The Crime? In Chinatown we look on as a private investigator J.J. "Jake" Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is hired to snoop on a case of adultery which rapidly spirals out of control into a murder investigation. Gittes is forced to sort through a quagmire of lies and deceit to ascertain what nefarious acts are going on. Gittes is sucked into a criminal world completely beyond his comprehension as the power of old money is shown to prevail over all else. Why Is It Great? Roman Polanski's Chinatown is a criminally under watched film (pardon the pun) among modern cinephiles, though it remains an incredibly important film. Much like Alan J. Pakulas superb All The Presidents Men, Chinatown was created in a political climate in turmoil thanks to the war in Vietnam and the Watergate scandal. The people of the United States were being fed lies on a daily basis Chinatown reflects the cynicism felt in reaction to this steady diet of falsehoods with aplomb. Nothing is what it seems and everything must be questioned and scrutinised. Aside from embodying this historical period of unknowing, Chinatown is an exceptional film in its own right, with excellent lead performances by Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
