China Town Review

Number 121 on the 1000 greatest films of all time is the films that launched Jack Nicholson's career: Chinatown.

Directed by Roman Polanski, Jack Nicholson plays P.I Jake Gittes.  Initially hired by Evelyn Murray to survey her husband, he soon realises that there is a bigger mystery at play.  As Gittes seeks to discover the truth, he becomes embroiled in a plot involving incest, corruption and murder.

This film is a quintessential "one man against the system," with Nicholson playing the roguish Jake Gittes.  Initially beginning as a selfish, self-interested character, he develops into a hero, as he seeks to discover the truth.  Nicholson is well-known for playing characters who rebel against authority, with the best example being One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and I think that it was China Town, which first established him as such.  He is convincing in the role and his arc was entertaining to watch. 

When fighting against the system, Gittes is fighting it at the highest possible level, as he discovers a plot by Noah Cross, (John Huston) the partner of Evelyn Murray's father, and powerful business man, to buy up the Californian Northwest Valley and the according reservoirs, to monopolise the water supply.  And Noah Cross is ruthlessly corrupt, having already killed previous investigators.

What this film does best is tackle corruption.  *SPOILER ALERT* Chinatown concludes with Evelyn Murray shooting Noah Cross in the arm.  As she flees, the police then shoot her dead.  When Jake Gittes demands vengeance, he is told to "forget it.  It's Chinatown." In just one line, the corruption that is present within high-level organisations is utterly encapsulated.

People are completely resigned to it, as they think that it is the order of things.  The police are in the government's pocket and people are afraid to speak out.  And this is just why Jake Gittes is such an important character.  Rather than looking the other way, he stood up and fought for what he believed was right.