Chinatown Review

Release Date: 20 June 1974

Age Certificate: 15

Running Time: 130 mins

Director: Roman Polanski

Writers: Robert Towne

Stars: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston

I’m going back to the good old days now. I’m reviewing one of my favourite films of all time, Chinatown, made in 1974, directed by the twisted Roman Polanski starring Jack Nicholson. To begin this review one of the reasons I love this film is because of the performance of Jack Nicholson and of course Jack Nicholson has been in lots of fantastic films but in Chinatown I believe this was his best performance. And there have been plenty of films were he has been mind blowing, such as The Shining. But in this film he blew the role out of the water. He engulfed the role of JJ Gittes, you see that so rarely, you hardly ever see an actor integrate so much into a part of a film now a days. His performance really helps the film.

Chinatown has one of the best scripts, it was written by Robert Towne. He is one of the best writers Hollywood have ever seen and this was his best work, it makes this film so solid, it is almost perfect. Also Faye Dunaway and she was defiantly the best actress of the 70’s and this is also probably her best acting. Faye and Jack has some of the best chemistry on screen you will ever see. Maybe it has something to do with script as well.

This film blends with several genres; action, horror, mystery and obviously Noir. It makes any film fanatic worthy of watching this fantastic film. It has a great soundtrack i.e. jazz, it fits the film perfectly; it built tension and never sounded out of place.

Overall, I believe that it is one of the best films ever made. Everything combines to make your jaw drop to the floor.

9.8/10

Trailer right here: