Many of us are spending time indoors scrolling through the latest selections from the plethora of streaming services available, and the amount of media to choose from can be overwhelming.

Then on the other side of the spectrum, there’s having to choose between a movie or show you’ve seen before or taking the risk on a sub-par Netflix original. 

That is why I will be introducing “Rod’s Reviews,” a weekly-review series that will be alternating from recommendations of old gems to reviews on new releases, available through different platforms. 

To start off this series, I will be suggesting the 1974 cult-classic film, “Chinatown.” 

The film is a neo-noir mystery, taking on many of the tropes from the classic “film noir” era while at the same time subverting the viewer’s expectations, and constantly keeping them at the edge of their seat. 

For a film that is two hours long, it doesn’t skip a beat, making the viewer constantly asking questions, having them answered, and then finding themselves asking even more.

With an excellent screenplay from Robert Towne, direction from the infamous Roman Polanski, and cinematography from the incomparable John Alonzo, “Chinatown” is often regarded as one of the best screenplays and films of all-time. Boasting the cast of Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston (director of the noir-classic “The Maltese Falcon”) the viewer is taken on a dark and puzzling ride through 1930’s Los Angeles.

“Chinatown” is a must-see for all film buffs, cinephiles and even the casual movie-goer. I give it a 10/10.