Product: The Two Jakes [VHS] (1990)
Rating: 4.0
A worthy sequel to CHINATOWN...
As I recall, this movie was originally shunned upon it's theatrical release in 1990. It was an ambitious sequel to one of the milestone films of the 70's that went through a troubled production and studio turnaround through years. Yet star/ director Jack Nicholson slips comfortably back into JJ Gittes territory and creates a damned fine film with as much mindbending twists as featured in CHINATOWN. Though maybe not as amazing as that film, THE TWO JAKES is still worthwhile in its own right and features a terrific cast: Harvey Keitel, Madeliene Stowe, and the late, great Richard Farnsworth. As usual, Paramount has given us an anemic and strange DVD (the thatrical trailer is included, letterboxed to 2.35:1 even though the film itself is 1.85:1???) and due to the film's poor box-office showing it will probably never see a better release, even though it deserves one.