ETA: I liked him in Terms of Endearment also. 'Course he was supporting. But I like that film a lot.

Chinatown may be the best American movie ever made, imo.

...and for once, the director got it right over the screenwriter. I love Robert Towne--but imagine this film with his original, less-tragic ending...

Evelyn: Whoever killed my husband..... why have they gone to all this trouble?

Jake: Money. How they expect to make it by emptying reservoirs... that I don't know.



One of the best ( and probably most under-appreciated ) single exchanges in Hollywood history.

And probably only Jack could make that work.

...has to be Chinatown. Maybe best of all American films, certainly the best of the 70s...

Although it got 11 Academy Award nominations, it only won one Emmy,
for Best Original Screenplay (Robert Towne)

It won four Golden Globe Awards for Best Drama, Best Director, Best Actor, & Best Screenplay

But it's stood the test of time better than ALL the GF movies.

Personally I can't sit thru the opening wedding scene of GF 1. Once was enough. Cliched, trite. OK, OK, I get it. They're ITALIAN!

Once was OK. Twice was too much.

Chinatown I've probably watched 75 times all the way thru.

Course.... that's me.

...I mean, I have nothing against the GF films...Fredo's fate, especially, rises to the level of genuine tragedy. But Chinatown is in a class of its own. The strange, glamorous--in the true meaning of the word--atmosphere of the film is unique to it. Unforgettable.

You've got me beat.
I think I've seen it about 35 or 40 times.

"As Good As It Gets" and "Chinatown"... also "Easy Rider"..

Another truly great Jack Nicholson film.

I didn't like As Good as It Gets at all.

I still think it's cool that Cuckoo's nest starred Taxi stars Christopher Lloyd and Danny deVito, even though I didn't even recognise them the first few times I saw that.

Did you notice a very young Gilda Radner in a small part?

Oh wow, I need to watch it again.

I also love "Chinatown." And completely agree that it really holds up. Yes, it's pretty much perfect in every way.

it has no ending

I agree

Great flick with a WTF ending

I agree 100%

I think Chinatown was Nicholson's best movie, (and possibly the best movie ever)
However, my question was "What is your favorite Jack Nicholson movie?
and I have 2 favorites, "Chinatown" & "As Good As It Gets"...and I've watched them both many times.

The dog was great too....I loved how he ran around jack's apartment the first time he was in there
NICHOLSON (to dog); "Don't you do anything!"

As for Nicholson, I've seen pretty much everything he's ever been in, and I think he's a consummate actor.

But I thought "A Few Good Men" was a great peformance and I loved "As Good As It Gets."

Jack

He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and should have won, IMO.

Meanwhile, Nicholson and Helen Hunt did win Oscars for Best Actor & Best Actress

Cuba Gooding Jr. also deserved at least a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role

"As Good As It Gets" was an outstanding movie,IMO

I thought that Greg Kinnear was outstanding in that role and though the others were well deserved, thought he deserved it most of all. But my favorite actor (actually actress, LOL, since the dog was really a female ) was that terrific little dog. I had never even seen that breed before, but now I have had two in my life, both rescue. If that movie is on, chances are I'll be watching...

it is straight downhill for his career.

I like One Flew and Easy Rider as well.

Angel in Texas

1>last detail:

jack's best all-around character...

(although the very last scene was added, and not in the book -- and a big mistake)

otherwise, last detail is flawless three-way tragic grunge-buddy institutional satire



2> chinatown

best all-around hollywood classic

(based thematically on sophocles' _oedipus rex_, c. 450bc)



3> carnal knowledge

"...maybe you have to be a little schmucky to stay young and open..."



4> cuckoo's nest

based on kesey's book and subsequent broadway play

"you fooled 'em chief! you fooled 'em all!"



5> five easy pieces

i want you to hold the chicken salad between your legs!


6> easy rider

"They'll talk to ya and talk to ya and talk to ya about individual freedom. But they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em."