The Two Jakes - Retro Review
03/05/09 01:43 Filed in: Personal
In 1990 the sequel to the much lauded 1974 mystery thriller “Chinatown” was released to a generally less than pleasing critical reviews.
Which is a little unfair, partly because while Chinatown is a good film; it’s actually not that fantastic a film. In some parts the acting and direction are positively ropey. Perhaps a outcome of the heated exchanged betwixt the director Roman Polanski and the two stars of the film Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.
16 years later and Jack Nicholson is again ready to don the Jack Giddes suit to Robert Towne’s follow up “The Two Jakes”. This time around, its post war and everybody in LA is relatively prosperous. So the whole look for the picture reflects the modern and stylish times. Remember, this is the boon times for America. Sadly, this did not appeal to the “Chinatown 2” crowd and I think it counted against the picture.
The irony is that just 7 years later, the 1997 movie “L.A. Confidential” plays out this exact cinema style; only the mood has changed and it’s not carrying the baggage of the successful pre-cursor. So it’s lauded with praise for style and originality. Somewhat unfairly, looking back to “The Two Jakes”.
The fact is that “The Two Jakes” was never going to be received well, like the new Star Wars trilogy, it could never meet the expectations of the memories of the original movie. Which once again, I’d like to suggest wasn’t quite as brilliant as everybody would like to remember it.
Jake Gittes is now runs are very well off and successful investigations agency. Which makes a lovely surprise. I’m always lost of understanding how such superb private detectives Marlone, Spade etc seem to make so little money. I mean what is that all about?
Well, contrary to form, Jake operates from a superbly stylish modernist / deco building, drives a stylish convertible car and wears the very best suits money can buy. He’s also something of a war hero to boot. So, not the low at heal, dowdy Jake from Chinatown. He’s older, wiser and wealthier. Which is just as well really, because the plot has him spinning off in more directions than the script can cope with. Which now brings us to the second thing the critics hated.... that narration.
Now as a rule, I think it’s obviously better to not include narration in modern films. The idea being that it should be easier to reveal the investigation points as the film roles along. However, “The Two Jakes” suffers from a problem. It has to support two audiences. The first has seen Chinatown and when Jake hears on the wire recording the name “Katherine Mulwray”, they all get up and listen. Audience two wanted to see a detective movie and they weren’t even born when the original came out. So they need a little help... hence the narration and flashback sequences.
Having had a look at the critics comments (from IMDB) they all have nothing good to say about these features of the film. Which shows a certain level of arrogance, but there you go.
Now I have to admit that I do in fact have a certain guilty secret in having very fond memories of this film. For a start it was the date movie for a old girlfriend. Plus I absolutely loved the look and feel of the picture. None of the fashionable “paint it grim” was present, everything new and prosperous and yet still corrupt... (again, back to LA Confidential). I even like Jack Nicholson’s relaxed performance in the film. Playing it like a man who’s seen a lot of action and nothing surprises him.
There are some scenes which do grate a little. Lillian Bodine’s (Madeleine Stowe) comedy seduction of Gittes feels almost like middle aged man wish fulfilment. The earlier scene when he ‘accidentally’ knocks her out was more in keeping.
Incidentally, what the hell DID happen to Madeleine Stowe? One minute she’s in superb films such as Twelve Monkeys (1995) and “The General’s Daughter” (1999). Then she’s got a small part in “We Were Soldiers” as Mel Gibsons wife.... then... (flush) carrier down to TV movies and a recurring part in the TV show “Raines” (oddly enough with Jeff Goldbloom - her fellow star in “Earth Girls are Easy&rdquo
Bottom line:-
7/10
Which is a little unfair, partly because while Chinatown is a good film; it’s actually not that fantastic a film. In some parts the acting and direction are positively ropey. Perhaps a outcome of the heated exchanged betwixt the director Roman Polanski and the two stars of the film Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.
16 years later and Jack Nicholson is again ready to don the Jack Giddes suit to Robert Towne’s follow up “The Two Jakes”. This time around, its post war and everybody in LA is relatively prosperous. So the whole look for the picture reflects the modern and stylish times. Remember, this is the boon times for America. Sadly, this did not appeal to the “Chinatown 2” crowd and I think it counted against the picture.
The irony is that just 7 years later, the 1997 movie “L.A. Confidential” plays out this exact cinema style; only the mood has changed and it’s not carrying the baggage of the successful pre-cursor. So it’s lauded with praise for style and originality. Somewhat unfairly, looking back to “The Two Jakes”.
The fact is that “The Two Jakes” was never going to be received well, like the new Star Wars trilogy, it could never meet the expectations of the memories of the original movie. Which once again, I’d like to suggest wasn’t quite as brilliant as everybody would like to remember it.
Jake Gittes is now runs are very well off and successful investigations agency. Which makes a lovely surprise. I’m always lost of understanding how such superb private detectives Marlone, Spade etc seem to make so little money. I mean what is that all about?
Well, contrary to form, Jake operates from a superbly stylish modernist / deco building, drives a stylish convertible car and wears the very best suits money can buy. He’s also something of a war hero to boot. So, not the low at heal, dowdy Jake from Chinatown. He’s older, wiser and wealthier. Which is just as well really, because the plot has him spinning off in more directions than the script can cope with. Which now brings us to the second thing the critics hated.... that narration.
Now as a rule, I think it’s obviously better to not include narration in modern films. The idea being that it should be easier to reveal the investigation points as the film roles along. However, “The Two Jakes” suffers from a problem. It has to support two audiences. The first has seen Chinatown and when Jake hears on the wire recording the name “Katherine Mulwray”, they all get up and listen. Audience two wanted to see a detective movie and they weren’t even born when the original came out. So they need a little help... hence the narration and flashback sequences.
Having had a look at the critics comments (from IMDB) they all have nothing good to say about these features of the film. Which shows a certain level of arrogance, but there you go.
Now I have to admit that I do in fact have a certain guilty secret in having very fond memories of this film. For a start it was the date movie for a old girlfriend. Plus I absolutely loved the look and feel of the picture. None of the fashionable “paint it grim” was present, everything new and prosperous and yet still corrupt... (again, back to LA Confidential). I even like Jack Nicholson’s relaxed performance in the film. Playing it like a man who’s seen a lot of action and nothing surprises him.
There are some scenes which do grate a little. Lillian Bodine’s (Madeleine Stowe) comedy seduction of Gittes feels almost like middle aged man wish fulfilment. The earlier scene when he ‘accidentally’ knocks her out was more in keeping.
Incidentally, what the hell DID happen to Madeleine Stowe? One minute she’s in superb films such as Twelve Monkeys (1995) and “The General’s Daughter” (1999). Then she’s got a small part in “We Were Soldiers” as Mel Gibsons wife.... then... (flush) carrier down to TV movies and a recurring part in the TV show “Raines” (oddly enough with Jeff Goldbloom - her fellow star in “Earth Girls are Easy&rdquo
Bottom line:-
