Chinatown

There are so many stylings and quips and perfectly timed jokes that I felt like I was watching a wristwatch tick. It is incredibly and deceptively engaging to watch the main character make wrong turn after surprisingly wrong turn, even while his moxie convinces you he’s know what he’s doing and tricks you into thinking he’s on the right path. It’s like listening to music where every expected chord resolution is skipped and you reach for it on the next beat. (And the soundtrack!)

Like Ned said: this is the peak of Hollywood. I kept wondering to myself, “Is this where the tropes got started or did all the tropes culminate in this film?”

We watched this as part of Bleak Week at the Music Box and, boy, that ending sneaks up and slits your throat.