from doing this because well I can be a bit tried of doing this, but I still have fun reviewing and I'm extremely proud to be talking about the great classics and the new films, TV shows and games that come out. Speaking of cult classics, Chinatown was on top of my list to watch next, because I heard nothing but amazing things about this movie and after watching it I can agree that this movie was outstanding.

Jack Nicholson is now known as the single best actor of all time just like Daniel Day-Lewis, Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, and in this movie his talent dose shine in this movie. He played his so well that I actually didn't fully hate him because in the movie his character is kind of a A-hole but I didn't hate him, if a different director took the director chair and directed the movie differently then maybe I would have dislike him. Jack Nicholson did probably his 4th best performance that I've seen from him.

The movie is filled with lines that I won't lie but the lines have stuck with me after the movie was over and I got to give the writers credit for that. The music in this movie has that smooth jazzy beat to it and that totally fitted the movie so well. The cinematography in this movie was shot beautifully and just perfection with it's open and normal shots.

For problems I don't really have any problems to be honest. I didn't find a single thing that I dislike or bothered me, no wonder it's classic.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

joelgreenberg

May 23, 2021

Chinatown, the 1974 classic, grows in power and refuses to fade from mind. I recall seeing it in its first release, walking out of the theatre feeling clubbed into fascination and endless admiration. How does a movie like this get made at all, let alone with such care and intellectualChinatown, the 1974 classic, grows in power and refuses to fade from mind. I recall seeing it in its first release, walking out of the theatre feeling clubbed into fascination and endless admiration. How does a movie like this get made at all, let alone with such care and intellectual complexity? In an era of thrilling film after thrilling film, would Chinatown soon be overtaken by the next New Wave filmmaker? Coppola, Scorsese, DePalma, Bogdanovich and on and on? Who/what could challenge the Towne/Polanski/Evans trifecta? All these years later, coming on to 50, the answer is none of the above. Which isn't to say that each of the New Hollywood boys isn't assured a front row seat in the period's filmography - but Chinatown lasts and gnaws more deeply as time passes. This is a film that drew the best of the very best, together, collaborating in an profession that rarely allowed passion to subvert the bottom line. And it sold tickets, too, the postscript to an era already struggling against the corporate greed and banality that would extinguish the fire of imagination.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

j30

Jan 26, 2012

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.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Thegodfatherson

Jul 14, 2013

I hate Roman Polinski but sometimes criminals can be masters. "Politicians, ugly buildings and whores all get respectable if they last long enough," says John Huston's crooked construction magnate Noah Cross in this remarkable neo-noir by Roman Polanski, now nationally rereleased in cinemasI hate Roman Polinski but sometimes criminals can be masters. "Politicians, ugly buildings and whores all get respectable if they last long enough," says John Huston's crooked construction magnate Noah Cross in this remarkable neo-noir by Roman Polanski, now nationally rereleased in cinemas (like Repulsion) in connection with a retrospective at London's BFI Southbank. What the passage of time has done for this superlative 1974 film is progressively lessen our sense of its being simply a modern pastiche of the classic 30s gumshoe thrillers. The time-gap has narrowed, and it now looks like a classic in a direct line of succession to those earlier pictures.
As bruised and cynical as the decade that produced it, this noir classic benefits from Robert Towne's brilliant screenplay, director Roman Polanski's steady hand, and wonderful performances from Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ZawMine

Jun 26, 2015

Feel sorry for Mr. Gittes! That ending though. Jack Nicholson alone is entertaining and enjoyable to watch. Chinatown is a 130 minutes crime-mystery-drama which is worth watching. The movie is kinda slow and heavy but worth watching.
What do you say? I love it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AJ_13

Sep 22, 2021

Iconic performances, impeccable score, great script and a freaking good ending.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Jan 2, 2017

Polar des années 30 à Los Angeles qui se complique assez vite -enfin, façon de parler vu que le film entier est une énorme limace- Chinatown brille comme le soleil étouffant de son climat et de son intrigue tout aussi étouffante grâce à Faye Dunaway et Jack Nicholson, tous deux excellents.Polar des années 30 à Los Angeles qui se complique assez vite -enfin, façon de parler vu que le film entier est une énorme limace- Chinatown brille comme le soleil étouffant de son climat et de son intrigue tout aussi étouffante grâce à Faye Dunaway et Jack Nicholson, tous deux excellents.

Film noir donc dont l'ambiance autour des magouilles des puissants débouche sur une révélation scabreuse comme si le scénariste avait reçu un coup sur la tête (une insolation sans doute). On y croit pas et même en tant que caricature (d'un goût douteux !), l'effet comique est des plus ratés.

A la fois languissant et finalement grotesque, Chinatown s'avère en conséquence de quoi un fort mauvais polar que même ses acteurs ne parviennent pas à sauver. Victime de sa prétention, de son maniérisme et de son infinie lenteur, le film de Polanski est un gâchis des plus regrettables.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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