Chinatown

One of the archetypal hardboiled private detective films—with a seamless fusion of cast, direction, script, and score—Roman Polanski's 1974 Chinatown boasts a much-improved DVD transfer for this “special collector's edition.” Set in 1930s Los Angeles, the story follows private eye J.J. Gittes' (Jack Nicholson) investigation of what initially appears to be a routine adultery case…until a murder puts the detective on the trail of a labyrinthine swindle involving the city's water. Faye Dunaway is perfectly cast in the role of a semi-femme fatale, while legendary director John Huston's performance as the wealthy cold-blooded villain remains quietly electrifying. Although Chinatown snagged 11 well-deserved Academy Award nominations—including Best Picture, Director, Actor (Nicholson), and Actress (Dunaway)—the only Oscar win went to Robert Towne for his brilliant screenplay. DVD extras include a fine three-part (the jacket inaccurately lists four parts) retrospective documentary featuring new interviews with Polanski, Nicholson, Towne, and producer Robert Evans (Dunaway is notably absent, but Polanski tells a fine story about an understandable fit she threw when the director took it upon himself to pluck a hair from her head that was showing up in the frame). Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: also newly available, Nicholson's 1990 sequel The Two Jakes.] (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—Mar. 27, 2012—Paramount, 130 min., R, $24.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1974's Chinatown features a great transfer and a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include audio commentary by screenwriter Robert Towne with filmmaker David Fincher, the three-part “making-of” documentary “Water and Power” (78 min.), “An Appreciation” retrospective featurette (27 min.), production segments on “Filming” (26 min.), “The Beginning and the End” (20 min.), and “The Legacy” (10 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a fine Blu-ray debut for this ‘70s classic.]