Skip to main content

Timeless Classics: Chinatown


Most cinephiles are always looking for the next big blockbuster bombshell, the new Oscar gold standard, or a fresh diamond indie darling, but sometimes all anyone really needs is a two hour sit-down with a timeless classic of a bygone era, like Roman Polanski’s Chinatown. With the overwhelming wave of theme-park-IP-flick madness running rampant through theatres across the country, this gripping mystery/thriller is an immense breath of fresh air.


Set to the backdrop of the 1920’s LA Water Wars, jaded Private Investigator Jake Gittes, played by prime Jack Nicholson, is approached with the usual case of suspected infidelity and sure enough, it all starts out as nothing more than that. However, in time, he soon finds himself in for more than he bargained for, as his investigation leads him down a rabbit hole of murder, government corruption, and a twisting tale of lies, regret, tragedy, and love that will have you hanging on every word and movement of anyone that looks even the slightest bit suspicious. 


Now be advised, this film lies far and away from any sort of modern expectation. If you’re looking for bloody shootouts, insane set pieces, or edgy, intricate fisticuffs, this ain’t that. HOWEVER, ... what you do get are stellar performances, chilling scores, masterful cinematography, and an enthralling dialogue driven, slow burn of a story that I guarantee will have you saying, “Damn. They just don’t make them like this anymore.”


It is with my highest recommendation that anyone give this one a try. It’s a juicy piece of film history that still holds it’s succulent flavor, even after 37 years. And with it currently streaming on Netflix, what better time to give it whirl, than now?



Levi Mock (July 2021)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vince McMahon - The God, The Freak, & The Fraud

     Within a vast sea of eclectic personalities, all strange, deranged, and nostalgic in their own right, it’s truly a wonder that one manages to easily stand head and shoulders above all the rest, both in and out of the ring. And I’m not talking about The Rock, The Hulkster, or even The Unseeable Cena. No. Because even with all their charisma combined, I can surely say that their legacy does not hold a candle to the most revered, beloved, and reviled personality of them all, the infamous head honcho that everyone loves to hate, Vincent Kennedy McMahon.      Yes. Always walking ten feet tall and with every inch of the Biggest-D-Swagger the world has ever known, Mr. McMahon single handedly birthed, grew, and perfected the multibillion dollar WWE empire that many know and love today, producing unforgettable stories, legendary bouts, and larger than life superstars that rival (perhaps even best) the ancient myths of old world gods and monsters. Or so the rum...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dune Two Fail? - Will it Stand the Test of Time?

     The vast ocean of burning sand; still, warm, and stretching for infinity, resides as the only bastion of solace for the war weary peoples of Arrakis. They speak of its beauty and sacredness with such reverence that it feels easy to let its rumored enchantments beguile you. But is such a place as wondrous as they claim? Or is it merely a pretty pile of sand bolstered by those already under its spell? Moreover, one could extend such a question to the sprawling tale of Dune: Part Two itself. For although it may dazzle with aesthetic beauty and interesting lore, the real question is if its story offers anything captivating during its three hour run time. And does it? Let’s get into it.       Dune: Part Two continues the story of Paul Atredies ( Timothée Chalamet ) as he unites with Chani ( Zendaya ) and the Fremen, while also seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. However, as his enemies close in, he falls in love with Ch...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Visitant. Nothing, but Vibes … Deliciously Spooky Vibes

Oh, in the late hour, how dreadful the bumps and shadows of the night can be. But rest assured, it’s usually nothing more than the wicked tricks of your paranoid mind running amok … well … if you’re lucky . Because sometimes those ghostly flashes in one’s peripherals or the unsettling creaks of one’s home can be far more real and malevolent than any would want them to be. And if they truly are, then what is a lonesome soul to do? This question and more, I’m sure, ran through Josh’s mind, when he found himself caught in an unsettling game of cat-and-mouse with the mysterious, shadow stalker known as The Visitant . The Visitant ( 2024 ) is a horror-short written and directed by Chad and Brennan Sano that tells the tale of Josh ( Aaron Groben ), an artist that inadvertently creates a gateway into another world that invites a dark presence into his home. Clocking in at exactly 7 minutes ( with credits ), not a single second is wasted, wracking the spirit with a lingering dread that does ...
Post a Comment
Read more