The Two Jakes

1990

2h 17m

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

257

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Crime

Drama

Mystery

Romance

Real estate developer Jake Berman hires private investigator and war veteran Jake Gittes for some run-of-the-mill matrimonial work. After Berman shoots his wife's lover, who happens to be his business partner, Gittes is drawn into a web of conspiracy and deceit involving the oil reserves beneath Los Angeles. While investigating, Gittes hears a voice from his past that causes him to revisit a traumatic case in Chinatown.

Directors

Jack Nicholson

Writers

Robert Towne(writer by)

Robert Towne(characters by)

Stars

Jack Nicholson

Harvey Keitel

Meg Tilly

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Photos46

Top cast

J.J. "Jake" Gittes

Julius "Jake" Berman

Kitty Berman

Lillian Bodine

Cotton Weinberger

Mickey Nice

Chuck Newty

Det. Lt. Loach

Earl Rawley

Tyrone Otley

Lawrence Walsh

Kahn

Captain Lou Escobar

Tilton

Gladys

Liberty Levine

Mark Bodine

Linda

Directors

Jack Nicholson

Writers

Robert Towne(writer by)

Robert Towne(characters by)

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Featured review

5/10

I kept looking out for Anne Bancroft, or - indeed anyone who could inject a little class into this really rather dreary vehicle for Jack Nicholson. Reprising his "Gittes" role from "Chinatown" (1974) he finds himself embroiled in a murder mystery that leaves him unsure who he can trust as he tries to get to the truth and stay alive! Yes, that's the gist - hardly novel, is it? What could have helped it would have been better writing and a more compelling contribution from the star. As it is, he is going through the motions - accompanied by a pretty lacklustre voice-over narrative - as the well-travelled noir-esque plot gradually unfolds - and I do mean "gradually"! Nicholson directed this plodder too, and perhaps that also explains why this is such a dud. Nobody was taking an objective view of what we were seeing, the pace at which the story was developing and the sheer predictability of it all. He has assembled a sturdy cast - Harvey Keitel and Eli Wallach amongst them, but they have precious little to work with beyond the stereotypical roles we would expect - there is virtually no character depth or development here at all! Simply, it is nobody's finest work and a very pale imitation of the first outing for this grizzly PI. It does look good, but I reckon it's only just about fine for the television on a wet winter's evening.

Geronimo196704 Nov, 2022