Movie of the Month - January 2008

Chinatown

Genre: Fear/Thriller 

Writer: Robert Towne

Director: Roman Polanski

Release: 1974

Running Time: 131 min.

Awards: Oscar Award for "Best Original Screenplay."  Nominated for Best Picture and Director. 

Premise: A private investigator in 1930's/1940's Los Angeles is brought into a web of deceipt and corruption that extends to the highest level of local government.

Significance: This movie is considered a masterpiece in film-making and of the "Film Noir" genre.  The movie underscores America's invisible class warfare, effectively having the tragic ending signal that the rich and powerful will always be victorious over those seeking what is fair and just.  This movie also has arguably the most significant role played by icon Jack Nicholson.  Important subtext and symbolism include:

* Chinatown - the title reference of the movie is to the protagonist's own experience, where a previous career as a detecive was wrought with futility dealing with the "different set of rules" that dominate in a foreign place, like Chinatown.  This title and previous experinece foreshawdows a similar tragic ending for the protagonist in the climax, which not coincidentally, ends in Chinatown.

* Light - the movie was shot in hues that reflected the harshness of a desert-like LA in the midst of a drought -- it accentuates the struggle for the precious resource of water.

Other noteworthy links:

* wikipedia profile

*IMDB profile

* All Movie profile

* FilmSite.org profile

* comments from the writer

Comments

[Rick]

I understand this is historically an important movie. It just seems to move at a slow pace compared to current movies.

[coach outlet]

I thought it was enjoyable at best.*