CHINATOWN (1974) Movie Reaction w/ Nicolette FIRST TIME WATCHING

[@criminalcontent]

Nicolette returns for one of our all-time favorites !

[@MLJ7956]

Great reaction to this Oscar Winning classic Nicolette. 😁 If you are interested, Jack Nicholson did reprise his role as private investigator Jake Gittes and directed the underrated sequel 'The Two Jakes' (1990), also starring Harvey Keitel, Meg Tilly, Madeleine Stowe, Richard Farnsworth, Frederic Forrest, David Keith, Rubén Blades, Tracey Walter and Eli Wallach. Also reprising their roles from 'Chinatown' (1974) are Joe Mantell, Perry Lopez, James Hong, and, in a brief flashback, Faye Dunaway. It did receive mixed reviews when it first came out but has since developed a loyal fan following in recent years. It is worth a 1st watch in my opinion. 👍

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

Great to see Nicolette back (on either channel). 😁 And, yes, I'd love to see her also react to "The Two Jakes" -- you'd be the first channel to do so, I believe. (Still holding out hope for a "Terminator 3" reaction from her as well... 🙏)

[@Nickxxx85]

@@MLJ7956 Underrated? I mean yeah If you're a big fan of chinatown you will have to see it, but damn it is such a weak movie in comparison and Medeline Stowe role is one of the worst I saw in my life:D

[@treylane]

Nicolette a winner

[@alexeilindes7507]

Yah

[@kevinsieg2076]

This is one those films that everyone should see at least once. Great reaction.

[@criminalcontent]

agreed !

[@braunhausmedia]

One of Jerry Goldsmith's greatest scores. His score was a replacement for the original score by a different composer (which they discarded), and he wrote and recorded it in ten days. Goldsmith was a master. P.S. The farmer with the sheep at city hall is played by Ron Howard's father.

[@PeterSimone]

That was Ron Howard's father???? Didn't know that, interesting tidbit!

[@jeffberbert7784]

After the Godfathers, the best movie of the 70's, and the most criminally neglected by reactors. Well done.

[@criminalcontent]

thank you !

[@USCFlash]

I definitely agree it is infuriating how few reactors watch it, while watching "White Chicks" or other crap 😞😞😞😞😞😞 I think i'd have to disagree with you about it being #3 right after G1 & G2 of the 70s.... I think Apocalypse Now, Taxi Driver & Deer Hunter, A Clockwork Orange might just shade it....but it is definitely one of my favorites of all time, and no doubt Top 10 of the 70s with ease. Problem is the competition so much elite quality films from the 70s....Jaws, The Exorcist, Badlands, Barry Lyndon, Alien, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Dog Day Afternoon, Mean Streets, Jeremiah Johnson, The French Connection....and don't get me started on the amazing comedies (Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Monty Python & The Holy Grail, Monty Python Life of Brian, Animal House, ).....and many more.....a crazy decade of brilliance.

[@NosyFella]

Yeah I always check to see if anyone new has reacted to it and they seldom do. Maybe two reactions per year.

[@shasta810]

French Connection is the best

[@FuzzyDlop]

Way superior to The Godfather is every way. Not even close.

[@eschiedler]

Glad you gave this classic a full shot. One of my favs that I've re-watched many times.

[@criminalcontent]

thanks for watching !

[@robertjewell9727]

Fantastic reaction. Robert Towne's screenplay is such a study in storywriting, full of nuance and undertones. I love that Noah Cross if you reword the syllables is No Across, a man so evil that one can't get passed him. A film I think you would love with the same kind of genius and cinematic vibrancy is 1958's TOUCH OF EVIL. Definitely check it out and be sure to watch Criterion's Director's cut edition.

[@anthonyleecollins9319]

I would very much like to see a reaction to Touch of Evil (and, yes, the Criterion Edition). My favorite Welles film.

[@TheTomt50]

Yes, they don't make many movies like this anymore. Actually, this captures the realities over the fight for water rights in California!

[@TheTomt50]

And of course more but I didn't dare share it!

[@jacobjones5269]

“As little as possible”…. The most heart wrenching moment in the history of cinema..

[@drdavid1963]

Hi Nicolette. Really enjoyed your first watch of this classic. If you like Jack Nicholson, you could try Five Easy Pieces. I mean, I could see you were enjoying this, you must have said oooo about 50 times

[@izzonj]

The American Film Institute voted Noah Cross one of the 5 most evil villains in the first 100 years of film.

[@ethelwulfmountbattenderoth2286]

Chinatown is a fantastic homage to the crime noir films of the 40s and great film on it's own. The Man who cut his nose at 15:24 is the director, Roman Polansky. At 38:32 is Bruce Glover, Crispin Glover's Dad. One of my favorite legendary behind the scenes fights comes from this movie. During a scene, Faye Dunaway asks Polansky what her motivation is for the scene, Polansky replied, Say the fucking words, your salary is your motivation.

[@foreignmilk]

phenomenal film. nice quiet methodical pace. if you enjoyed this, i highly recomment tinker tailor soldier spy. an espionage film about a british intelligence fiasco that occurred in the 70s. great stuff. we miss your reactions on this channel...hope you return more often.

[@criminalcontent]

there will be a lot of nicolette moving forward

[@USCFlash]

FINALLY...a reactor watches Chinatown, instead of the 28th Marvel Movie....

[@vincentsaia6545]

The shepherd at the city council meeting was Ron Howard's father, Rance.

[@tomloft2000]

Many long standing character actors in this movie including Burt Young (Rocky, among many others) and James Hong( you might remember him from Airplane, he's the guy that commits hari kari on the plane). He made a movie appearance this year at age 95.

[@michaelbuhl4250]

James Hong was also in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Big Trouble in Little China, and Blade Runner.

[@s.henrlllpoklookout5069]

29:50 "That's a pretty big thing to throw into the third act." Oh, my sweet summer child...

[@citpeks2000]

And the award for understatement of the year goes to.... "Oh man, your Dad sucks." One of my all time favorites! I re-watch every couple of years, and I always catch more details. Directing, acting, editing, cinematography, score are all on point but none of them would be worth a damn without Robert Towne's absolutely bulletproof script. I also highly recommend this films sequel "The Two Jakes". It's not as good as this (what could be?) but it's a solid effort.

[@drewskull5181]

Agreed, The Two Jakes is underrated IMO. It is a worthy sequel and there is no way possible it could live up to one of the best movies ever made.

[@joshwallace3087]

Iv just subbed to your channel I like people who go an watch older films

[@criminalcontent]

Thanks ! we want to have all the classics here

[@criminalcontent]

we have a few hitchcocks w Coby right now if you like

[@kmcleod31721]

Its just so great the way Goldsmith's theme shifts from the beginning to the end. At the start its a lush, romantic theme that sweeps you in, but at the end, the exact same music, feels full of loss and regret.

[@batman66ism]

Yes Nicolette is back.🥰

[@pasteye1671]

Possibly my favourite film. Perfect script (used academically), perfect casting (great the see John Huston in front of the camera), perfect score and perfect performances (including the cameo from Polanski with the flick-knife). You are sure a smart dame, Nicolette, but even you didn't see the child-abuse line coming. You may be pretty, but you're human too. LA Confidential next?

[@criminalcontent]

good suggestion !

[@Mister_Samsonite]

One of the finest neo-noir movies! This and L.A. Confidential.

[@criminalcontent]

yes and yes !

[@jacobjones5269]

This movie is legend.. LA Confidential is criminally underrated..

[@MrRondonmon]

I would add in the Long Goodbye (TLG), but I think Chinatown is well above the other two. I really think its a top 25ish all time movie. TLG s too quirky for some peoples taste but most Noirs are tbh.

[@Mister_Samsonite]

@@MrRondonmon Some years ago there was a made for TV (HBO, I think) neo noir movie with Dennis Hopper called Witch Hunt. I've never seen it since then, and I don't even know if I could still buy it. It was fantastic in all the usual quirky Dennis Hopper ways.

[@clarencewalker3925]

And "Farewell, My Lovely."

[@CaminoAir]

The opening credits music does tell you where this film is going to end up. That Jerry Goldsmith theme always sounded like someone looking back in time with a very sad nostalgia.

[@JaguarDave54]

What’s great about the writing is Robert Towne used a real incident, the dam collapse, as a story element. He wanted to make a trilogy about the development of Los Angeles and each movie would cover a different period of growth. In fact there was a sequel made(“The Two Jake’s” ) but it just didn’t have the impact of the first film. Perhaps if they had made it within a few years of the first one instead of about 20 years later it would of turned out better.

[@rhwinner]

The history of LA's water is every bit as sordid, cruel and scandalous as the movie. It's still going on today. And I forgot what a spectacular film this is. Thanks.

[@moonlitegram]

Back in college I had to edit this film down to 18 minutes or less for an editing class. God, I was sick of this film at the end of finishing that assignment and thought I'd never want to watch the film again. But as soon as the exhaustion wore off, I found myself thinking about the film quite often and have gone back and watched it many times since. Great film. Also, on a side note, obviously you weren't working with such a tight time constraint - but nice job getting this down to under 40 minutes and keeping the important parts in. And kudos to Nicolette - she's very sharp and fun to watch.

[@LCCWPresents]

Editing this masterpiece into 18 minutes is a tough call, I applaud you. By chance do you still have a copy of your 18 minute edit? @moonlitegram

[@moonlitegram]

@@LCCWPresents Its possible the answer to that is both yes and no. I had eventually stored it on a hard drive. But I never transferred it over to any newer drives since. So its been sitting on the same drive for two decades. There's a good possibility the drive deteriorated. But if I find it and the data is still there I'll try to remember to give you a heads up.

[@samuelmoulds1016]

yeah, the guy who 'knifes' Nickelson's nose is the director of this movie. the man who plays Mr Cross is a world famous movie director who just loved to act in movies.

[@lawsonj39]

Chinatown is the quintessential American tragedy in the great tradition going back to Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

[@jimmcdonald4087]

The guy who cuts Jake's nose is the director, Roman Polanski. Nearly all fish are either carnivores or omnivores.

[@lukebarton5075]

Another classic crime film from the 1970’s you should watch is “Badlands”. Like this film it’s partly inspired by real life events and is a bit of a spiritual predecessor to the film “True Romance” It’s beautifully shot and has an iconic score. Well worth checking out.

[@criminalcontent]

Oh god yes - on the docket

[@heyheyjk-la]

Also, while it's not noir, Faye Dunaway is so great in the film, "Network", which is in my top ten favorite films of all time. She won multiple Best Actress awards for it, including the Oscar and Golden Globe, and the film won so many awards world-wide. Released in 1976, it was so prescient and is as relevant today as it was then, which is sad. Would love y'all (especially Nicolette) to watch it.

[@criminalcontent]

we love network - we will get that in here soon

[@michaelbuhl4250]

As was mentioned in a comment below, the events in this movie are loosely based on the actual history of L.A. and its water supply. Hollis Mulwray is based on William Mulholland and Noah Cross is based on Fred Eaton. For more Jack Nicholson, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is the obvious choice, but I'm going to recommend Five Easy Pieces. For more Faye Dunaway, you should definitely watch Network. For more John Huston, you should watch The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

[@caseymoe816]

Towne’s script is so brilliantly subtle. Mrs. Mullray is shot through the eye, like Oedipus gouging out his own eyes. It’s a symbol of incest, but also of hubris or excessive pride. In thinking that she could outrun her own fate, she inevitably causes it to happen. As in ancient Greek culture one would have to suffer from extreme pride to think they could defy the will of the gods-or, in Mrs Mullray’s case, her powerful father, Noah Cross. The rich and powerful usually get what they want, no matter the cost.

[@andrewreisinger6860]

Evelyn talks about having a flaw in the iris of her eye. Cross liking the eye of the fish looking at him as he eats it. Glasses throughout. HUGE motif throughout the film. Even L.A. Confidential pays homage to this film by using the whole "eye" and "eyeglasses" motif throughout that film.

[@mega00760]

first time here and one of the best films ever made

[@criminalcontent]

thank you , and we agree !

[@richardzinns5676]

An absolutely perfect movie. And there aren't many.

[@nextdimensionmedia3196]

It's so much fun watching Nicolette and Coby enjoy these movies I watched as a kid. Love seeing their reactions! Thanks for the great content everyone. Doing an amazing job!!! Please keep it going!

[@axr7149]

This is one of only 6 movies I have seen that I consider to be "perfectly executed" in the sense that all aspects of filmmaking (acting, writing, directing, editing, score etc.) all work together in perfect sync with no aspect overshadowing the other. The other 5 to achieve the same effect IMO are CASABLANCA (1942), 12 ANGRY MEN (1957), AMADEUS (1984), THE INSIDER (1999), and THE ZONE OF INTEREST (2023).

[@mikedignum1868]

Another good film is the original Thomas Crown Affair..now that's got style.

[@RedDawnRocker]

I'm glad to see one of the next generation experience this movie for the first time. There were many amazing thrillers from this time period... Three Days of the Condor, The Parallax View, Brotherhood of the Bell ... but one of my all-time favorites came a decade or two earlier ... Man in the Shadow starring Orson Welles. In some ways it's a predecessor to Chinatown in others it stands solidly on it's own. Chinatown's sequel Two Jakes is definitely worth a watch as well if you've never seen it.

[@mattx449]

I’ve seen this a few times, and the ending is still a punch in the gut.

[@jons.105]

Speaking of Faye Dunaway, she's great with Robert Redford in the spy thriller "Three Days of the Condor". Also great from this era: Warren Beatty and Goldie Hawn rob safe deposit boxes in "$" (Dollars).

[@michaelbuhl4250]

And don't forget that Faye Dunaway won an Oscar for Network.

[@TTM9691]

Better yet, "speaking of Faye Dunaway".....how about Bonnie And Clyde???!!! No one has done a reaction to Bonnie And Friggin' Clyde, yet! If you had to boil Faye Dunaway to three movies, it would be Bonnie And Clyde, Chinatown, and Network! Network is a movie that could use way more reactions for. But there isn't even one for "Bonnie And Clyde"! That's THE crime movie that should be on this great channel! How about it, bro? Could you right this wrong? PS: It's written by Robert Towne....who wrote Chinatown!!!!

[@michaelbuhl4250]

@@TTM9691 I love Network and I love Bonnie and Clyde, but I love Network a little more. In fact, it's one of my all-time favorite movies. However, your points are well taken. I'd be happy to watch reactions to both movies.

[@jons.105]

@@TTM9691 I always wondered how much work Towne actually did on B&C. Uncredited, he wasn't part of the Oscar nomination for Original Screenplay, nor the TWO Writer's Guild awards the script won. But, you're right, not a single KZbin reaction to it and that's criminal!

[@shainewhite2781]

Great movie, nominated for 10 Oscars including Best Picture. The ending was very sad, unfortunately.

[@s.henrlllpoklookout5069]

If it had a happy ending, it would have been forgotten within a year

[@GetMeThere1]

My favorite film of all time.

[@davidw3281]

This movie is my favorite film noir.

[@wwk68tig]

New to your channel. I was 19 when I saw "Chinatown" in theater.......the "she's my daughter, she's my sister" scene has always stayed with me........good post. Thanks for sharing.

[@criminalcontent]

Welcome !

[@TTM9691]

Another great reactor for this channel, that was a super fun and super smart commentary. Definitely have Nicolette back!

[@criminalcontent]

as always, thank you !

[@TrumpTrials-vc2fe]

"What else can you buy that you don't own already?" " The future Mr Gittes, The FUTURE!!!"

[@criminalcontent]

Huston I’d legend

[@DW.Strangeman]

When it comes to film noir (or any genre) this is a master class. If Billy Wilder's films aren't next (and apologies if they have already been done) then 'LA Confidential' is a great film.

[@anthonyleecollins9319]

What a great movie.

[@vincentsaia6545]

The man with the knife was director Roman Polanski.

[@endorphinzz]

I just watched the true story that played a role inspiring "Chinatown"...incredibly wild.

[@tubekulose]

"You shouldn't smoke". That's such an American comment. 😂

[@jollyrodgers7272]

Sixteen years later a sequel to this came out called THE TWO JAKES (1990), it was a Box Office flop, and couldn't hold a candle to this.

[@lukebarton5075]

There was a gonna be a second sequel that didn’t happen but parts of that story did end up in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”

[@richardlukesh5807]

Odd fact: the notorious incident involving Roman Polanski (this film's director) needing to flee the country took place at Jack Nicholson's home about 3 years after this film came out. Nicholson was not home but Roman asked Jack if he could use his pool for a model photoshoot.

[@scottski51]

John Huston. Google him. In Hollywood, he could do it all !! A damned Legend, he was !

[@SchulzEricT]

A few for Nicolette for Criminal Content: Lucky Number Slevin and Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang both modern noir, fantastic writing, clever dialogue, great great mysteries... and both much more uplifting. KKBB is genuinely light and fun... I'd say Slevin is pretty fun too, although it's a bit more grim, dark, gritty, whatever... neither near like Chinatown though.

[@TheToscanaMan]

Great reaction to an absolutely incredible movie. One of my favorites. And yes the opening credits music is in my collection. It is amazing and sets the mood perfectly.

[@socalpaul487]

The dam mentioned at the beginning, in reality is the San Francisquito Dam that failed March 12, 1928. Official deaths were 431, but could be much higher. Hollis Mulwray is supposed to be William Mulholland. The events depicted are only loosely based on real events, very loosely.

[@johnpittsii7524]

Hi Nicolette hope you are having an great and awesome day ❤

[@hurricane1951]

Spectacular soundtrack in addition to all the other superlatives.

[@chickmcgee1000]

Now you should check out, The Two Jakes. It was done years later, pretty sure that Jack directed it. I don’t think it matched this one, but it’s a good film. Also noticed somebody had mentioned LA Confidential, you’ll love it. Great reaction.

[@briangregory6303]

If heard a story from Jack that he was actually sleeping with Angelica Huston, the daughter of John Huston, Noah Cross, during the filming of this, and her dad didn't know.

[@brianquinn8384]

Nicolette should be a private investigator.

[@Al_NERi]

Btw one of Jake's detective operatives is played by Crispin Glover's (of Back To The Future fame) actor father Bruce Glover. The resemblance between them is strong.

[@waynesimpson4081]

This is a roman a clef. The characters and issues are references to real historical people and events.

[@marcp7314]

An Excellent choice!!!

[@heyheyjk-la]

I was just down at Echo Park Lake last weekend. The bridge has been locked off for a long while now but I always love it when I'm in the same location where they shot some of my favorite films. Great reaction to a great film. Also, what's Nicolette's IG handle? Already following y'all but can't find hers (probably not spelling it right).

[@seansersmylie]

One of the great neo-noirs of the 70's. You should check out The Long Goodbye by Robert Altman, it's another all time classic.

[@criminalcontent]

great recommendation!

[@lesgrice4419]

One of the all time great movies.....and bravo to Roman Polanski for not giving us a 'Hollywood' ending......its so shocking, my daughter and my sister....and everyone goes OMG no...

[@actoranthonybradford]

classic film!!!

[@jenniferbabros1985]

Alot if this was filmed in San Pedro,CA I was there for some of the filming😅

[@socalpaul487]

I recommend "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" 1974.

[@damianstarks3338]

This movie is classic

[@barryscott8041]

Guys: Don't watch this with your girl. My wife watched this with me, and she was SO upset at the ending.....and blamed me!!

[@stanleyetienne8353]

that ending though....

[@bobhoey4648]

Check out John Huston and then his father Walter Huston and then his daughter Angelica Huston. They are Hollywood royalty. Treasure of the Sierra Madre and much more

[@matthewcostello3530]

truth...part 2 was The Two Jakes and Part 3 is Who Framed Roger Rabbit

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

I'm not sure how that Roger Rabbit claim came about. According to a 2007 interview with Jack Nicholson, he claimed the aborted third movie was likely giong to be called "Gittes vs. Gittes" and revolve around no-fault divorce going into effect in the late '60s. 🤷‍♂

[@pedrolopez8057]

Nicholson just nails a classic Bogart role.

[@pormantu]

Called it😂😂😂

[@doyledeclue282]

The sequel to this is a movie called the two jakes

[@aweebunny]

Is this movie perfectly cast or what?

[@jenniferbabros1985]

Great movie

[@glen1ster]

2;22--I think you mean a fedora (maybe by Stetson or Adams--maybe a Stetson Whippet).

[@TTM9691]

Bonnie And Clyde, also starring Faye Dunaway, also by Robert Towne, also super "iconic" and groundbreaking.......and yet not one reaction for it yet! Please right this wrong, Criminal Content!!!! You are just the channel to do it!!!!

[@criminalcontent]

absolutely on the docket

[@TTM9691]

@@criminalcontent Yes!!!!! Thanks in advance!!!!!

[@liduck52]

Ya gotta see The Sugarland Express also from 1974.

[@criminalcontent]

oooh good recommendation !

[@bahrsoap73]

34:53 Hollis wore regular glasses, not bifocals. They're for people who need help seeing far and close up, usually older folks like Cross.

[@s.henrlllpoklookout5069]

One of the greatest movies ever, directed by one of the greatest POS ever

[@criminalcontent]

true and true

[@grichard1585]

@@criminalcontent Well you have to realize that Polanski grew up in Europe in the 40's - 50's when the age of consent was very young. France had an age of consent of 15 during the 1940s and 1950s In Germany, the age of consent was 14 during the 1940s and 1950s. Italy maintained an age of consent of 14 during the 1940s and 1950s, which remained unchanged until the 1970s. Spain: Spain had an age of consent of 12 during the 1940s and 1950s It's crazy, I know. What's even crazier is that in 1776 America, the age of consent, which was codified in English common law and later adopted by the American colonies, ranged from 10 to 12 years old.

[@doubleDD274]

The lunch scene is filled with all sought of layers. Jack is talking to the great JOHN HUSTON. (Director of The Maltese Falcon, Treasure of Sierra Madre, The Man who Would Be King and so many more great movies). At the time of this filming Jack started seeing his daughter Anjelica Houston. So his questions about his daughter in the film echo the relationship Jack is having with her. when he asks "Are you sleeping with her?" it's a true double entendre.

[@gordonhaire9206]

There is a sequel: The Two Jakes

[@johannesvalterdivizzini1523]

Flawless film. Robert Towne's screenplay is considered the best ever.

[@criminalcontent]

indeed

[@stanleyetienne8353]

The man who plays Noah Cross is John Houston, one of the greatest film makers of all time. You should check out his film The Maltese Falcon. It redefined the film noir detective story, and influenced movies like Chinatown.

[@wingman4356]

Noah Cross: Most Terrifying Villain in Film

[@criminalcontent]

he really is - him and Anton sugar

[@andrewreisinger6860]

Daniel Day-Lewis used the voice of Noah Cross when he played Daniel Plainview in PTA'S "There will be Blood". Both evil characters.

[@sheryldalton8965]

John Huston is so subtley menacing, i think he was in real life too. He directed his father Walter in "treasure of the sierra madre" & his daughter Angelika in "priaai's honor". They both won oscars. His son Danny is a great character actor though relatively unknown. He was awesome in the great Australlian western "the proposition" with Guy Pearce & Ray Winstone.

[@tcanfield]

I wasn’t surprised to read that Faye Dunaway is a super-freaky diva type in real life. You can see it a bit in her acting.

[@jorgereyna1796]

I like your jacket

[@rlytho2555]

Nice to see a movie that gets under the skin. Too many people want reactions to Hollywood fluff, all terrified of reality.

[@doubleDD274]

You definitely have got to watch LA CONFIDENTIAL the movie that comes closest to this in greatness. A stacked cast, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Guy Pierce and KIm Bassinger.

[@eddhardy1054]

Yeah she's dead don't bother calling an ambulance, just leave the body in the car next to the hysterical daughter. 😳

[@HonRevPTB]

RIGHT!? WTF!?!?!?

[@stevetreloar3129]

Pokanski; love him or loath him he knows how to make a movie! Also Two Jakes is a good one to follow up with!!!