It’s time for The Two Jakes blu-ray review. This is the sequel to the rather excellent 1974 neo-noir film Chinatown starring Jack Nicholson. Sadly this film is yet to receive a UK blu-ray release so I reviewing an imported version.
I loved Chinatown (1974) with Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, it was stylish and compelling in equal measure. Could the 1990 sequel live up to the first outing for Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson)? Let’s find out.
- The Two Jakes (1990)
- Blu-ray Import
- Genre: Neo Noir Drama
- Directed by Jack Nicholson
- UK Rating N/A
- Discs: 1
- Released By Paramount
Plot
Private investigator Jake Gittes is back and he finds himself caught up in a bizarre murder committed by one of his clients, Jake Berman (Harvey Keitel). With Gittes and his team listening and recording Jake Berman is supposed to walk in on his wife and his business partner in a compromising position. However he pulls a gun and kills his business partner.
Of course there’s a lot more going on as the he and his partner run a real estate development that may sitting on a gold mine or should that be oil. Jake Gittes needs to find out what he has become inadvertently involved in.
Style / Direction
The film was directed by Jack Nicholson whilst Vilmos Zsigmond was the one responsible for the cinematography. I thought Nicholson did a fabulous job of recreating the world that the original Chinatown portrayed. It looks and feels right, the same neo noir style the first film had.
Music / Audio Effects
The music is provided by Van Dyke Parks.
Acting / Characters
The casting is rather good aside from Jack Nicholson you have the likes of Harvey Keitel, Meg Tilly, Madeleine Stowe and Eli Wallach.
It’s Nicholson of course who steals the show with another fabulous performance as private investigator Jake Gittes.
Cast
- Jack Nicholson as Jake Gittes
- Harvey Keitel as Julius “Jake” Berman
- Meg Tilly as Katherine “Kitty” Berman
- Madeleine Stowe as Lillian Bodine
- Eli Wallach as Cotton Weinberger
- Rubén Blades as Michael “Mickey Nice” Weisskopf
- Frederic Forrest as Chuck Newty
- David Keith as Det. Lt. Loach
- Richard Farnsworth as Earl Rawley
- Tracey Walter as Tyrone Otley
- Joe Mantell as Lawrence Walsh
- James Hong as Kahn
Conclusion: The Two Jakes (1990) Film Review
Did I enjoy The Two Jakes? Well yes it’s a decent enough film but lacks the compelling storyline of Chinatown. It does a marvellous job of recreating the world and character of Jake Gittes but doesn’t quite keep you invested in the story.
In short looks great but lacks a truly compelling storyline.
If you enjoyed my The Two Jakes blu-ray review so far you may want to check out the following films:
Conclusion: The Two Jakes (1990) Blu-ray Review
As I mentioned earlier The Two Jakes is yet to receive a UK blu-ray release which is a shame. The picture quality of the imported version is excellent, in fact there’s absolutely nothing to complain about. Good job!
Popcorn Cinema Rating:
The Two Jakes (1990)
MOVIE RATING: GOOD
BLU-RAY RATING: EXCELLENT
Purchase The Two Jakes (1990) On Blu-ray
The Two Jakes (1990) is available now on blu-ray via import. Please ensure you make sure it will play on UK players before purchasing.
The Amazon links on this page are affiliate / associate links. By buying through the links we may receive a commission for the sale. This has no effect on the price you pay.
The Two Jakes (1990) Film Trailer
For those of you yet to see the film I’ll leave you with a little taster…
Clip not representative of the blu-ray version
That concludes my The Two Jakes blu-ray review, I’m aiming to review more movies soon. What’s next? Check back soon…
Support Physical Media
Join us in supporting physical media by obtaining this film on blu-ray. Remember streaming platforms can add or remove your favourite films at any time. Own it forever and you never need worry again!
Summary: The Two Jakes (1990) Blu-ray Review - Import
Movie title: The Two Jakes (1990)
Movie description: Sequel to Chinatown (1974)
Duration: 137 mins
Director(s): Jack Nicholson
Actor(s): Jack Nicholson, Harvey Keitel, Meg Tilly, Madeleine Stowe, Eli Wallach
Genre: Neo Noir , Crime, Drama
- Movie Rating
- Blu-ray Picture Rating
Summary
A stylish looking film with top acting that lacks a truly compelling storyline.
Pros
- Fabulous Cast
Cons
- Average Story
- No UK Blu-ray Release
