The movie Chinatown is about the main character Jake Gittes, a private eye, and his search for what happened to Hollis Mulwray, which turns into the larger search and conspiracy of what has happened to all the water in Los Angeles County. Jake Gittes is the type of detective that takes a lot of pride in his work saying that he is “making an honest living,” relishing the fact that he seems to get a lot of press in his line of work. He also take a lot of pride in his appearance, constantly appearing in a stain free white suit, which is saying something because he is in the dead of summer heat in Los Angeles (LA). He also seems to be the type of guy who likes to get to the bottom of things, which is definitely a good sign since he is a detective …show more content…
Looking again at Jake Gittes he manages to tell us just enough about Gittes backstory to make us identify with him, but at the same time leave enough holes about his time working in Chinatown to make us question some of his detective techniques. I love the way that Gittes gets so hyper focused on the case of the missing Hollis but continues to keep looking even after he’s found him, wanting to see what the motivation for the murder was. That’s how he gets dragged into the conspiracy water plot and in the process we slowly start to get a better idea of what his backstory is, finding out that he has a history with current chief of police and that they used to work in Chinatown together. This leads to many times later on in the movie where Gittes shows up at places when the cops are there and because of his connection to the chief he is allowed to go about his business and even contribute to the police investigation at …show more content…
We also get introduced to the first case and see how the main character, Gittes, decides to go about things in order to solve it. Moving on to act 2 we see the major plot point of Act one ending with Gittes discovering the body of Hollis and Act two begins with the ongoing search of what is happening with the water and why Hollis was killed. The major plot point of Act two being where Gittes gets his nose cut for being a bit too good of a detective. Then during Act three we get the revelation that Katherine is both Evelyn’s daughter and sister and the part the Cross played to make that happen. Gittes than masterfully sets up the police, Cross and even uses Curly from the beginning to setup everyone at different locations which results in everyone coming to together in Chinatown which the third main plot point. I thought that was an interesting turn of events and awesome writing on the part of Towne, although in the movie version they changed things somewhat and I didn’t think it worked nearly as
The structure and style of the story allows you to feel as if you are a part of the events that transpire. We first become acquainted with the Clutter family through great detail. It seems as though we learn everything there is to know about the lives of Herb, Bonnie, Nancy, and Kenyon -- that Bonnie spends the majority of her days locked in her room or in treatment centers as a result of some mysterious psychological disorder, that Herb prefers apples for breakfast, that Nancy is the perfect teenage girl, that Kenyon is a loner who enjoys spending time in the basement working on inventions and building furniture. Once we have gained such knowledge, the story begins to shift back and forth between the events taking place in the Clutter's lives just prior to their deaths and the events taking place in the killers lives (their preparations for the Perfe...
The story begins in “Catfish Row” a small coastal town based on the real town of Cabbage Row in Charleston, South Carolina during the 1920’s. The main protagonist of the story and leading man is Porgy, a disabled beggar man who is known for riding his goat cart around Charleston. Bess is the leading lady of the opera and is in an unhealthy relationship with Crown, a powerful, violent, alcoholic, short-tempered stevedore (dockworker). Act I starts with a lullaby being sang to a small baby by a young mother named Clara, as she sings the men of Catfish Row prepare for a crap game, prior to the game, Crown purchases whisky and Cocaine from the Sportin’ Life, the local drug dealer of the town, during the crap game, Crown who is very drunk kills a local man named Robbins, Crown flees Catfish Row and leaves Bess to fend for herself. Sportin’ Life who is attracted to Bess, he gives her cocaine and asks her to join him in New York, Bess refuses and is now alone, she has no where to go, she is rejected by all of the Catfish Row resident, all except for Porgy who takes her in. A funeral takes place for Robbins, Serena, Robbins’ wife acts very coldly towards Bess when she offers her donation to help pay for Robbins’s funeral cost until Bess explains that she is no longer with Crown, and now lives with Porgy. Soon after, a detective enters and tells Serena that if...
How truly grateful are we for our possessions and what we have earned from the work we have done? Are we thankful for what we possess, or are we still jealous of that one friend, colleague, coworker, or even extended family member that has nicer belongings than we do? Jacob Riis opened our eyes and gave us a true, vivid description and idea of how American families in New York during the late 1800’s lived and worked. This eye opening account shows us today that we should be grateful for what we have and never think that everyone is better than us. Throughout How the Other Half Lives, Riis uses a variety of writing techniques such as word choice, imagery, and .
On the surface, Chinatown is a film about the political corruption surrounding the conflict over water rights in Southern California in the early 20th century. But really, it is a film that gives the audience a bleak and pessimistic view of humanity as it sheds light on the deep moral bankruptcy of which humans are capable. The opening scene of Chinatown gives the audience a taste of the human immorality to come and also hints at some key themes that continue throughout the film.
The second act is when the family arrives in San Juan and they are living in La Perla. Not everything was as they expected, Luis who was the only one that was economically supporting the family lost his job. Juanita, who was the daughter of Doña Gabriela, left her job because she had been raped and she even try to commit suicide. Luis found a job but he had a problem with his fiancé’s aunt to whom he have had previously sexual relationships with. His fiancée’s aunt gives him money to depart to New York encouraging him that he would be better off in the United States.
As for the accomplices, they were under the police noses, yet they were the least expected. So proudly announce the crime happened in that order; first, Lizzie saw her stepmom in the guest room and she had a little argument with her than she with the axe nineteen whacked, but before that she lacked the doors to install time to do her dead and clear her evidence by burning the dress later. The motive is hatred feeling that here stepmom making her dad a puppet. When her father came from his bank and played down on the sofa the other killer was waiting for him to take a nap then she strikes eleven whacks with the same weapon and Lizzie Borden know the killer to shows there is one killer, but luckily for the detectives she missed counted the hits and the shield from the blood was her father cote that was on his head. The killer none other than Emma Borden do to her lack of an eyewitness or details of the party like who she saw and talked to. Motives the will that her father wrote to her, fearing from changing it later. The third person was a cover-up artist who acted and worked to cover the story and play alone as a person how don’t know anything because she wants to not know anything; so, she could do her acting better; and that person was Bridget. Made like her back then had a code and that code is to keep her closest masters save and they would clean up the mess the got
The film stars Jack Nicholson as hard-boild detective, Jake Gittes, and Fay Dunaway, as Evelyn Cross Mulwray. Unlike The Big Sleep, the title Chinatown is referenced frequently throughout the film to symbolize a dark imbalanced universe filled with cheating, murder, water corruption, incest, sexual abuse, secrets, and violence. Early on the film, Chinatown is associated with cheating when Gittes shares a dirty joke, “A man who is bored with his wife decides to “screw like a Chinaman.” Chinatown represents a place of corruption where law enforcement does as “little as possible to help.” Jake holds a pessimistic, cynical, and apathetic view of the world because he feels powerless to the injustice and underlying forces of corruption and power in both Chinatown and Los Angeles. According to Gillian, two traditional conventions of film noir in Chinatown are themes of corruption and depravity. For example, Jake Gittes describes working for the D.A. in Chinatown: “I was trying to keep someone from being hurt. I ended up making sure she was hurt.” And that is what happens here. Here, Jake leaves Chinatown because he tried to help a woman, but his intervention inevitably hurt her. The injustices of law enforcement and conspiracies follow him on his venture to L.A, most notably with his former colleague Lt. Lo Excabar and Noah Cross who “owns the police” and practically the whole town. There is a clear animosity
4) Act 2 changes the play because Elizabeth is being set up and we are able to witness it. The audience is able to witness the hysteria beginning. If i was directing the play I would include this scene because it explained Abigail’s reactions in the court. Also it gave her heads up on her plan so she can get what she
There were 3 acts. These three acts are all different days that are years apart. A cycle, born, married, and died. In Our Town Act one was the beginning of a day and the childhood of George and Emily. Act two was in the middle of the day years later, where George and Emily get married.
The viewer sees a private eye and beautiful client. First thought, "It’s definitely another Hollywood crime drama." On the surface, Chinatown has all the elements of a film noir: the presence of a beautiful but dangerous woman, otherwise known as the femme fatale, a gritty urban setting, compositional tension (highly contrasting light and dark colors or oblique camera angles), and themes of moral ambiguity and alienation. Chinatown, however, is different. Polanski shot Chinatown with color film, and though his colors do appear especially vivid, color film precludes the contrast intensity that black and white film offers. In addition, Evelyn is not the classic femme fatale. Though Jake mistakes her for her husband’s killer at first, Mrs. Mulwray eventually emerges as the story’s most tragic victim. Yes, Chinatown for the most part conforms to the structure of film noir, but this film departs from the general genre, creating an entirely different element in which Roman Polanksi examines not only big-money corruption and its malignant obsession with money, but also larger, more human themes such as ignorance, authority, and the pervasiveness of evil.
Lincoln Rhyme, once a famous NYPD "criminalist" who is now a quadriplegic is brought back to work; Amelia Sachs, daughter of a beat cop who is first officer of the first kidnapping making her involved in the whole investigation; Lon Selitto, Lincoln's former partner; Jerry Banks, Selitto's partner; Mel Cooper, computer and science genius; Jim Polling, NYPD command chief; Fred Dellray, FBI commander; Dr. Berger, Lincoln's euthanasia doctor; Thom, Lincoln's aide; Dr. Peter Taylor, Lincoln's spine doctor.
Before he can question him, Lieutenant Lou Escobar fishes Mulwray, drowned, from a freshwater reservoir. Under retainer to Mrs. Mulwray, Gittes investigates his suspicions of murder and notices that, although huge quantities of water are released from the reservoir every night, the land is almost dry. Gittes is warned off by Water Department Security Chief Claude Mulvihill and a henchman, who slashes Gittes's nose. Back at his office, Gittes receives a call from Ida Sessions, who identifies herself as the imposter Mrs. Mulwray. She is afraid to identify her employer, but tells Gittes to check the day's
at the beginning of the Movie LIfe Is Beautiful, Guido seems naive but as he is forced to come to terms with the reality of his family's seemingly uncontrollable situation, his views shift and his character changes.Guido cares immensely about the well being of his family and their happiness. Seeing the pain that others are going through, being separated from his wife and not knowing whats to come makes this is an extra difficult experience for him. The Camps that they are forced to stay in are visibly inhumane; however, Giosue is able to keep his innocence because of the fathers caring and playful nature. Guido faces sees some unthinkably horrific images in the camp, such as when he stumbles across the mountains of dead jewish bodies he is
ChinaTown, directed by Roman Polanski, is a non-traditional hard-nosed detective film made in the 70's. The typical elements of character type are there; J.J. Gittes (a private detective in LA) played by Jack Nicholson is the central character, sharing the spotlight is Fay Dunaway playing the femme fatale Evelyn Mulwray. This film breaks all types of norms when compared to the hard-nosed detective films it is modeled after. The film is filled with allusions to the Big Sleep, especially taken from scenes of Marlowe and Vivian. Chinatown has formal elements indicative that it is going to be in the style of traditional Film Noir hardboiled detective, until you examine the characters' personalities next to the story content.
The theme of deception runs very strong in Act One. Almost all the characters seem to either be deceiving someone, or being deceived themselves.