Whenever someone think of Noir, black and white images surface with few colored images. Those colored images are stills from Chinatown. Roman Polanski’s Chinatown redefined the noir genre. Incidentally, it was last film made in USA by the controversial director. With Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in lead roles, Chinatown tests the morality of characters and poses a question for so called vigilantes of social order.
In the backdrop of scams associated with water distribution in LA, Chinatown starts like a traditional detective drama and slowly walks into a different paradigm altogether. Chief Engineer of LA Department of Water and Power – Hollis Mulwray’s wife suspects of her husband having an affair. Detective Jake investigates this and provides proofs. However, as it turns out the lady is an imposter and it was a ploy to ruin Mulwray’s name. Jake finds himself caught in a tricky situation. However real Mrs. Mulwray – Evelyn – is generous. She forgives him. As the fate would have wanted, Hollis dies in an accident and Jake has all the reasons to believe that it’s a murder. Cornered by forces and hostile police. Jake unwittingly opens the can of worms.
Chinatown is a story backed film with brilliant performances by both protagonist played by Jack Nicholson and antagonist John Huston. While Huston plays a shrewd businessman with strong grip on system, Nicholson plays a vulnerable hero. Dunaway, as Evelyn, complements Jack and in few scenes bursts like a nova. Supporting actors don’t have much to offer when compared to competent leads, they manage to do a decent job. Special note - Perry Lopez who plays a cop. Another highlight of this film is the sound score. Rated at with Chariots Of Fire, it blends well with the genre and expresses the sense of guilt ridden disgust prominently.
Polanski, as man and great director, will be remembered for right and wrong reasons but his legacy will always make a note of Chinatown which influenced a huge supply of films in last four decades.
Written By: Sujoy Ghosh
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