Jack Nicholson is unforgettable as private eye Jake Gittes, living off the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-war Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite (Faye Dunaway) to investigate her husband’s extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together for one, unforgettable night.

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Video Quality

Chinatown makes its anxiously anticipated 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with a fetching 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that easily bests the previous Blu-Ray release. That Paramount Blu-Ray release from 2012 has been released in various forms over the years, so it is nice to finally get a proper restoration of the Original Camera Negative which restores it to its full glory. That disc was not universally maligned like some Paramount catalog releases from this era, but there was definitely room for significant improvement which has been achieved here. While this 4K UHD Blu-Ray does not achieve absolute perfection, it will be a fantastic representation of the film if this is the last stop.

This new 4K UHD Blu-Ray retains much of the natural film grain which provides texture and detail within the transfer. There are nondescript aspects of the production design that can be seen clearly for the first time on home entertainment. The clarity of the transfer brings out a greater amount of facial detail, and the performers appear more textured and natural than ever before. The transfer does have occasional scenes that have either encountered some DNR or inconsistent encoding, which offers a brief hiccup to the consistent, organic appearance. This is nowhere near the worst we have seen on the format, and most will not find it to be an issue.

The implementation of Dolby Vision brings out so much nuance within this moody picture. This is the furthest thing from a Technicolor spectacle, but the depth achieved in the hues is a win for the format. Certain facets of the clothing and production design leap off the screen. Highlights are much more robust and contained without veering into blooming. The picture also retains a fantastic amount of detail in the shadowy moments of the journey. Black levels display a much greater depth and control than the disappointing Blu-Ray release. Print damage has been eradicated for a clean and consistent viewing experience. This transfer finds Paramount working in a good register we hope they stay in.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray delivers a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track along with a lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 restored mono track. We are glad that Paramount made sure to include the original mono as an option on the 4K UHD disc, but it is slightly disappointing that it is not presented in lossless audio considering the same track was presented in Dolby TrueHD on the Blu-Ray from over a decade ago. The sound quality is not enormously different, but it is the principle of the matter. Otherwise, these tracks deliver exactly what this movie needs even without an upgraded audio format.

The classic dialogue comes through clearly without any sound effects or the score drowning out important information. The music from Jerry Goldsmith is vital to establishing the mood of the picture, and it emanates through the room with peerless fidelity. The soundscape is complex with numerous elements coinciding in this twisty narrative. The surround channels provide some exceptional ambient details that are quite welcome. All of the sounds in the mix appear to be carefully implemented so that nothing ever feels erroneously positioned. The subwoofer is not a major scene-stealer, but it allows for some texture in moments like the rushing water. Paramount has done a nice job for the most part.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Screenwriter Robert Towne and filmmaker David Fincher provide a commentary track in which they dive deep into the mastery of the film with discussions about the titles, the importance of the score, the deliberate nature of Polanski’s direction, how this stands as a high point of Jack Nicholson’s career, the themes of the film, and more.

A State of Mind – Author Sam Wasson on Chinatown: A new 16-minute featurette with the author and film historian who discusses the importance of the film and why he chose to write a book about it.

Chinatown Memories: A new six-minute piece in which producer Hawk Koch shares stories from his time as assistant director on the film including a clash between Roman Polanski and Faye Dunaway.

The Trilogy That Never Was: A new two-minute discussion with Sam Wasson about the abandoned trilogy that was supposed to conclude after The Two Jakes.

Water and Power: A three-part supplement totaling 88 minutes that takes a look at the L.A. Aqueduct and the history behind it, how it served the city, the importance of it in Chinatown, water conservation, and more.

Chinatown – An Appreciation: A 26-minute featurette with creative figures like Steven Soderbergh, Kimberly Pierce, Roger Deakins, and James Newton Howard who discuss their love of the film, how it rewards repeat viewings, the themes that are explored, and more.

Chinatown – The Beginning and The End: A nearly 20-minute exploration of the film with Roman Polanski, Jack Nicholson, Robert Towne, and Producer Robert Evans who discuss the origins of the film, where everyone was at in their career, the plans for a trilogy, changes to the ending, and more.

Chinatown – Filming: A nearly 26-minute look into the production of the film including the shooting locations, the creative freedom on set, the performances in the film, the need to change the cinematographer, and more.

Chinatown – The Legacy: A final ten-minute featurette in which the creative figures discuss the film’s release, its instant success, and its subsequent legacy.

Theatrical Trailer: The nearly three-and-a-half-minute-long trailer is provided.

The Two Jakes (2:17:30): The 1990 sequel is presented on the standalone Blu-Ray with DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio and no special features.

Final Thoughts

Chinatown is a true gut punch of a film noir that weaves together its twisty narrative with great care. The results are truly astounding as you are both satisfied by the mystery and overtaken by something even greater than simple answers. As much as we despise the man, there is no denying that Roman Polanski was a major reason this film reaches the heights that it does. Jack Nicholson is also out in full force delivering one of his best performances. This is simply a cinematic classic. Paramount Home Entertainment has released a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a fetching A/V presentation and some new and archival special features. If you have been waiting for this movie to get a worthy release, the time has come. Highly Recommended

Chinatown is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Paramount Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.