Chinatown 1974

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: As much as I admire the work of both Polanski and Nicholson, I found Chinatown tedious from beginning to just before the end. Read more

Don Druker, Chicago Reader: Polanski's film suggests that the rules of the game are written in some strange, untranslatable language, and that everyone's an alien and, ultimately, a victim. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: It takes a Herculean effort to transform this type into a character and to replace the formula with a story, and Chinatown's success in both of these regards is one of the reasons it is universally viewed as a classic. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: [Nicholson's] performance is key in keeping Chinatown from becoming just a genre crime picture--that, and a Robert Towne screenplay that evokes an older Los Angeles. Read more

Time Out: The hard-boiled private eye coolly strolls a few steps ahead of the audience. Read more

A.D. Murphy, Variety: Roman Polanski's American made film, first since Rosemary's Baby shows him again in total command of talent and physical filmmaking elements. Read more

Jessica Winter, Village Voice: In 1974 a director, a screenwriter, and a producer (Robert Evans, who for once deserves a few of the plaudits he's apportioned himself) could decide to beat a genre senseless and then dump it in the wilds of Greek tragedy. Read more