It ain’t no Chinatown, certainly, but Robert Towne delivers more than a few memorable turns of phrase, Nicholson is just perfect as the older, fatter, wearier Jake Gittes, the photography and designs are gorgeous, evoking the late-40s, Joe Mantell is damn fine–I really like this film, but have heard that most think it an unworthy succesor to Chinatown.
So, I’ve heard rumors that Towne has written a third Jake Gittes screenplay. Anybody know the who, what, when, where, and why? It would have to be set in at least the early-60s, I would imagine.
Under the new forum rules, I’m gonna bump this just once. I think I posted this on a weekend and it got swept away.
I figure during the middle of the week there will be at least one person who will tell me I’m full of shit.
I really do think “The Two Jakes” is somewat better than its reputation, and wish they had done the final Jake Gittes film that Towne envisioned. Since my initial post, I have learned that he would have set it in the 50s, and that it would have dealt with the pollution problems created by the building of all the freeways in L. A.
I also liked The Two Jakes. The first time I saww it I didn’t get it because it’d been a while since I’d seen Chinatown and the details weren’t fresh in my mind. The latter movie is very dependent on a knowledge of the first one. But a year or two ago I watched them both in succession and quite enjoyed TTJ.
Didn’t care for it, personally. Nicholson ain’t the director that he is actor–one of the things I watch is bit parts; if they’re good that’s good directing. In Two Jakes, the bit parts suck.
