The Two Jakes (1990) ***1/2

The Two Jakes (1990) was a troubled production and a box office fizzle, but as ‘90s neo-noirs go, it's quite good. Star and director Jack Nicholson's sequel to 1974's Chinatown (one of my Top 100 Films) is competently made, well acted (with many returning actors from the original film and all the new additions well cast), gorgeously shot by Vilmos Zsigmond, and never calls too much attention to the fact that it is the continuing saga of one of the most beloved films ever made (too many callbacks can break a sequel).

TTJ is a tad long, can be a touch boring at times, and  the voiceover is a genre trope that probably could have been avoided (though Nicholson’s dulcet tones lend itself to that sort of thing). The film has a few zany moments that perhaps feel a bit over the top (though I can't help but love them) and it is definitely a slow burner, but if you avoid comparing it to its predecessor—it's a very enjoyable and handsome-looking film with wonderful costumes, production design, and good performances.