Let it be known that my rather stingy rating for this film does not stem from any dislike of film noir or neo-noir. But this weak entry in the genre underscores the point that "Chinatown" has a lot to answer for. For every on the spot classic like "LA Confidential" there are a number of turkeys like this that try to match it for quality and interest.
There is no doubt that they have the look right. They have the costumes right and the cars right and the background music right. What the film lacks in any sort of momentum and any sort of sympathy for the characters or what happens to them. In short, after a promising first twenty minutes we are left to wallow in a stagnant uninteresting tale that begs the question of why such a footnote in history deserved such a grand treatment.
The problem might rest with the casting Adrian Brody. He seems to young to play a convincing private eye. The scene where he has been beaten (allusions to Marlowe's "black hole opening up, and he dove right in")and lies wounded talking to his operative on the floor is downright embarrassing. Many will claim that it is his discovering (Like Jules Amthor's view of Marlowe "You are a dirty little man in a dirty little business")that he is really worthless and vile is the point. We should look on in awe that he recognizes this view of himself as some big development. It is not. It is certainly not worth nearly two hours of your time, despite the lush trappings.
There is no doubt that they have the look right. They have the costumes right and the cars right and the background music right. What the film lacks in any sort of momentum and any sort of sympathy for the characters or what happens to them. In short, after a promising first twenty minutes we are left to wallow in a stagnant uninteresting tale that begs the question of why such a footnote in history deserved such a grand treatment.
The problem might rest with the casting Adrian Brody. He seems to young to play a convincing private eye. The scene where he has been beaten (allusions to Marlowe's "black hole opening up, and he dove right in")and lies wounded talking to his operative on the floor is downright embarrassing. Many will claim that it is his discovering (Like Jules Amthor's view of Marlowe "You are a dirty little man in a dirty little business")that he is really worthless and vile is the point. We should look on in awe that he recognizes this view of himself as some big development. It is not. It is certainly not worth nearly two hours of your time, despite the lush trappings.