The Two Jakes

J. J. Gittes, a weary private investigator in postwar Los Angeles, takes on a routine marital infidelity case for a ruthless real estate developer, Jake Berman. As Berman's fury erupts after he shoots his wife's alleged lover, Gittes is drawn into a larger maze of secrets that centers on the oil beneath the city and the power players who guard it. The investigation widens to include business partners, municipal figures, and a web of old loyalties, all of which threaten to pull Gittes back into memories of a former Chinatown case. With noir atmosphere, sharp dialogue, and a city under pressure, the pursuit becomes a study of corruption, paranoia, and memory in a city driven by land and fuel.

Released in 1990, The Two Jakes was directed by Jack Nicholson who also stars as J J Gittes. Written by Robert Towne, it expands the Chinatown universe Towne created decades earlier and marks Nicholson's first major directing stint. The production carried a $19 million budget for a return to noir storytelling.

Reception was mixed on release, with critics praising Nicholson and Keitel for intensity and the film's moody LA ambiance, while others faulted the plotting and pacing. The narrative foregrounds corruption, real estate greed, and oil politics as driving forces shaping a city where trust is scarce and loyalties flip.

The Two Jakes sits in the shadow of Chinatown, serving as a case study in sequels that try to outdo their predecessors. It’s discussed in film circles as a late noir meditation on power, memory, and Los Angeles oil lore. Scholars often reference its self referential tone to discuss how sequels handle legacy and audience expectations in established franchises.

The film did not receive major nominations at the Academy Awards or Golden Globes, a tally that matches its mixed critical reception. Still, admirers point to Nicholson's direction and the atmospheric craft as notable, if flawed, entries in his career.