Upon its release in 1974, the neo-noir crime thriller Chinatown was immediately heralded as an instant classic and earned an impressive 11 Academy Award nominations. While some of the movie's elements have become dated in the nearly 50 years since the film debuted, there are plenty of ways that the movie is still as shocking and effective today as it was when it first came out.
With a musical score and screenplay considered among the best of all time, Chinatown is an incredibly constructed film that compares favorably to any modern movie. Additionally, Chinatown's dark and complex story is still remarkably affecting.
Chinatown's Arresting Score Perfectly Captures The Setting And Tone
Accompanying the cynical and gut-wrenching story is composer Jerry Goldsmith's incredible score. Blending bluesy, slow jazz trumpets and piano, the all-time great score perfectly captures the classic and melancholy tone of the film, embodying the noir feel of Los Angeles in the 1930s.
The musical score expresses all of the glitz and glamor of the era while also hinting at the seedy underbelly lurking just beneath the surface. It is a hauntingly beautiful score that clearly conveys the setting and tone without needing a single word.
All The Lead Actors Are At The Top Of Their Game In Chinatown
Hollywood legend John Huston delivers a subtle yet menacing and sinister performance as Noah Cross and the other ing performances all fill their roles well, but the standouts of the film are the two leads. Faye Dunaway gives an incredible performance, initially appearing like a femme fatale before revealing the heartbreaking truth.
Anchoring the film, Jack Nicholson gives one of the best performances of his career as Jake Gittes, navigating the character's moral ambiguity and balancing his jadedness and self-interest with his basic human decency. Nicholson elevates the role and turns the character into an iconic antihero.
Chinatown's Screenplay Is As Taut And Rich Today As It Was In 1974
Written by Robert Towne, the dark and complex script takes on dense but important subjects like the misuse of public utilities by the corrupt elite and the exploitation of the working class by the wealthy but manages to present them in an engaging and unpredictable narrative.
Because of this impressive balance of complex ideas, rich characters, and compelling story, the script is often regarded as one of the greatest screenplays ever written. Captivating, informative, and heartbreaking, the script is a perfect neo-noir story.
Chinatown's Classic Los Angeles Setting Remains Believable And Striking
Although the events that likely inspired the film took place closer to the turn of the century, Chinatown is set in Los Angeles in 1937. With excellent costumes and production design, the film effectively captures the look and feel of classic Los Angeles.
Because the film is a period piece, its recreation of the 1930s is just as impressive and visually striking in 2022 as it was in 1974. Like all of the best neo-noir films, Chinatown does an effective job of evoking a clear atmosphere.
Chinatown Is Populated With Compelling, Multidimensional Characters
Without compelling characters, the film would run the risk of alienating its audience with a story about a water-right disagreement and abuse. However, the characters bring humanity to the story and show the effects of the corruption and greed perpetrated by the elite.
Evelyn is a great personification of the pain and devastation that those in power can cause with their selfish and careless actions while Jake illuminates the shortcomings in the system, revealing how the law is often powerless to hold the wealthy able. These universal themes make the characters relevant and accessible to a modern audience.
Chinatown's Message Still Feels Relevant Decades Later
Chinatown serves as a stark indictment of those who would abuse their power and influence to benefit themselves at the expense of the powerless. However, the film communicates this important message without being preachy or ham-fisted but instead presents the self-serving abuse of power as a tragic reality of life.
While the specifics of the situation depicted in the film may not be relevant or universal, its core message is a timeless one that continues to resonate with audiences to this day.
Chinatown's Twists Still Have The Capacity To Shock New Audiences
Just as Jake thinks that he has solved the murder and figured out the mystery, Evelyn delivers a dark and shocking twist by revealing Katherine's real identity. This stunning moment then fuels Chinatown's iconic ending scene, which brings the whole story together in heartbreaking fashion.
The film's twist is a disturbing but powerful story choice that further illustrates the pain and damage caused when the powerful abuse their position. Because of the nature of the twist, it is not as frequently spoiled in pop culture as many other iconic twists are, allowing modern audiences who have never seen the film to experience that shock and horror of it in its intended context.
Chinatown Is Still The Standard For Neo-Noir Cinema
Because of Chinatown's incredible success and legacy, it is has become the quintessential neo-noir film and has influenced countless films since its release. Chinatown became the blueprint for this type of story, inspiring everything from L.A. Noire.
Chinatown's structure and tone are still as effective as ever and have inspired generations of other crime films. Considering the influence that the film has had on the genre, fans of neo-noir crime films will find elements of the movie that still hold up today and have been copied and recreated by other modern films. It is a classic for a reason and it continues to be the standard for neo-noir films five decades after its release.
