The Two Jakes

The Two Jakes is the much-delayed and rather convoluted sequel to the 1975 classic Chinatown. Released in 1990 after an abortive stab at shooting that began in the mid-'80s, the film was the subject of a creative feud between its principals, star Jack Nicholson, producer Robert Evans, and ...more

The battles between the extraordinary screenwriter Robert Towne and the equally brilliant director Roman Polanski over Chinatown are legendary and best documented by Peter Biskind's wonderful book -Easy Riders, Raging Bulls. The Two Jakes is the kind of movie that Chinatown might have been, had those battles not occurred. It's a fascinating movie, a sequel to Chinatown that puts Towne's brilliant dialogue and prodigious research abilities on full display. It's also overlong and slackly paced. ...more