Too Many Characters Burden Nicholson Film
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(Tjntertainment W Too many characters burden Nicholson film NEW YORK (CNS) — In the much- delayed sequel to the 1974 film "Chinatown," Jack Nicholson again limes the role of Jake Gittes, Los Angeles private eye, in "The Two Jakes" (Paramount). It's 1948, southern California is poised on the edge of the post-war real estate boom and Jake has just taken on another routine case of documenting infidelity for his client, Jake Berman (Harvey Keitel), a San Fernando Valley land developer. When the two confront the wife (Meg Tilly) and her lover in a motel room, Ber man shoots his rival and Jake gets a nasty surprise — Berman never told him the man was his business partner and the surviving partner inherits all the assets. The dead man's wife (Madeleine Stowe) starts breathing lawsuits down Jake's neck and he has to find out fast if the seemingly impromptu killing was actually premeditated murder. He thus refuses to turn over the recording of the lovers' motel conversation in the motel room until he un covers the link between it and a disastrous case he handled 11 years earlier in Chinatown, when corruption in high places threatened the future of L.A. 's water supp ly and Jake's client ended up dead. Trapped between hostile policemen demanding the recording and Berman's mob pals who take stronger action to get it, Jake discovers die real motives for the kill ing have far-reaching implications for the EHiett Marks/Paramount Picture* area's future. "The Two Jakes" stars Jack Nicholson as detective Jake Gittes, the character he originated in "Chinatown." Wearing two hats — star and director — Nicholson also directed the Paramount mystery set in 1940s-era Los Angeles. The Motion Picture Association of Nicholson's sequel is ripe with at America rated the movie R—restricted. mosphere, lush visuals and crafty perfor performances by the jaded Nicholson and mances, but it is severely undermined by the secretive Keitel are intriguing. The the narrative. costumes and jewelry have an authentic The script is so dense with plot in 1940s look, and the darkly lit interiors are tricacies that Nicholson's character is in nice contrast to the golden yet faindy regularly heard via an explanatory voice- disturbing outdoor scenes, where me point over to help sort the story out. Mostly it's a is made that "the oil rigs are already case of trailing the older and heavier Jake beginning to outnumber the palm trees.'' Gittes around L.A. "Chinatown" succeeded in telling a per One exception is the frightening scene sonal story while also evoking the wide when Jake graphically humiliates the in spread political corruption that was its vestigating cop (David Keith) for taunting genesis, but when "The Two Jakes" tries him about his earlier failure. to get beyond an isolated case of adultery The film's most obvious flaw is the by tying in remnants of the "Chinatown" overabundance of characters — the viewer case plus the societal changes of a decade is expected to keep track of approximately later, the movie sinks under its own two dozen in order to follow the plot's weight. complications. This makes it very difficult Because of sporadic violence, restrained to care much about individual characters — sexual activity and occasional rough lan a cornerstone in holding interest in a two- guage, the U.S. Catholic Conference hours-plus film. classification is A-UJ —adults. The Motion Nonetheless, the craggy dialogue is Picture Association of America rating is R sometimes memorable and the low-keyed - restricted. Pair's comic chemistry livens 'Business' Complications arise for a workaholic ex When Jimmy and Spencer finally col ecutive when an easygoing escaped con lide, they hatch an even nuttier plan to assumes his identity in "Taking Care of salvage both their futures, and in die pro Business" (Hollywood Pictures). cess gain an unexpected mutual respect. After hightailing it out of prison so he Director Arthur Hiller's sturdy little can take advantage of World Series tickets comedy is nothing exceptional except mat Sidney BaMwin/HoHywood Pictures Company he has won, Jimmy (James Belushi), a it's got two natural comedic talents in When carefree prisoner Jimmy Dworsld (James Belushi, right) finds the lost free-spirited car thief, stumbles upon die Belushi and Grodin, who are easily able to datebook/organizer of advertising executive Spencer Barnes (Charles appointment book of harried adman outshine die mediocre script. Grodin, left), he suddenly finds himself leading the good life after being Spencer (Charles Grodin), newly arrived DeSalvo is also wonderful as Spencer's mistaken for Barnes in the comedy "Taking Care of Business." in Los Angeles to land a career-making man-hungry ex-classmate, bringing such deal. soulful longing to her role she gets well The date book is filled with credit cards, beyond the caricature she could have been. the keys to an oceanside mansion owned by Belushi especially projects such irresisti ' Da r km an' emphasizes gory, grisly scenes Spencer's boss and the promise of a $ 1,000 ble charm and warmth that you don't care The mad scientist meets the phantom of carried away wim violence. reward to me finder. that his actions are very predictable — the opera in the tide character of The visually interesting Gothic sets, at Upon arriving at the mansion to claim you're along for me ride and he's fun to "Darkman" (Universal). mospheric cinematography and taut editing die reward, Jimmy is mistaken for Spencer watch. The story concerns a scientist (Liam serve only as a backdrop to me film's real by the boss's daughter (Loryn Locklin) and As me high-powered exec forced to Neeson) who is dipped in acid and left for emphasis — a parade of gory and grisly he plays along in hopes of getting to know skulk around in female harem pants and a dead when hit men invade his lab to scenes where people are humiliated, tor her better — a lot better. He's also ex stolen sweatshirt, Grodin is patiietically retrieve an incriminating memo diat his tured and killed by any number of graphic pected to land an aceount wim a traditional comical, and once joined wim Belushi, girlfriend (Frances McDormand) intends means. One bad guy even displays his col Japanese client (Mako), who is startled by meir chemistry is what makes an omerwise to use against a crooked land developer. lection of severed fingers in a plush velvet '* Spencer' s " less-than-businesslike bland comedy a generally enjoyable expe Hideously disfigured, the doctor sur box. behavior. rience. vives and plots his revenge. He goes into Justice is not served by the doctor's vig The real Spencer, meanwhile, has been Because of a brief sexual encounter, a hiding to perfect his creation of synthetic ilante tactics and the movie's emphasis on mugged and is forced to accept the lecher flash of nudity, minimal rough language skin so he can assume new identities and, murderous revenge is far from wholesome. ous attentions of a former schoolmate and brief scenes of comically treated under cover of night, stalk his victims. Due to frequent excessive violence and (Anne DeSalvo) as he desperately tries to violence, the USCC classification is A-IH Darkman is born. some rough language, the USCC classifica catch up wim his client and discredit his — adults. The MPAA rating is R — re Writer-director Sam Raimi has crafted a tion is O — morally offensive. The MPAA looney imposter. stricted. somewhat stylish action thriller but gets rating is R —restricted. 20 Catholic Courier .