Product: The Two Jakes [VHS] (1990)
Rating: 4.0
Mischief, misfits, and mystery in the golden light of day
This film gets a solid 4 stars. It is not great, but it certainly is good. The film is meant to be a sequel to the outstanding film "Chinatown" but it is less dark and esthetically odd that is Chinatown. It is a brighter film with few night scenes and mostly golden glowing Los Angeles and desert scenes. It is also more fun with many humorous elements including earthquakes, tar pits, 1948 gay bars, and a sex scene between Madeline Stowe and Jack Nicholson that was unforgettable.The action takes place 10 years after the action in Chinatown, but detective Jake Gittes, played by Nicholson, still carries a torch for his long dead lover from Chinatown. There are an incredible number of twists in the plot, with at least a new twist occurring every 10 to 15 minutes in the film. Does this cause whiplash? No, because the twists in the plot carry Private Detective Gittes and the viewer further into a complex web of characters and motives, none of which are as they appear on the surface.One appeal of the film is that a Private Eye film has the benefit of having the detective discover clues along with the audience but another aspect is that these films make a commentary on the nature of reality which is multi-layered and of infinite depth and malleability. Characters change from unsympathetic villains to understandable martyrs back into sympathetic villains, all within 45 minutes.Nicholson is very good but the scene where he is being seduced by Madeline Stowe after he has just received a brain concussion and is struggling to even stand up is a winner. Harvey Keitel is excellent as the client who transforms back and forth between villain and victim, playing each role to perfection. Meg Tilly is perfect in her mysterious role as the unfaithful wife. Tilly's child like kitten voice is unique, soft, and sexy. At times the clues jump out at the viewer but they are not spoilers but are fun. The viewer may feel that there is more than meets the eye in each character and conversation but remains engaged in the film to see how the puzzle pieces all fall together in the end.