Chinatown - movie review

The second mention of Chinatown was when Jake is speaking to Mr. Cross. Cross said, "you may think you know what you're dealing with here but believe me you don't." Jake laughs, and when asked why he laughed he replies, "It's what the district attorney used to tell me in Chinatown." Again, another seemingly unimportant reference to Chinatown and a very simplistic reason for naming the movie such. By this time a recurrent theme was becoming noticeable. The theme seemed to be insignificant mentioning of Chinatown.

Another mention of Chinatown was in the Mulwray mansion during a conversation between Mrs. Mulwray and Jake. Mrs. Mulwray makes a comment about Jake's line of work. She says, "If this is how you go about your work, I'd say you'd be lucky to, uh, get through a whole day." Jake's response is another reference to Chinatown. Jake mentions his past, dangerous police work for the district attorney Chinatown when he did "as little as possible" - that was the last time he had experienced similar dangers.

Next we find the key that opens the door to the reason behind the films title. After Mrs. Mulwray and Jake sleep together, she decides to ask him about his past in Chinatown. Jake is reluctant to talk about the place where "you can't always tell what's going on." This seems to point to the fact that Chinatown harbors unforeseen tragedy (as does Mrs. Mulwray's head on the car horn, but that's another paper entirely). He reveals that he tried to save a woman he cared for in Chinatown, only to make things worse.

That scene spells out the rest of the movie. Unless you're me, it spells out the rest of the movie. It took the very last scene for me to realize the importance of Chinatown. Jake was repeating history. It took the last line, spoken by Jake's associate Walsh, "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." to make me understand. The downside of Jake's first career ended here, in chaos, because he messed up investigation. The downside of his second career ended here, in chaos, because he messed an investigation. Even though is wrought with emotion Jake is told to chalk up his mistakes, and the whole situation, to the place they're in. "Forget it Jake. It's Chinatown."