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DVD Description
In a legendary performance, three-time Academy Award® winner Jack Nicholson* stars as private eye Jake Gittes.
Hired by a mysterious woman to investigate Hollis Mulwray, the chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Gittes' sleuthing brings him into contact with Mulwray's wife (Academy Award® winner Faye Dunaway), a stunning socialite with secrets of her own.
As a determined Gittes delves deeper, he soon realises that even the City of Angels has a dark side.
Director Roman Polanski's Chinatown has evolved from an atmospheric film noir mystery into a modern-day classic, with Robert Towne's Academy Award®-winning script unforgettably and brilliantly capturing a lost era of deceit, corruption and treachery.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Chinatown is a terrific period drama of the 'Film-Noir' genre (although note it is filmed in colour !) and in my top 5 best films. It was directed by Roman Polanski and deservedly won an Oscar for Best Screenplay.
It features 2 fantastic lead actor performances, from Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, and is perhaps notable for the fact that the Nicholson character is never off the screen since the film is made from his viewpoint.
He plays a very 'colourful' private detective who gets himself involved with an investigation into an apparent murder, corruption and family feuding. Things progress dramatically and he unearths many well-kept secrets....
It is set in 1930s Los Angeles and the production values to reflect that era (eg costume and vehicles) are superb. Similarly, the musical soundtrack (which it turns out only replaced an inferior version at the very last minute !) helps to portray the mood.
There are some other well-known actors (eg John Huston) but this film belongs to Nicholson, who delivers his lines (which include some hilarious one-liners) superlatively and exhibits all the necessary emotions of confusion, aggression and competence in a lively and masterly fashion. I shan't give it away, but watch out for a 'sharp' and amusing cameo by the director himself....
The picture on this 'Special Collector's Edition' disc has been restored - it is excellent and a clear improvement over the previous issue; it is sharp, bright, flawless and has vivid colours.
I didn't notice any great change in the soundtrack, largely because the previous issue was already quite good.
There are a number of interesting featurettes which include contributions from Polanski, Nicholson and the writer of the Screenplay, Robert Towne.
It features 2 fantastic lead actor performances, from Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, and is perhaps notable for the fact that the Nicholson character is never off the screen since the film is made from his viewpoint.
He plays a very 'colourful' private detective who gets himself involved with an investigation into an apparent murder, corruption and family feuding. Things progress dramatically and he unearths many well-kept secrets....
It is set in 1930s Los Angeles and the production values to reflect that era (eg costume and vehicles) are superb. Similarly, the musical soundtrack (which it turns out only replaced an inferior version at the very last minute !) helps to portray the mood.
There are some other well-known actors (eg John Huston) but this film belongs to Nicholson, who delivers his lines (which include some hilarious one-liners) superlatively and exhibits all the necessary emotions of confusion, aggression and competence in a lively and masterly fashion. I shan't give it away, but watch out for a 'sharp' and amusing cameo by the director himself....
The picture on this 'Special Collector's Edition' disc has been restored - it is excellent and a clear improvement over the previous issue; it is sharp, bright, flawless and has vivid colours.
I didn't notice any great change in the soundtrack, largely because the previous issue was already quite good.
There are a number of interesting featurettes which include contributions from Polanski, Nicholson and the writer of the Screenplay, Robert Towne.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
The five stars is for the film itself, BTW.
Anyone who is thinking of pre-ordering this, beware... there has been news that it might end up a vanilla disc in the U.K. Apparently, the German disc (released by Paramount, just like the U.S and U.K) which has been already been released, doesn't have any of the extras as follows...
Audio Commentary: Screenwriter Robert Towne and Filmmaker David Fincher.
Water and Power (480p, 1:17:50)
Chinatown: An Appreciation (480p, 26:15)
Chinatown: The Beginning and the End (480p, 19:28)
Chinatown: Filming (480p, 25:45)
Chinatown: The Legacy (480p. 9:37)
Chinatown Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 3:20)
I just checked the BBFC website and the only thing they have certificated for the Blu-Ray is the damn menus! (which I am sure are just static with not even Jerry Goldsmith's mysterious score to give it atmosphere!) It's less than two weeks before the release as of now, so this doesn't bode well at all! Paramount U.K have cheaped out on this big time ; it isn't the first time they have done something similar and it won't be the last either!
Luckly, the American disc is Region Free, so there will be no problem with it playing on U.K players, though it's bound to cost more in shipping...
ONCE AGAIN, GO SCREW YOURSELF, PARAMOUNT U.K!!!
Anyone who is thinking of pre-ordering this, beware... there has been news that it might end up a vanilla disc in the U.K. Apparently, the German disc (released by Paramount, just like the U.S and U.K) which has been already been released, doesn't have any of the extras as follows...
Audio Commentary: Screenwriter Robert Towne and Filmmaker David Fincher.
Water and Power (480p, 1:17:50)
Chinatown: An Appreciation (480p, 26:15)
Chinatown: The Beginning and the End (480p, 19:28)
Chinatown: Filming (480p, 25:45)
Chinatown: The Legacy (480p. 9:37)
Chinatown Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 3:20)
I just checked the BBFC website and the only thing they have certificated for the Blu-Ray is the damn menus! (which I am sure are just static with not even Jerry Goldsmith's mysterious score to give it atmosphere!) It's less than two weeks before the release as of now, so this doesn't bode well at all! Paramount U.K have cheaped out on this big time ; it isn't the first time they have done something similar and it won't be the last either!
Luckly, the American disc is Region Free, so there will be no problem with it playing on U.K players, though it's bound to cost more in shipping...
ONCE AGAIN, GO SCREW YOURSELF, PARAMOUNT U.K!!!
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I've lost count the number of times I've seen this brilliantly executed period piece. Beautifully photographed and superbly played by all concerned, a director on the top of his game and a screenplay that screams class and pulls you in to the film.
Jack Nicholson plays Jake Gittes, a Private Investigator who gets embroiled in double dealings and deceits in the clammy climate of a pre-war Southern California where the orange groves flourish from the water supply being pumped there in the middle of a drought. He gets hired by a beautiful socialite, Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair and to find out who his killer was.
Although this is a wonderful film that is also a gem and a landmark movie in the tradition of film noir, some of the concepts featured in the film can still somehow ring true watching it today. Jack Nicholson has never been so masterful and Faye Dunaway has never looked so sexy and sultry as she does here. It also features stunning support in the shape of film legend John Huston, father of Anjelica Huston.
This is one of those films that should be seen. Many people think that L.A. Confidential is better than this. In my personal view though, this set the standard for other film noir movies to follow. And only L.A. Confidential has been able to come close. This is still the better film in my opinion. It's one of my favourite films of all time.
Jack Nicholson plays Jake Gittes, a Private Investigator who gets embroiled in double dealings and deceits in the clammy climate of a pre-war Southern California where the orange groves flourish from the water supply being pumped there in the middle of a drought. He gets hired by a beautiful socialite, Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair and to find out who his killer was.
Although this is a wonderful film that is also a gem and a landmark movie in the tradition of film noir, some of the concepts featured in the film can still somehow ring true watching it today. Jack Nicholson has never been so masterful and Faye Dunaway has never looked so sexy and sultry as she does here. It also features stunning support in the shape of film legend John Huston, father of Anjelica Huston.
This is one of those films that should be seen. Many people think that L.A. Confidential is better than this. In my personal view though, this set the standard for other film noir movies to follow. And only L.A. Confidential has been able to come close. This is still the better film in my opinion. It's one of my favourite films of all time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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beautifly told tale. highly reccommended
beautifly told tale. highly reccommended
Published 22 months ago by Marshall Jeffery
......" either you bring the water to L.A. or you bring L.A. to the...
Chinatown is a story about a fearless private detective called Jake Gittes, who is paid to spy on an important public figure by a woman who fraudulently claims to be his wife. Read more
Published on 3 April 2010 by Current Account
Jerry Goldsmith's "Chinatown"
I may be pushing the proverbial boat out here, but I swear this film's iconic status owes a lot to the seductive score by Jerry Goldsmith. Read more
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Chinatown is famed for a variety of reasons. One is the complexity and audacity of the storytelling. Read more
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