punishmentpark
I've seen this one before, but hardly remembered a thing of it when watching it again last night - not a good sign, I suppose. This is the only one of three films that I saw that were directed by Jack Nicholson himself, and I really wonder how much help he got. Some cinematography is dazzlingly beautiful, but did he really - for instance - find that exact location (the one with the wooden poles) at the Californian coastline where Rawley and Gittes have their conversation by himself? Maybe that's not what directing is all about, and I'm a bit of a laymen in that respect, but isn't directing also about keeping an eye on the development of the story and coaching your actors? The story is not uninteresting, but it's a somewhat uninspired carbon-copy of its predecessor with rather mediocre acting, and, I guessed straight away that the 'mystery lady' was indeed Miss Mulwray... And that soundtrack could have been toned a bit, couldn't it?Then, there are some really odd scenes, seemingly thrown in for the 'good measure' of simply trying something different, like the sex scene with Stowe and the 'suck my gun' scene with Keith. They cóuld have worked, but they felt (way) out of tune here.I can't say that 'The two Jakes' is a bad film, it is much too easy on the eyes and the story and acting are entertaining enough, but - unsurprisingly - it has almost none of the magic of its predecessor 'Chinatown'. The cinematography is pretty much impeccable, the story was worked out pretty well and the overall atmosphere was more than doable, but that's about it. By the way, did anyone notice Jack rambling on an on (he could talk the balls off a...) while that one tune set in, that same tune that the Coen brothers used in the film noir parody 'The big Lebowski'? Another fun bit was when Jake broke into a house when an old-time commercial was on. I hope it was an original, but I really don't know.Well entertaining, for sure, but also quite bleak compared to the original. 6 to 7 out of 10.
eggletonrod
anyone who rightly believes "Chinatown" to be a peak of 70s cinema, should give this more than a chance. just read the "quotes" and you will see the quality of the screenplay, without even context. yes, there's no Faye dunaway, but meg Tilly does a very cool turn as the femme fatale. shes a keeper. otherwise a great ensemble cast, with jack of course well in the lead, but again the supporting cast are given character realisation and lines far more meaningful than usual. who could forget "forget it, Jake, its Chinatown"? Then wait for the last lines in this film.this film is a maligned classic, and anyone who ever had a regret will find tears welling up at the end,if not before.
thinker1691
The classic hard boiled detective of the fifties is among the most popular characters ever created. Guys like, Sam Spade, Mike Hammer and now J.J. Gitties have become immortalized on the big screen. Ever since audiences watched 'Chinatown' there has been a steady stream of fan mail asking for a sequel. This movie connects the original and is called " The Two Jakes. " In this follow up story which dealt with water rights and was filled with a twisted and scandalous family, is back with an even more confusing signature of who wants, what and where. Jack Nicholson not only directs, but also stars as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes, the introspective, but sophisticated Private Eye. Harvey Keitel plays Julius 'Jake' Berman, the rich and futuristic housing developer who has several schemes with which to grow wealthier, but to secure his wife's future. Eli Wallach, plays Cotton Weinberger, the high price attorney. Rubén Blades plays Michael 'Mickey Nice' Weisskopf, who is out to solve problems despite whom it may hurt.Perry Lopez, returns as Captain Lou Escobar with David Keith as an ambitious Dectective out to nail Gittes. Richard Farnsworth, Earl Rawley, Tracey Walter and James Hong add to the list of great stars in the movie. Though the story is as deep as a fifties novel, if one pays close attention, the out-come is inevitable. Seen is this retrospective and the modern problems arrayed in the future, this dramatic movie should lay the foundation for the third in the series. All in all, the movie should be listed as second in a trio of Classic movies for Nicholson. Recommended for anyone who loved the oldies movies with the hard bitten Private eye, spinning a tale. ****
nomoons11
...of course i don't mean Jack Nicholson, he brings his A game to just about everything he does. This one was rather dull IMO. It just didn't have any pop. The story throughout just didn't have any wow moments like Chinatown did.Now for the miscasting. Harvey Keitel's tough guy persona just didn't work in this one. Richard Farnsworth was odd as a choice for the demon oil man and to round it out, If Meg Tilly wasn't miscast, then the casting agent was either sick that day, deaf or dead on blind. She's never been one to hit the Hollywood signs for popularity or bring in the crowds so for her to be in this was just a last minute choice or a bad choice.A little about this being too long. For something to carry on for 2 hrs and 37 minutes and slowly dribble out bits and pieces with bad casting and and average screenplay(watch for a few brief, has nothing to do with scenes with the PI's supposed wife. Didn't belong in the movie), I was just waiting for the end to say I actually finished it.I recommend anyone who's seen Chinatown to finish it off and watch this but if you haven't and aren't planning on seeing it, you aren't missing anything by skipping this one .BTW...is it me or could anyone else see Nicholson having a recurring character as a PI in some movies nowadays? He hasn't had a hit in a while, he could do more of these as his character in this. I could see it working.
AD
