Review of Chinatown (1974) by Rameshwar N — 18 Mar 2012

The movie seemed to have a soul of its own. Acting oozes with confidence and there is an intimate understanding of the characters they are portraying. The background score is poignant and the screenplay makes sure the movie never lags.

Gittes (Jack Nicholson), a private investigator specialized in matrimonial dealings gets a high profile assignment to track the movements of the city's chief engineer of water and electricity department from a woman claiming to be his wife. After Gittes gathers and delivers enough evidence, it is all over the news next day and a bigger jolt was awaiting him that the women who gave him the assignment was not his wife, but an impersonator. Soon after, the engineer is found dead in the bottom of the reservoir and the police dismisses it as a suicide. To make things right, Gittes approaches his wife Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway). Being vulnerable and no one else to trust, she requests him to pursue this case even further.

Jack Nicholson is in his own personal best with occasional bursts of his trademark histrionics and eccentricity but stays true to the character apprehensive about his understanding of Mrs Mulwray's character. But the star here clearly is Faye Dunaway with her flip flops from a confident woman who has things under control to a vulnerable lonely woman. The complexity of the story is revealed in small pieces and the screenplay and editing does a terrific job in putting those pieces together for the audience.

I will not say that this is a movie not to be missed, but you will not get disappointed if you take the chance.