Foil

Character Role Analysis

Jake Gittes and Noah Cross

When Jake first meets Noah, they get along pretty well. But, in reality, Noah's the guy who's been standing in Jake's way throughout the whole movie.

Where Jake is outwardly disreputable—a private eye who catches people committing adultery—Noah is outwardly respectable, a much admired old rich guy. But the truth is the reverse of these outer appearances: Jake's actually a guy who cares, and who wants to help the people of L.A. County.

And when he learns what's really going on, he wants to help Evelyn escape her father. Noah, in reality, is a total monster—committing incest and murder without blinking an eye. And in the end, Jake loses and Noah wins.

Yeah. Don't watch Chinatown if you're looking for your faith in humanity to be restored.