Word: chinatown
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...definition, timeless; we see them again and again because they continue to offer something new. The most rigorous test of artistic achievement ascertains whether a work of art can hold up over time, whether it can still offer meaning to a changing audience. Director Roman Polanski's film "Chinatown" is an interesting case study in the construction of a classic. When "Chinatown" premiered in 1974, the film received outstanding critical praise and ten Oscar nominations. This was enough to make it a success in its time. The question now, twenty years after its premiere, is whether "Chinatown" is indeed...
With the introduction of more integral characters, most notably John Huston as Evelyn Mulwray's father, the plot keeps thickening before the actual climax, but surprisingly little action takes place in Chinatown. Even when it does, the location seems an afterthought in allegiance to the title. Rather, the name is most likely supposed to evoke the sense of mystery and otherworldliness embodied in the district. Perhaps if the plot did not twist around on itself so intricately, an abstract title would have worked...
Credit is due to Polanski for trying to differentiate "Chinatown" from the formulaic detective story which invariably moves from initial chaos to the final restoration of social order. Himself a victim of tragedy and public scandal, Polanski knows that injustice is far more prevalent than happy endings, and the dramatic impact is effective. Yet, other aspects of the film thwart this attempt at originality. Polanski wanted to evoke the world of the Raymond Chandler detective novels, without imitating the look of the black and white classics of the 1930s. Although "Chinatown" was filmed in color, the resemblance...
...characters' are well-drawn, the dialogue (by Robert,'Towne) well-written, the acting superb--why has "Chinatown" not withstood the test of time? Perhaps modern-day audiences don't take revelations of political and more corruption so personally anymore. Maybe the film meant more to a viewer in 1974. But meaning must evolve, not fade, and after two decades, "Chinatown" shows signs...
Asian American Association, President, Harvard Independent, Associate Business Manager; PBH Chinatown Adventure, International Peace Games; HRO and Mozatt Society...