Written by: Robert Towne

Directed by: Roman Polanski

Nubs Comments:

I knew something was up when the refreshment table in the backyard was pre-set with full water bottles. Either Coolbaugh was trying to make a subtle point about the healthiness of our Wednesday night drinking, or more probable, a hint about his selection. How dark the con of Coolbaugh. With the bottled water clue I feared the worst, ‘Waterworld.’ I should have been able to put the clues together; water, summer, L.A., clues, - all equals ‘Chinatown.’ It all makes sense except I hadn’t thought Coolbaugh had seen it before choosing, which is a clear violation of By-Law 6 D., A.K.A. The Eisenberg Rule. It turns out Coolbaugh did his research. He read up on it in his new film history text book, and viewed the classic in secret.

I might have to agree with Coolbaugh’s post-game analysis that the group was not overly thrilled when the selection was  revealed. Perhaps it was the absence of Davis, our beloved cheerleader. I think, more accurately, it was that both Wiener and I have seen and studied this film a number of times. Nevertheless, I still respect and appreciate the integrity of the pick.

Davis is absolutely correct in calling this our only American Classic since ‘The Sting.’ This film is a legend in noir history and deservedly so. It is masterly crafted and one feels like they are in completely capable hands during its twists, turns, jokes, crashes, and haunting climax. With ‘Chinatown,’ Roman Polanski pays homage to its noir predecessors and then pushes the envelope. This movie starts off with pictures of a man’s wife taking it from behind, and keeps pouring on the blood, sex, and gore till cinema history is changed forever. It’s almost like Polanski wanted to take icons like Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, walk right up to them and slice up their perfect nose. With ‘Chinatown’ the mold is broken. We get to see our silver-screen heroes bleed.

Though, I love the gritty realism and weight of the tragic finale, its abruptness bothered me. It’s extremely powerful to have Jake, as the audience may be, in shock. He is incapable of acting or commenting on the scene. Then an insignificant side-kick sums it all up with, “It’s just Chinatown.” It seems like a last tip of the hat to a movie style that paved the way for ‘Chinatown.’ Yet, it feels like a cop-out on a solid movie, I know this is criticizing some of the best moments in cinema history, but it stands out in a modern viewing. And, of course, it’s frustrating because now I have to wait twenty years for the sequel, ‘The Two Jakes,’ to find out what happened to all my favorite characters, except the dead ones.

SELECTOR Comments:

I thought this would go over much better than it apparently did. I didn't get much feedback, good or bad, following the Selection. And when it comes to Movienight, no news is not good news. But I liked it, even though I just put it through the pre-Selection screening process a couple days before. It's funny, it starts off with a couple of poorly acted scenes, I think. Even Jack's lines seem forced.  Burt Young's discovery of his wife's infidelity is not remotely close to believability. Overacted, and unnatural. But this really is an anomaly. The film gains momentum, and the actors seem to settle into their roles...we'll call it the first quarter jitters.

Jack's nosey character seems a bit unrealistic when placed in today's times - or certainly compared to anybody I know or could conjure up, but perhaps in the period of the film's setting, his innocence is a bit more plausible...not much, but a bit. As he digs and learns what gives, the story line thickens and we become immersed. It's one of those heady films where you're trying to figure out who's who, and what's being done by whom. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? To more schooled film scholars, this is probably equivalent to ABC’s and 123’s, but to me, it's always a struggle.

You may ask what I liked about the film, what with all these complaints and all...why did I show it? I"m not sure really - it is, aforementioned flaws aside, a fantastic movie. Faye Dunaway's performance is amazing in her quirky, odd bird kind of way. She's got a uniqueness to her that nobody has been able to quite bottle and reproduce, despite many efforts. But what's with her accent? Come on now...it's okay Faye - I like it anyway.

Jack is awesome. He's very mysterious...his history and what he's been through and seen is always lurking beneath the surface of his every decision and move. The whole chinatown thing is a bit of an enigma...I guess it's his "past that keeps following him." It's a bit Joseph Conrad-like in that regard, and since I OD’ed on Conrad, I find it a bit gratuitous.

But I like the movie. I like it a lot. Even if everybody else didn't. I can't wait to read Wiener's review...

Until then,

Onward.

next >

< previous