Chinatown

The film Chinatown had a very different take on the Film Noir style, it was definitely stylized in a different manor. This was something that I really liked about this film. Chinatown was in color unlike any other Film Noir we watched, it was also more modern and depressing. The ending was a bit of a shocker which I liked but it also ended so abruptly which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Jack Nichalson is a great actor and it was interesting to seem him at the beginning of his career and the way he played his role. I found it interesting how the femme fatale turned out to be the only person acting on moral grounds, she was acting with good intentions while the other characters where out for wealth and other things. I think the ending was an amazing scene because there was so much going on and it was very hectic until it ended abruptly with a gun shot and the car horn and screams adding to the chaos. The use of shadows throughout the film was huge, by covering JJ. Gittes face we were left outside of the bubble as to what he is thinking we cannot see his facial expressions. I think this adds a lot to the film and brings the mystery and danger to life. I felt that this film was a lot like Out of the Past in the sense that the detective was a very likeable person with a hazy past. I liked that JJ was smooth and good on his feet, and I thought that it was more realistic that he only slept with one woman throughout the movie. I don't know if this film inspired me to check out more Film Noir, because frankly I think I have had enough for a while, but I do think I was inspired by Jack Nickalson's performance and I plan on checking out some more of his movies.