Roman Polanski directed Chinatown, with a script from Robert Towne. The film features Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Perry Lopez and John Hillerman, alongside music composed by Jerry Goldsmith and cinematography by John A. Alonzo. Private investigator J.J. Gittes, portrayed by Nicholson, begins investigating an affair but soon becomes caught up in a web of murder and corruption. The collaboration between Polanski, Towne, Nicholson and producer Robert Evans resulted in what is considered one of the most highly regarded neo-noir films ever made. It’s a powerful film full of elements found in classic noir and detective movies from the 1940s and 50s. The characters—including suspicious women, outspoken police officers, a shady crime boss, and a resilient main character facing increasingly complex problems—along with the sharp writing, violence, sexuality, and shocking discoveries, make it an essential film in the noir genre; it just needs a little more stark lighting and stylized visuals to be absolutely perfect. Chinatown is something everyone interested in movies should see, not only those who enjoy noir films. 9.5/10

Source on TMDB