This sinister son of film noir was one of the most meticulously crafted Hollywood films in many years when it first came out. Private eye J. J. Gittes is hired by Evelyn Mulray to do a little good old fashioned matrimonial snoop job. During his investigation he finds that there is a lot more at stake, and he will soon learn that lies compound complexity and that passion clouds detection. A murderous plot and a personal tragedy unravels and the deeper he gets the greater the risk.

Still one of the finest crime thrillers around, followed by a much-delayed and crappy sequel "The Two Jakes" directed by none other than Jack Nicholson himself.

Investigation finished: 2001-03-09

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Story: 10/10 - Polanski made only two American features, "Rosemary's baby" and "Chinatown". Both are classics, but this brilliant and complex thriller set in 30s LA is one of the best of the 70s.

Acting: 9/10 - Both Nicholson and Dunaway was nominated for oscars, but John Huston delivers the stand-out performance.

Violence: 4/10 - Raw and seedy, but never violent.

Nudity: 2/10 - People weren't nude in the 30s, I better stop working on my time machine.

Coolness: 8/10 - Disillusioned and complex, private dicks and treacherous chicks and of course Jack.

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