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Last updated: 03 Jul 2026 at 18:42 UTC

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Review of by Stephen E — 28 Aug 2011

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Chinatown is a masterful achievement in cinema. With Roman Polanski's directing, Jack Nicholson's acting, and Robert Towne's writing, it proves that a perfect movie can be made. Behind everything that I write, Chinatown always remains to be the inspiration. It is such a flawless picture.

Sure, it is sometimes thrilling, and being film noir, it makes you pay attention to the small things. You have to pick up on the details as Gittes comes across them, waiting for the finale where everything comes together and the case is solved. But that's not what Chinatown is about.

It is about the way that the thrills are delivered, how they are crafted. It is an exercise in fabulous filmmaking. And that's why you watch. Not just for the thrills, or the finale, but for the finesse. For the pure finesse.

And after a couple viewings, Chinatown has become my favorite movie.

This review of Chinatown (1974) was written by on 28 Aug 2011.

Chinatown has generally received very positive reviews.

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