It is a fundamentally strong story, though it lacks the ingenious nuances and twists of Towne's earlier effort.

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.

In short, The Two Jakes, combining the best of the old and the best of the new, is one helluva good movie.

Nicholson's turn as Gittes is enjoyable, but it never quite feels like the same man from Chinatown (also reviewed here). Yet The Two Jakes is admirably dense in a manner that's satisfying rather than frustrating.