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The Two Jakes

Play trailer Poster for The Two Jakes R Released Aug 10, 1990 2h 17m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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59% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 38% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Private investigator and war veteran Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is hired by real estate developer Jake Berman (Harvey Keitel) for some run-of-the-mill matrimonial work. After Berman shoots his wife's lover, who happens to be his own business partner, Gittes is drawn into a web of conspiracy and deceit involving the oil reserves beneath Los Angeles. While investigating, Gittes hears a voice from his past that causes him to revisit a traumatic case in Chinatown.
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The Two Jakes

Critics Reviews

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Stephen Amidon Financial Times It is a fundamentally strong story, though it lacks the ingenious nuances and twists of Towne's earlier effort. Aug 18, 2021 Full Review Geoff Brown The Times (UK) As a thriller, The Two Jakes proves impossible to follow; as an exercise in retro style, it glows with sullen beauty. Forties suits, ties, two-tone shoes: everything is in place, bathed in hard-edged gloom. Aug 18, 2021 Full Review Derek Malcolm Guardian In short, The Two Jakes, combining the best of the old and the best of the new, is one helluva good movie. Aug 18, 2021 Full Review Joshua Mooney Movieline The Two Jakes is frustratingly complex and baffling. Sep 16, 2025 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Although visually sumptuous, Jack Nicholson's direction and acting in "The Two Jakes" results in a largely inert follow-up to "Chinatown." Rated: 2.5/5 Sep 2, 2025 Full Review Alistair Lawrence Common Sense Media But compared to Chinatown and other private investigator movies that have endured down the years, you'd struggle to pick it out of a line-up. Feb 6, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tobias C A solid LA Noir that is very satisfying for the slow-burn thriller fan. Its biggest problem is that it didn't step out of the grand shadow of Chinatown and match the broadly dispersed mystery which tied in more seemingly unrelated angles into its final tragic ending. On its own, The Two Jakes is great for any mystery lover. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/15/25 Full Review Blu B Further proof that unneeded sequels to masterpieces are not a 21st Century only phenom. For what it's worth this is half decently made all around with good direction from Jack. The biggest problem is of course this has no reason to exist. Chinatown was not begging for a sequel, prequel, spinoff, or TV mini series tieing in the sequel. But beyond that there is way too many characters involved in this. The only equalizing factor is we do stay on Jake the entire time so it's focused but not terribly jumpy. If this woud've jumped between other characters constantly it would've pancaked on itself. If there is one thing this does capture from the original is the slow burn deliberate pacing. It still is very hard to keep track of the love triangle, the double/triple crosses, the oil, than the ways it tries tying this to the original. If anything the forced way it tries tying this to the first is what didn't need to be in this. Also, there is a lack of character development for Jake of any kind. The mystery is interesting even when it's hard to keep track of and a big part is because of the production value and direction by Jack to his credit. But where we end up just feels like a big nothing burger despite a interesting trip there. It does have all the trademarks of a Neo Noir still. I will say the dialouge isn't bad but could've defintely been better. I did like the sunset like aura this has running throughout it also. But beyond that it mimics the messaging of the first with exploration of the rot under all that beautiful LA soaked golden hour. But we've been here, done that, and done it better. And this leaves a lot to be desired despite being above average. If your a die fan of Jack or want to see a very interesting deep cut Neo Noir tidbit maybe watch this but most could skip it and continue like most to not even be aware this exists. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/11/25 Full Review Wirmer F a very good movie, if you see it as a stand alone or an installment rather than a sequel. it would have been nice to have the planned, but ultimately cancelled, 3rd installment, all these years later. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/07/25 Full Review Stephen C Failure in 2 hours and 17 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $9,400,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/27/25 Full Review Brad S. R A serviceable, though ultimately unnecessary sequel to a noir classic. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/23/25 Full Review E S boring.....boring........i have to add characters or they won't publish this. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/08/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Two Jakes

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The Two Jakes

The Two Jakes: Official Clip - The Name of the Game is Oil The Two Jakes: Official Clip - The Name of the Game is Oil 2:08 The Two Jakes: Official Clip - How Could You, Kitty? The Two Jakes: Official Clip - How Could You, Kitty? 2:11 The Two Jakes: Official Clip - One Last Smoke The Two Jakes: Official Clip - One Last Smoke 2:11 The Two Jakes: Official Clip - Suck It The Two Jakes: Official Clip - Suck It 2:08 The Two Jakes: Official Clip - Don't Make Me Do It The Two Jakes: Official Clip - Don't Make Me Do It 2:06 The Two Jakes: Official Clip - Who is Kitty Berman? The Two Jakes: Official Clip - Who is Kitty Berman? 2:12 The Two Jakes: Official Clip - The Wife of the Guy that Jake Berman Shot The Two Jakes: Official Clip - The Wife of the Guy that Jake Berman Shot 1:57 The Two Jakes: Official Clip - The Two Jakes The Two Jakes: Official Clip - The Two Jakes 2:08 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Private investigator and war veteran Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is hired by real estate developer Jake Berman (Harvey Keitel) for some run-of-the-mill matrimonial work. After Berman shoots his wife's lover, who happens to be his own business partner, Gittes is drawn into a web of conspiracy and deceit involving the oil reserves beneath Los Angeles. While investigating, Gittes hears a voice from his past that causes him to revisit a traumatic case in Chinatown.
Director
Jack Nicholson
Producer
Robert Evans, Harold Schneider, Jack Nicholson
Screenwriter
Robert Towne
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, 88 Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 10, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.4M
Runtime
2h 17m
Sound Mix
Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
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