Chinatown (Classic + 50th Anniversary Screening)

It is said that there has never been a greater original screenplay in the last 50 years than the one Robert Towne wrote for Chinatown. When we add Polanski and Nicholson at the height of their powers, you know this is a very special movie. Chinatown is part of a great continuum of California noir – informed by Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett at one end, and followed by work like L.A. Confidential at the other – where crimes of passion are often rooted to municipal rot. It’s also a very superior thriller.

98% – Rotten Tomatoes

8.1 / 10 – IMDB

“Despite being set in the 1930s, the movie remains relevant due to its exploration of timeless themes and its masterful execution. The film’s impact on the neo-noir genre and its enduring popularity among critics and audiences solidify its status as a cinematic classic.”

“In 2008, the American Film Institute ranked Chinatown second on its list of the top ten mystery films. Additionally, the film was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1991″