TheSyfyFreak:

"Chinatown" is a Roman Pulaski film about the water conditions in Los Angeles before irrigation of the San Fernando Valley in 1937. The movie was a smash hit and a career enhancer for all involved receiving 11 Oscar Nominations but only gained one being up against the "Godfather: Part II" that year. It is the story about the lengths that the people in L.A. will go to, even now, to keep the water running into their little desert turned oasis by robbing Nevada and Arizona's water shares. Jack Nicholson plays a private eye named J.J. "Jake" Gitte who is hired to spy on Hollis Mulwray who is the wife of the chief engineer for the city's water department. Of course, Jake stumbles on to all the high-ended corrupt politics and politicians that go along with water rights and stimulus plans and runs into trouble with everyone. One of my favorite scenes is when the Jake gets the left side of his nose cut off for stickin his nose where it does not belong. This is a very good movie. Sun. 93-01-09

Firewater:

I like CHINATOWN, even if I don't salivate over it the way many critics do. It is the performance of Jack Nicholson as private detective J.J. Gittes that elevates this film to something on the order of art. Otherwise, while keeping with the tradition emboldened by Chandler and Macdonald, this would simply have been a slow, convoluted and twisted mystery story. Nicholson demands your attention, spending most of the movie with a bandage covering his nose. Would Tom Cruise allow his face to be covered like this? I think not. Although this is a period piece set in 1930s Los Angeles, it reflects the 1970s sensibilities, when most were waking up to the corruption inherent in our political system. If you're a cynic you'll like this one.

StandardModel:

This movie is as good as it gets. It's a model for how the suspense mystery genre should be done and oh so few are. There's nothing else to say. It's the best. Get it. The only caveat is that you won't be satisfied with any of your other movies after this one.

SuperShortReview:

Even though it takes its time getting started, this is a pretty good film noir, especially Nicholson's performance, which is from that time before his every role became a caricature.