NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective disc.

ADDITION: Kino 4K UHD and Blu-ray (August 2025): Kino have transferred Jack Nicholson's The Two Jakes to Blu-ray and 4K UHD. It is cited as a "Brand New HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative". We reviewed the 2009 Paramount (Special Collector's Edition) DVD HERE and have made capture comparisons below.

While we are in possession of the 4K UHD disc, we cannot resolve the encode yet, and therefore, cannot obtain screen captures. We hope to add to this review at some point in the future. So, the below captures are from Kino's 2025 1080P Blu-ray transfer.

The 4K UHD has Dolby Vision and HDR10 support. This upgrade delivers a significant improvement over previous editions, enhancing the neo-noir visuals captured by cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Long Goodbye, The Deer Hunter) with sharper details in the hazy Los Angeles landscapes, deeper blacks in shadowy interiors, and more vibrant colors that accentuate the postwar optimism and underlying decay. The cinematography bathes the city in warm, hazy tones evocative of a sun-drenched yet morally opaque Southern California, with golden-hour lighting contrasting the cool shadows cast by Venetian blinds in dimly lit offices and homes. This creates a palpable sense of nostalgia and unease, portraying LA as a "dreamy desert town" morphing into a sprawling metropolis dotted with oil rigs and suburban tracts, symbolizing the commodification of land and the eruption of buried secrets - literally, through motifs like earthquakes and gas explosions that disrupt the frame with bursts of chaos. Nicholson's J.J. "Jake" Gittes appears softer and more rumpled than in Chinatown, clad in gray Donegal tweed jackets, black knit polos, pleated slacks, fedoras, and oversized shades, signaling his middle-aged complacency amid the city's transformation. Production design by Jeremy Railton and Richard Sawyer (Lost in America) meticulously recreates 1948 LA, blending period authenticity with thematic resonance. The film's locations - opulent real estate offices, dusty oil fields, and mid-century homes - reflect the era's "Bold Look" in menswear and architecture, emphasizing broader shoulders, fuller cuts, and a sense of postwar optimism undercut by underlying decay. The new transfer are darker (suiting the film) than the old SD and flesh tones warm - considerably at times. The higher resolution makes the visuals far crisper. The 4K UHD 2160P takes a notable notch above the 1080P in contrast and color balance (and richer) although both look exceptionally strong.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray and 4K UHD, Kino offer the option of DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround or stereo track (24-bit) in the original English language. The auditory landscape of The Two Jakes complements its visual melancholy, blending noir traditions with a more introspective tone, though it has drawn mixed reactions, particularly regarding the score. Composed by Van Dyke Parks (a musician known for his work with Brian Wilson and eclectic arrangements - he composed for Nicholson's - directed and starred - Goin' South), the soundtrack shifts from Chinatown's haunting trumpet motifs by Jerry Goldsmith to a jazz-infused, melancholic palette that underscores the film's themes of regret and duality. Parks' score features subtle, brooding strings and piano lines that evoke a sense of lingering trauma, with occasional bursts of tension during action sequences like the gas explosion or confrontations. However, it has been polarizing: some critics and fans lament the absence of Goldsmith, calling Parks' work "awful," "silly," and "over-the-top," arguing it nearly derails the film's mood with moments that feel mismatched or overly whimsical. No official soundtrack album was released at the time, though bootlegs and fan discussions highlight tracks like the main theme, which blends orchestral swells with subtle percussion to mimic the rumbling earthquakes symbolic of repressed emotions. The surround allows ambient elements like industrial oil pumps, and echoing gunshots to envelop the listener more dynamically than in prior releases. The lossless quality ensures crisp dialogue delivery - crucial for the film's dense, introspective conversations - and a balanced presentation that underscores the neo-noir mood, though it does not reach the heights of Jerry Goldsmith's Chinatown score. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray and Region FREE 4K UHD.

The extras package for Kino's 4K UHD release elevates featuring a new audio commentary by mystery writer/filmmaker Max Allan Collins Road to Perdition, Quarry), co-author of Spillane - King of Pulp Fiction, and film historian Heath Holland (host of the Cereal at Midnight podcast,) which promises insightful analysis of the film's neo-noir elements and production history. Additional supplements are on the second disc Blu-ray and include fresh interviews like "Flying High with Jack" with actor David Keith (White of the Eye, Firestarter, An Officer and a Gentleman) - for shy of 10 minutes, exploring his role and experiences on set; "Time Changes Things - Editing The Two Jakes" with editor Anne Goursaud (Ironweed, Coppola's Dracula and The Outsiders) for under 20 minutes, delving into the post-production challenges of Nicholson's directorial effort; and the archival "Jack on Jake" interview with Nicholson offering personal reflections on reprising Gittes. Rounding out the supplements is the theatrical trailer.

Jack Nicholson's The Two Jakes shifts the timeline forward from Roman Polanski's Chinatown to 1948 Los Angeles, a city transformed by post-World War II prosperity, suburban expansion, and the oil boom. While Chinatown delved into water rights and corruption in the 1930s, The Two Jakes pivots to oil, real estate, and the inescapable shadows of personal history, weaving a narrative that is less about explosive revelations and more about introspection, regret, and the moral compromises of middle age. Despite its troubled production and mixed reception upon release, the film has garnered retrospective appreciation for its atmospheric depth, character-driven storytelling, and Nicholson's multifaceted performance, both on and off the screen. It serves not merely as a continuation but as a melancholic epilogue, enhancing the original's themes while standing on its own as a meditation on time's relentless march. At the heart of The Two Jakes is Nicholson's portrayal of Gittes, evolved from the sharp, idealistic sleuth of Chinatown into a world-weary middle-aged man softened by success but haunted by old wounds. Nicholson's direction amplifies this transformation; Gittes is rounder in physique, more reflective in demeanor, and his trademark sarcasm now carries a tinge of melancholy. His voiceover narration, absent in the original, adds a pulp-noir introspection, drawing viewers into his psyche as he navigates moral gray areas. The film's title itself symbolizes duality - the two Jakes representing parallel lives entangled in fate, adultery, and moral ambiguity. Central themes include the inescapability of history, as Gittes' Chinatown scars resurface, forcing confrontations with regret and loss. Ultimately, The Two Jakes posits that true corruption lies not in schemes but in how time and choices erode the soul, with Gittes embodying a man forever chasing closure in a city that forgets nothing. Kino's 4K UHD and Blu-ray releases of The Two Jakes stands as an impressive upgrade for this underrated sequel, combining a high-quality video transfer from the original negative with robust audio options and a thoughtful selection of new and archival extras that deepen appreciation for Nicholson's passion project. While the film itself remains a polarizing follow-up to Chinatown - praised for its atmospheric depth and performances but critiqued for pacing and score - this edition addresses past home video shortcomings, offering enthusiasts a definitive presentation that highlights its visual and thematic merits.

Gary Tooze