Ka Ki So
Professor Eyman
CIM 205
May 3 2018
Chinatown
Chinatown is an American mystery film based in 1974 and is characterized as a neo-noir screenplay, directed by Roman Polanski and stars Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson. The inspiration behind the film was from water wars in California, especially at the beginning of the 20th century. Jakes is a Los Angeles private investigator who is hired by the husband of one Evelyn Mulwray to check if her husband is guilty of committing adultery. The man in question is the water commissioner for the city. Upon stumbling on a photo of the water commissioner kissing a girl, it uncovers a mystery thief who was stealing water from their city, which is drought-stricken. The complication is worse as the offender is found drowned within a city reservoir placing the woman in question, Evelyn Mulwray as an imposter in the case by a different person who wanted to frame the water commissioner. Illegal land purchases and mismanagement to fraud the city of water is also discovered in the plot twist. The combination of scene play, artistry, and production of Chinatown is a masterpiece that delivers entrainment.
The film is introduced with background checks on the main characters, and the stage is set when a modulating depiction of jazz music is overheard. The first scene starts with Curly viewing photographs while Jake the detective sits across the table watching the former’s reaction. The camera shot starts with individuals engaging in sex. The second shot further indicates a more provocative sex position until the shot when the camera captures the fingers of Curly, which indicates to the viewer that the shots were photographs. Notably, the close-up angle shots especially showed through the office, and Curly throwing the montage of photographs in disgust helps create the basis of the film. The viewer has not yet understood what is happening at this point but is being introduced to a glimpse of the storyline. The beat of sounds of moaning as the different shots of the montage of photography is highlighted further clarifies the level of disgust and disbelief that Curly has for the pictures he was viewing.
The camera shots then shift from Jake to Curly as they converse; at some point being close-up and in certain instance medium shorts. Jake goes to the liquor cabinet to fetch alcohol, pours it and the camera shot shifts back to the Curly who is more disgusted by what the wife has been doing. Jake as an investigative detective has completed his task by documenting the pictures of a promiscuous wife engaging in an extramarital affair. After Curly finishes his drink and Jake attempts to calm him, he leaves the office. The close-up shots enable the viewer to enjoy the imagery and ask questions because it is disorienting. In the initial stages, the audience is not yet aware of the individuals in the photographs and their relationship to Curly. The scene is shot inside Jakes office during the day, which makes the lighting natural. The room is well lit, and the audience is capable of seeing every detail. The mood of the audience is set, and they are all eager to know what will befall the individuals depicted in the photographs engaging in sex.
The other notable scene is the mother/daughter scene characterized by Jake’s confrontation of Evelyn Mulwray. Jake has found additional evidence regarding the death of Hollis Mulwray, Evelyn’s husband. The scene starts when Jake enters the house where Evelyn is in the company of two other individuals: Katherine and Kahn. Jake insinuates that Evelyn might have killed her husband and is not hesitant to try to prove it with facts. In fact, he calls Lieutenant Escobar to the house an act that is unpleasant to the suspect. Jake is confident to the extent of asking Evelyn if she had any contact with a good lawyer a question that indicates the condemning nature of the evidence. Jake was in possession of broken bifocals and insisted Evelyn killed the husband, and she should tell him everything before the police arrived. Evelyn affirms that the eyeglasses were bifocals, which meant the husband did not wear them.
The scene appears at the end of the film and plays a significant role in illuminating the identity of the mysterious woman with Hollis. Katherine is the mysterious woman. The camera angles for the scenes are three, which plays an important role in portraying the confrontation, the discussions, and the revelation of the evidence. The three camera shots used are medium close-ups, close-ups, and medium. On infrequent occasion in the scene is the long shot notable. Notably, the cameras are in rotational motion between Jake and Evelyn to bring out every detail of their confrontation from different angles in the house. The lighting in the room is minimal, which allows characters to be partially in the shadows and the light. Music in the scene is unnecessary, and the filmmaker does not use it because the confrontation between Jake and Evelyn already heightens the tension. The shots shifts from different characters in the room to other features in the house. It further helps in the creation of a good scene mashed together through different shots.
In one of the scene, Curly Gittes goes to Ida Session’s home with the intention of questioning her regarding her lying earlier in the film. On arrival at Idas’ home, Gittes is met with a broken doorbell and shuttered glass, which is an indication of a break-in into the house. Gittes proceeds with caution as he enters the house and tries to interrogate the situation. The filmmaker is wittingly crafty to ensure that the audience watches the film from a standpoint where they believe to be in a similar passion as Gittes. Notably, similar to other scenes in the film the camera follows Gittes. The shots are from behind and give the viewer the first experience into the discoveries of the character. The camera shot of withered lettuce on the floor is an indication that Gittes is late. The camera shot is close up, medium, and medium close-up. It helps point out different features in the house such as the scattered grocery. The lighting in the scene is neutral and flooded light especially when Lieutenant Escobar finds Gittes in the house. Police officers are in flooded light while Gittes is in neutral lights, which is symbolic in showing that the police are there to offer justice to Idas.
Chinatown is one of the greatest films ever produced when certain factors are considered such as the technology for shooting, and editing. The characters in the film did a superb job to portray the different themes and illuminate the plot from the start to the end. Every scene in the film had a significant role to play to the audience right from the first scene to the last. The location of the scene had significance to the audience. For instance, the scene in Gates office indicated the professional nature of his investigative work. The scenes that follow chronologically build to the plot of the film. Other individualistic features of each scene such as camera angle and lighting help clarify the intent of the filmmaker.