Chinatown

Film: Chinatown
Director: Roman Polanski
Year: 1974
Quick Glance:
A private detective stumbles into problems bigger than he can handle
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Set in Los Angeles, Chinatown is part noir, part mob, and part city planning. Apparently, LA is in the middle of a drought and those in power have opted to send the valuable water elsewhere. However, with this scheme, a few people die, and Jack Nickleson's character is left untangling the mystery. Although the ending is pretty climatic, one finds herself feeling disappointed in its anti-climatic feel. At the end, i was left with a feeling of both confusion and ambivalence.

The story follows a complicated plot line, which makes it difficult to follow. Some of the conclusions that the characters come to, are a little unrealistic or thin based on the number of clues together. One is left wondering if there are holes in the plot or whether she didn't pay close enough attention. All in all, while watching the film, I felt like i was missing out on key points. The film is long and drawn out and relatively boring, despite the number of deaths, disappearances, twists and turns. Additionally, the title "chinatown" is never made clear, leaving the viewer once again puzzled.