Chinatown (1974)

★★★★★

Set in 1930’s Los Angeles, a private detective begins investigating an adultery case he soon realizes that the man who may be having an affair is a key member in the water company. Upon his sudden and suspicious death, the investigator is drawn into a series of lies, hidden agendas, murder and framing that lead him to believe that somebody had him killed so that he doesn’t tell the police about where the water of Los Angeles is really going. Brilliantly directed by Roman Polanski, beautifully shot and carefully tuned; this film was a great tribute to the old crime noir flicks of the 30’s and 40’s. Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston give outstanding performances, which only add to the film’s charm and glory. Don’t even get me stared about the score.

The Ninth Gate (1999)

★★★★☆

Johnny Depp plays rare book dealer Dean Corso, who, after being employed by rare book collector Boris Balkan, sets off to confirm the legitimacy of a book known as The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows. Only three copies supposedly exist and Corso was handed one of them. However, during his investigation two suspicious people begin to follow Corso, rare book collectors begin to die, a strange young woman with supernatural powers fights for his cause, and soon Corso is flung into a conspiracy surrounding the gates of Hell and ultimately the Devil himself. This could have been one of Polanski’s finest works; it has beautiful lighting, a suspenseful story and a great but long build up to very disappointing end. I might need to see it again.