Yeah! As I was watching I was really enjoying the cinematic quality overall, which was straightforward so no window dressing needed, you know what I mean? You can tell that Polanski is about texture and visual storytelling in a pure way. I think any other effects would have really detracted from the film overall.
Top fact: a couple of additional scenes of *The Conversation* were shot in a corner of the set of *Chinatown* when Walter Murch had to finish the film off with Coppola having buggered off to direct *The Godfather Part 2*.
YAY!!! That makes me so happy! I bet there is just more and more to discover about it with every watch. Someone should tell that Jack kid to stick with acting. I think he could make it :)
This is so good! Brilliant writing and analysis. Great first choice for the series, too. I've also never seen this, and now I'm actually considering watching it.
THANK you my friend! It was your enthusiasm and support when I talked to you about the idea for this series that motivated me to just dig in and see what happens. It is a GREAT film. I didn't even get to talk about all of the writing that is complete fire, especially handled in Nicholson's deadpan delivery. Put it on the list! :)
Great idea for a series Sheils and I love this first installment! I'm partial to movies set in LA and literally Chinatown is the birthplace. I know this movie makes it seem all gritty and scary but it's a great area of town with the beautiful Union Station where I got the train to work every day, and Olvera Street is worth a stop. Interestingly though, the actual Mulholland Drive runs nowhere near Chinatown and I had no idea of the connection until I had seen the movie.
Can't wait for the next post in this series my friend!
Thanks Marmi! I would love more LA-centric classic flick recs. That is such a great angle. I should rewatch LA Confidential..one of my favorites :) I get why it’s both Chinatown and very much not Chinatown, but I do wish there were more of that part of the city in focus in the flick. :) Appreciate the classic flick love my friend! :)
I was determined to write around it because the movie, though excellent regardless, is way more profound if you don't know how it all really unravels. Nicholson earned his stripes (bandage reference unintended) with this one. :)
I absolutely get it. I think you have to have the full experience of watching the movie to understand the line. I didn’t want to take that away from someone who hasn’t seen it. Thanks!
We showed that at Google (I posted about that a couple years ago; let me know if you need a comp). Great attendance. I asked for a show of hands for how many had seen it before: it was about half.
Hey no apologies of course!! That is pretty cool that you screened it. I'm not surprised only half had seen it. I think it's also one of those films that flies a little under the radar now. As you know, there is so, SO much to say about it! I could have written just on the aesthetics of the film alone. It really is a master work. :) Thanks Albert! Appreciate you!
There are great films, and then there are crowd-attracting ones. This is one of the great films that also drew a big crowd, and those were my best moments.
No CGI either.
Yeah! As I was watching I was really enjoying the cinematic quality overall, which was straightforward so no window dressing needed, you know what I mean? You can tell that Polanski is about texture and visual storytelling in a pure way. I think any other effects would have really detracted from the film overall.
Top fact: a couple of additional scenes of *The Conversation* were shot in a corner of the set of *Chinatown* when Walter Murch had to finish the film off with Coppola having buggered off to direct *The Godfather Part 2*.
What?! Wow..that's incredible! I love how many of Hollywood classics are full of those kind of happenings. Pretty great!
Nicely done. “Chinatown” is a longtime fave of mine, and you did it justice here. So much so that I’m going to spin up my Blu-ray tonight.
YAY!!! That makes me so happy! I bet there is just more and more to discover about it with every watch. Someone should tell that Jack kid to stick with acting. I think he could make it :)
This is so good! Brilliant writing and analysis. Great first choice for the series, too. I've also never seen this, and now I'm actually considering watching it.
THANK you my friend! It was your enthusiasm and support when I talked to you about the idea for this series that motivated me to just dig in and see what happens. It is a GREAT film. I didn't even get to talk about all of the writing that is complete fire, especially handled in Nicholson's deadpan delivery. Put it on the list! :)
Well you're partly responsible for the podcast so it was the least I could do... :D
HAAAAA!!! Oh I like this double-dog-dare-you! I’m in!!!
Great idea for a series Sheils and I love this first installment! I'm partial to movies set in LA and literally Chinatown is the birthplace. I know this movie makes it seem all gritty and scary but it's a great area of town with the beautiful Union Station where I got the train to work every day, and Olvera Street is worth a stop. Interestingly though, the actual Mulholland Drive runs nowhere near Chinatown and I had no idea of the connection until I had seen the movie.
Can't wait for the next post in this series my friend!
Thanks Marmi! I would love more LA-centric classic flick recs. That is such a great angle. I should rewatch LA Confidential..one of my favorites :) I get why it’s both Chinatown and very much not Chinatown, but I do wish there were more of that part of the city in focus in the flick. :) Appreciate the classic flick love my friend! :)
Robert Towne's great dialogue. And thanks for not putting up the big spolier!
I was determined to write around it because the movie, though excellent regardless, is way more profound if you don't know how it all really unravels. Nicholson earned his stripes (bandage reference unintended) with this one. :)
So you really don't understand what "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." means?
I absolutely get it. I think you have to have the full experience of watching the movie to understand the line. I didn’t want to take that away from someone who hasn’t seen it. Thanks!
OK. Sorry.
We showed that at Google (I posted about that a couple years ago; let me know if you need a comp). Great attendance. I asked for a show of hands for how many had seen it before: it was about half.
Hey no apologies of course!! That is pretty cool that you screened it. I'm not surprised only half had seen it. I think it's also one of those films that flies a little under the radar now. As you know, there is so, SO much to say about it! I could have written just on the aesthetics of the film alone. It really is a master work. :) Thanks Albert! Appreciate you!
There are great films, and then there are crowd-attracting ones. This is one of the great films that also drew a big crowd, and those were my best moments.
If you're wondering: Rashomon was another one.
Perfectly stated! And ANOTHER one I’ve only known about, but never seen. On the list! 🙏🏻💥