Although there are many different ways to categorize a neo-noir film, Roman Polanski's, Chinatown captures many of them. The 1974 film consists of many of these elements, including both thematic and stylistic devices. One of the main themes of neo-noir film that is constant throughout the film is the deceptive plot that challenges viewers' ideas and perceptions of what is really happening in the film. Every scene in Chinatown leads to some twist or another that tests the viability of the film's reality. All the endless surprises and revelations lead to the significant themes the film tries to convey in the film's conclusion. The first thematic device is clearly shown throughout the film's narrative. The main plot of the film revolves around the mysterious murder of Hollis Mulwray and the obstacles that detective Jake Gittes must overcome to discover who is behind the murder. We learn a lot about Detective Gittes, as he is the main anti-hero of the story. At the beginning of the film he seems to be doing quite well. He often refers to “what happened in Chinatown” but it doesn't convince him. He earns well and his business is successful. Jake Gittes is considered a thematic device, as he is essentially a good man; however some of his actions are morally questionable. For example, he is hired by Mrs. Mulwray to solve her husband's murder, and then sleeps with her. Another questionable action regarding Mrs. Mulwray is when he physically hits her when he believes she is lying about Katherine's precise identity. Overall Chinatown shows the decline of Detective Gittes despite his genuine and determined efforts to solve the problem... middle of paper... the predominant theme of disorientation and lack of understanding throughout the film. It is never clear to the audience whether the scene that unfolds is authentic or whether there is a false reality. The entire film is filled with counter-narratives, when the audience believes they have an accurate understanding of what is actually happening, there is a misleading event, as the plot is continually challenged. One learns that the viewer's first impressions of what is happening are always questionable because what they are repeatedly tricked into trusting and revealed is not the truth in the film's conclusion. This neo-noir film had multiple scenarios that make the previous actions unreliable to the actual message. This shows that all observations and thoughts that the viewer has are only relevant to what he is exposed to and shown and not to what, in fact, is happening.