THE TWO JAKES
US, 1990, 137 minutes, Colour.
Jack Nicholson, Harvey Keitel, Meg Tilly, Madeleine Stowe, Eli Wallach, Ruben Blades, Frederic Forrest.
Directed by Jack Nicholson.
The Two Jakes is the long-expected sequel to Roman Polanski's Chinatown. As with the original, the screenplay was written by Robert Towne (Personal Best, Days of Thunder). It takes up the themes begun in Chinatown, moves to the post-World War Two period in Los Angeles, continues the themes of greed, politicking, violence, cover-ups.
The Two Jakes, however, is Jack Nicholson's film. He stars and directs.
The film was not well received in the United States. Perhaps it was too complex and complicated for the ordinary audience. While Chinatown was taut, The Two Jakes is much less tight. It also lacks the presence of a strong female star like Faye Dunaway as well as a towering villain like John Huston.
However, the film is an interesting film noir, takes us back to Hollywood conventions of the late '40s as well as themes in Los Angeles and California at the time. Harvey Keitel gives a very good performance as the other Jake.
1.Impact of the film? Audience reaction at the box office? The continuation of Chinatown? Comparisons with the original?
2.The work of Jack Nicholson, in Chinatown, acting and directing here? The writing of Robert Towne?
3.The film noir, the private eye thriller, Los Angeles setting, piece of Americana, violent deaths, the law, police investigations, greed, corruption and cover-ups? And the recurring theme of the earthquakes shattering people in Los Angeles?
4.The complexity of the plot, motivations? The threads of plot and resolutions? How satisfying?
5.The title, the focus on the two men, the parallels, their stance with the law, their stance with the Mulwray family, with Kitty? The changing impressions of Jake Burman? Changing sympathies?
6.The links with Chinatown, Fay Dunaway and the photos, the articles? Her reading the letter? The newspapers? Kitty Mulwray and the ownership of the land? Memories?
7.Memories and the theme of the past? The question whether people can be free of the past? Past evil and greed and their results? Violence? The need for protection? Changing situations?
8.Jack Nicholson as Jake Gittes: age, size, appearance? At work, feet on the desk, discussions with Jake? Rehearsing his court appearance? His status as a private eye, objections to private eyes - the leper with the most fingers in L.A? His staff and their helping him? The plan for catching Kitty, the photos? The taping of the events? The sudden violence and the murder? The importance of the tape? The lawyer and his contact with Jake, wanting the tape? Escobar and his interest in the case, relationship with Jake? Loach and his antagonism, the fight in the precinct? The background of the affair, Baudine and his womanising, his wife and her behaviour, hysterical, visiting Jake, listening to the tape, seductive? Jake meeting Burman and Kitty - not recognising her? His investigations, documents, signatures, ownerships? The investigation, the land and the deals? Money? Nick and his tough? The brutality with Jake? The fight? His relationship with his fiancee - and neglecting her? A complex character?
9.Jake Burman, his character, reaction to his wife's adultery, preparing the court case? Relationships, his partnership with Baudine, the gun and Baudine's death? The murder, the revelation of the delivery of the chair, the gun? His playing golf, the collapse? His illness, the x-rays? The truth about the blackmail? His love for Kitty, wanting to protect her? The illness, the earthquake, the match - and his lighting it, the gas and his killing himself? For Kitty's sake?
10.Kitty, initial appearance, enigmatic, the sexual relationship with Baudine? Part of a plot? At the hairdresser's and meeting Jake, their discussions? Her not knowing the truth about her husband's illness? Thinking he was neglecting her? Her affair? The truth about her identity, the brooch in her hair? Her knowledge about Jake and manipulating him? The heritage of the past? Her sexual advances towards Jake? His fatherly attitude? Going to begin a new life?
11.The Baudines, partnerships, money, the deal with the tycoon? The wife and her reaction to the murder? Her lawyer and his instructions? The connection via the lawyer with the tycoon and his wife? The truth about Baudine, his wife and her seductive behaviour with Jake? Appearing in court, listening to the doctored tape - and the hysterical outburst?
12.The tycoon, his wealth, his wife, link with Baudine? The lawyer acting in his interests? The plans, the mineral rights? His lies? Greed?
13.Loach, the police background, clashes with Jake, the anger and taunts, the fight? The final confrontation and his humiliation and wetting himself? Escobar, the police, investigations? Antagonism towards Jake?
14.The lawyer and his client, friendship with Jake? The tycoon's lawyer and the confrontations with Jake? The use of the law?
15.Jake and his involvement, neglecting his fiancee, the puzzle, the dangers, the violence? Kitty and the brooch and his memories, the truth? His fatherly attitude towards Kitty? Protecting her, altering the tape?
16.A satisfying resolution, justice? Who wins? And not being free of the past?
