Much better than Chinatown.

I will gladly respond to this quintessential stylistic apples-and-oranges comparison when I've managed a decent night's sleep, lol. In both cases we're discussing true auteurs, though Polanski sublimated his absurdist humor to Towne's brilliant Chinese-box screenplay (Polanski's justly celebrated cameo being a notable exception).

Until I do weigh in at greater length, some random thoughts. Sixth Sense.... overwrought and obvious. Bless you, Molypocho, for recognizing the genius in Unbreakable, by far the more intriguing, mature work with heartbreaking performances by Willis and Jackson.

Manchurian Candidate, well, please, not just a twist ending. A dazzling satire of American Cold War paranoia that almost captures the fevered brilliance of the Condon novel.

The Usual Suspects. Actually an ingenious screenplay. Not as atmospheric as it should have been, but a very worthy effort that stands up to repeat viewings, in no small part due to Spacey.

Surprised that no one mentioned The Crying Game in the litany of mystery twist endings. Like The Sixth Sense I saw it coming a mile off, but that detracted less from my enjoyment of Jordan's mise-en-scene.

Now I would love to get this erudite group's opinion of another blockbuster-versus-quirky lower-budget pair: L.A. Confidential (very solid neo noir in my opinion, in great part because it telescopes the marvelous Ellroy novel effectively) and one of the great underrated movies of the 1970s/1980s, Cutter and Bone (original title of the edited Cutter's Way).

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Don't know if it's better but it's certainly funnier.

I just saw it for the first time. I love it.

However, Chinatown is one of the greatest movies ever made. Iconic. Not sure The Long Goodbye reaches those heights. But why should it? It's its own thing.

I will say, the end of Chinatown is thoroughly dark and depressing, while the end of Goodbye is shocking in the best way possible. I didn't see it coming, but it made perfect sense.

No, not on any level is TLG as good as Chinatown, much less "better". IMO this may be Altman's worst film, and it is certainly one of the worst detective films of the '70s. Better than Chinatown? The acting, cinematography, direction and even sound design are all hideously worse, and the adapted screenplay (by the usually-reliable Leigh Bracket, hardboiled writer of some note) was flat and lifeless compared to Chinatown's.

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I'm with you; Chinatown tries SO hard to be devastating that watching it now it almost feels like a satire (Maybe it is ;])

TLG on the other hand, is very post modern, and that is a quality that makes it timeless; ironically since, Marlowe in the film feels like he just awakened to the '70's

of course not !