What an amazing movie. I'm not really one to rave about the noir genre, but WOW. Jack Nicholson is amazing as Jake Gittes, a Los Angeles private eye, who is just a little bit too nosy for his own good. As usual, not only does Jack act outstandingly, his eyebrows should also have been nominated for best actor, and that's an extremely outstanding feat. Faye Dunaway is perfect in the role of Evelyn Mulwray, playing it with a tortured grace that is a spectacle to watch. The rest of the cast is superb as well.
The mood set by Roman Polanski in Chinatown is unmatchable. The entire movie feels cool, calm, and collected, even as the plot twists and treachery run rampant. Jake Gittes remains a nosy smart-ass all the way throughout, but shows a depth of character that is extremely rare in a noir film. The music is outstanding, as well as the story of greed and deception in Los Angeles. The motif of water is used to great effect, especially close to the end.
The ending is one of the best I've ever seen. While you desperately want things to turn out well, you almost can't shake the feeling that they're not. And when the beeping of Evelyn Mulwray's car horn is heard resounding through Chinatown, you know. It is powerful, and it is amazing, and in a way, extremely disturbing (especially seeing Noah Cross' face as he steals away the girl).
All in all, one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. Right near the top of my favorites. "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."