See this is derived from Sydfield's classic book "The Fundamentals of Screenwriting", which uses "Chinatown" as an excellent structural case, and makes a very detailed analysis at the beginning, how the triggering events and key events are related to each other. To achieve the construction and dramatic development of the story, let alone Sydfield's own in-depth interpretation, from my personal knowledge level, I can't have too much professional interpretation if I only read it once. The only thing I can say is some personal opinion.
First of all, through this film, I got to a new knowledge point "cold detective novel", which was created by Dashiel Hammett and developed by Raymond Chandler. , and how to understand and interpret this kind of coldness, you can perceive one or two from the personality and style of the film's male detective Jack, and the presentation of the camera is the same, there is no deliberately provocative expression, which brings It is an immersive experience. The audience seems to be in it, exploring the truth of the case together with Jack. As the event develops, it is clear or confusing, or Jack tells us in advance with his experience and agility. The answer, the most shocking part of the truth is hidden especially deep, and this is what drives the event to its most conflicted end as the fog is cleared away, and the event always has to be resolved, either in a happy or regretful way. , and the implied meaning of Chinatown and the background of the story will undoubtedly make you feel powerless, as if it is an ant that has long been shrouded in a huge shadow. Of course, it is futile to let you escape or fight. And it is Jack's attempt to seek the truth that leads everything to a worse ending. This is also the most ironic place. There are too many dark and dirty existences in this world. It is impossible to destroy them if you want to destroy them. When these darkness can exist, it is also because the other party has enough rights to cover up everything, making your confrontation seem futile, but don't you fight? No, Jack is such an existence, although in the end I don't know whether it is good or bad. It helps Evely in terms of aspects, but the sense of justice is so, so it will not give up the principles and beliefs of the personality, but also let the audience see the personality charm of an experienced detective with his own unique code of conduct, and Sydfield interprets this as Jack doesn't want to be misunderstood, he wants people to think that he is good, such as not being ignored or treated unfairly (in order to reflect this, of course, there is an explanation in the film, after being despised in the barber shop because of the scandal by mistake. Anger and conflict can be seen in one or two), but at the same time I also believe that this is Jack's personality beliefs, his tilt after knowing the truth is from his sense of justice, he could not have done that, just like Raymond Qian Detective Marlowe in Dele's novels said: "If there were enough people like him, the world would be a safe place, not too boring to live in", presumably Jack is like Marlowe "dirty" The existence of the "Knight of the Street", in order to make a living, he must sell, all he can sell is a little courage and wisdom given to him by God, and a little willpower that would rather suffer and suffer in order to protect customers, facing the evil and dirty world, He won't give up on justiceDesire, willing to wait in the tension of sin and justice. In the film, Jack even persuaded the officials of the tax bureau to hope to bring down the big man with the strength of a few people. Of course, this kind of courage can not be done except for the selfishness of maintaining personal image. arrived.
The last sentence "Forget about Jack, this is Chinatown..." is a metaphor for this hypocritical and helpless society, thinking that if you escape Chinatown, you can escape the darkness, only to find that Chinatown is everywhere, just falling from a small net into a bigger one. In the big net, that sense of justice still hits the wall everywhere. Private activities are also full of intricate desires for rights and bribes. It cannot be said to be the sadness of the little people, but the inevitable encounter when the good of the individual is confronted with the evil of everyone in the society. , after all, his own power is limited. Here, I think of Kane in "Citizen Kane", when he tried to do some altruistic things through his wealth and rights, he still encountered many obstacles, but It is undeniable how much he has done is remembered, and Jack, maybe he will be confused after Evely's death, but he also believes that he will still be the same as before, continue his usual style, continue to buy and sell for a living, and also. No one will remember his insistence, and the world has not changed because of it. The darkness still exists, in various forms, large and small. This is the case in any era, and it has never disappeared.
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