The Man Who Shot Chinatown: The Life and Work of John A. Alonzo

This is an innovative and vividly pictorial documentary that I saw at the premiere in Cologne. Without any voice over (thank heavens), it explores Alonzo as man and artist in depth, using clips and interviews to weave a propulsive and compelling narrative. It really does draw you in, without ever falling into the "and then he shot..." banalities that infect this genre. This one's different, and mixes Alonzo's personal history with his craft into a fascinating whole. I really like the forward motion here. Clips are well-chosen. My only criticism is that the actual daily work of the cinematographer isn't really shown or described, the director/producers/writers apparently assuming (erroneously) that we'd know this already.

And--if I may critique a previous comment that bemoaned the absence of Polanski in the interviews--who the heck cares? He's SO bloody overrated as a director, and in interviews, a smug, pompous twit who specializes in self-congratulation.

My heretical opinion: Huston should have directed "Chinatown," not acted in it.