Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this collectors edition! Perfect film, okay extras., 9 Dec 2007
Chinatown is a cult classic and was the film that broke the mould in Jack Nicholson's career. The plot line is complex and it would be criminal if it was ruined. But, it basically involves water in the heat of LA during the 1930's and a dark family secret. The hero of the film is J.J. Gittes (Nicholson), a private gumshoe on the case of an adultery crime. The film is powerful and Nicholson is at his rawest and most intense during Chinatown. It is a wonderful, stylish thriller that is sure to be viewed again and again. The extras on this disk are fairly limited. Some of the documentaries are very entertaining but too short. This can be excused when considering the update of the feature's audio and great picture transfer. You will need patience to enjoy Chinatown, but if you can deal with that, you will be a lucky individual indeed...
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Superb 1930s-Era Detective Drama - Jack Nicholson at his Best, 10 Mar 2008
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 the 1930s 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.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
one of the best 70's films, 18 Jun 2008
Jack Nicholson (One flew over the cuckoo's nest) stars alongside Faye Dunaway (Bonnie and Clyde) in Roman Polanski's (The Pianist) compelling crime drama Chinatown where Jake Gittes is hired to investigate an affair, which ultimately leads into a political and deadly investigation surrounding the town's water supply.
With a gritty opening and a fascinating and dramatic climax, Chinatown has established itself as one of the best written crime dramas of the 70's and deserved Oscar winner for best writing original screenplay with excellent dialogue, no cheesy clichés or anything like that, a true realistic approach to the crime world, which is helped along by an excellent cast and brilliant direction.
One of my favourite Nicholson performances, he plays central protagonist detective Jake Gittes, a professional with an edge, a real cutting attitude to seek out what he wants.
Faye Dunaway is equally as impressive as Mrs Mulwray and these two characters with strong personalities and agendas create tense and engaging situations, justifying the genre beautifully.
It is one of the best directed films I have ever seen, perhaps only behind a couple which include The Good the bad and the ugly among others.
The settings are effective along with the situations and the lighting.
Costume design and general cinematography are all effectively established to give the film the emotion and sophistication it needed.
Though I got lost at a couple of turns with the plot, there is still no question that the dialogue and the timing of the situations deserve its praise. Had it not been for the brilliant Godfather II then this film noir classic would surely have scooped a few more Oscars.
the special features are very interesting as well undertanding how the film came about and is a great purchase
9/10
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