Chinatown

After many insistent recommendation’s from a friend, I have finally watched this, and I have to say it was nothing short of a masterpiece. It’s the kind of movie I would write a thorough essay on for enjoyment. Chinatown is the best movie I have watched in a loooooong time and probably the most intentional movie I’ve seen yet. Every scene deliberate and purposeful, each one oozing with detail, from the script to the imagery – a perfect screenplay (slightly influenced by prime to say that but it’s a valid statement).  I must have a knack for tragedy because the ending of the film was unfortunate but also so perfect. It flawlessly captured the corrupt nature of 1930’s California, a society where well intended people don’t win, a loser’s game, and in this case that loser was Jack Gitte. Gitte being a vessel of moral goodness, he finds his efforts squashed by the inevitable evils of his environment, “Forget it, Jake, it’s Chinatown.”. This left me to soak in despair after an intense 2 hour runtime where I was searching for a happy ending. Even after Evelyn’s reveal, I still found myself optimistic with 20 mins left, only for that to be squandered. This movie just leaves you with that kind of feeling that never really escapes you. It’s tragic but poetic, and those might be my favorite type of stories. I could go on, but this truly was one of them ones, what an introduction to that sick mf Roman Polanski.