Chinatown (1974)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Chinatown (1974) – R. Polanski

Chinatown is a movie I continue to get pleasure out of from repeat viewings, despite knowing the ins and outs of the complicated plot surrounding the murder of Hollis Mulwray, head of Los Angeles Water and Power. Robert Towne wrote the Marlowe-like lead character directly for Jack Nicholson and it shows. Even though Polanski famously (and fortuitously) rewrote the ending to be downbeat, he apparently let Jack write his own dialogue to keep the tone right. If the plot wasn't so convoluted, perhaps the film wouldn't keep on giving -- or perhaps ultimately it is the film noir tradition of the fickle finger of fate targeting all of the main characters that leaves the viewer haunted.