Chinatown is frequently called a slow-paced film, with many critics noting and praising Roman Polanski's deliberate style. While I understand that the film is two plus hours, I rather argue that it is quite economical. Aside from a few notable scenes (Gittes' Chinese joke, maybe one of the scenes at the Power Office), every scene in the film and frequently every line has some bearing on the movie. This is more noticeable the second time around: the throwaway character of Curly at the beginning of the film becomes a major plot point at the end. Duffy's brief line about hearing Mulrey talk about an "apple core" seems entirely pointless until one realizes that it is the Albacore Club. My personal favorite point is when Gittes sees the flashy object in the garden pond (Cross' glasses) and becomes distracted and must leave it. We, like Gittes, forget about it as the movie goes on, when in effect it is a very important clue as we (and Gittes) discover in the ending. Despite the length, I almost think the movie gets too rushed in the climax with the showdown scene between Cross and the final Chinatown scene very brief.