The Two Jakes
After the war, L.A. private eye Jake Gittes is hired by realtor Jake Berman. He proves the infidelity of Berman's wife Kitty and sets up a way for her to be caught in the act. At the rendezvous, Berman shoots the co-respondent who turns out to be his business partner. Gittes finds himself in the middle of a complicated web, under pressure from all sides for a wire recording of the fatal encounter. He then realises that the land the partners were developing was once an orange grove connected with a case that he has never quite gotten over.
The film disappointed at the box office against its mid-range budget of $19.0M, earning $10.0M globally (-47% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the crime genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Two Jakes (1990) demonstrates deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Jack Nicholson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 17 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Jake Gittes
Julius 'Jake' Berman
Kitty Berman
Lillian Bodine
Mickey Nice
Mark Bodine
Cotton Weinberger
Main Cast & Characters
Jake Gittes
Played by Jack Nicholson
A world-weary private detective investigating adultery and murder in 1948 Los Angeles, still haunted by the Chinatown case.
Julius 'Jake' Berman
Played by Harvey Keitel
A wealthy real estate developer who hires Gittes to investigate his wife's infidelity, but may be hiding darker motives.
Kitty Berman
Played by Meg Tilly
Jake Berman's wife, suspected of having an affair with her business partner, whose murder becomes central to the investigation.
Lillian Bodine
Played by Madeleine Stowe
Evelyn Mulwray's daughter from Chinatown, now grown up and connected to the current case through her real estate interests.
Mickey Nice
Played by Rubén Blades
Gittes' associate and fellow detective who assists with surveillance and investigation work.
Mark Bodine
Played by Frederic Forrest
Lillian's husband, a real estate developer involved in oil drilling and property development schemes.
Cotton Weinberger
Played by Richard Farnsworth
Gittes' lawyer and friend who provides legal counsel throughout the investigation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jake Gittes runs a successful detective agency in 1948 Los Angeles, now prosperous but haunted by his past in Chinatown. He's called to a motel to record evidence of adultery.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 17 minutes when During the motel surveillance, Jake Berman shoots and kills his wife Kitty's lover, Mark Bodine. Jake Gittes becomes a witness to murder, compromising his position and dragging him into a deadly conspiracy.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Jake actively decides to investigate the truth behind the killing rather than walk away. He commits to uncovering the conspiracy involving oil rights, land fraud, and murder, putting himself at risk., moving from reaction to action.
At 69 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Jake discovers that Kitty Berman was actually Katherine Mulwray, the daughter of Evelyn Mulwray from the Chinatown case. His past case is directly connected to this present murder, and he realizes he's been manipulated again., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 103 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jake confronts the full scope of the betrayal - Kitty/Katherine planned her own lover's murder with her husband Berman to gain oil rights. Jake's guilt over failing Evelyn Mulwray crashes down on him as he faces failing her daughter too., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 110 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Jake accepts that he cannot change the past or save everyone. He understands that some things are beyond his control - like Chinatown before - but he can still seek truth and justice within the limits of a corrupt system., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Two Jakes's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Two Jakes against these established plot points, we can identify how Jack Nicholson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Two Jakes within the crime genre.
Jack Nicholson's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Jack Nicholson films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Two Jakes takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jack Nicholson filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Rustom and The Whole Ten Yards. For more Jack Nicholson analyses, see Goin' South.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jake Gittes runs a successful detective agency in 1948 Los Angeles, now prosperous but haunted by his past in Chinatown. He's called to a motel to record evidence of adultery.
Theme
Jake Berman says "A man's gotta do what he's gotta do" - foreshadowing the moral compromises and justifications that drive the story about guilt, revenge, and the past's grip on the present.
Worldbuilding
Post-war L.A. boom, oil speculation, and real estate development. Jake's agency handles divorce cases. We meet Jake Berman, a developer who wants Jake to catch his wife Kitty cheating. The recording device is set up at the motel.
Disruption
During the motel surveillance, Jake Berman shoots and kills his wife Kitty's lover, Mark Bodine. Jake Gittes becomes a witness to murder, compromising his position and dragging him into a deadly conspiracy.
Resistance
Jake debates his involvement and investigates the shooting. He questions whether it was self-defense or premeditated murder. Police investigate, Jake consults with his associates, and he discovers connections to oil rights and land deals.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jake actively decides to investigate the truth behind the killing rather than walk away. He commits to uncovering the conspiracy involving oil rights, land fraud, and murder, putting himself at risk.
Mirror World
Jake encounters Lillian Bodine, the widow of the murdered man. She represents a connection to Jake's past trauma in Chinatown and mirrors his own grief and search for truth about what really happened.
Premise
Jake investigates the web of oil rights, real estate speculation, and adultery. He follows leads through 1940s L.A., uncovering connections between the two Jakes, discovering oil field maps, and finding ties to his past cases.
Midpoint
Jake discovers that Kitty Berman was actually Katherine Mulwray, the daughter of Evelyn Mulwray from the Chinatown case. His past case is directly connected to this present murder, and he realizes he's been manipulated again.
Opposition
Jake faces pressure from all sides: police scrutiny, dangerous conspirators who want him silenced, and his own guilt about Chinatown. The oil rights conspiracy deepens, bodies pile up, and Jake's investigation puts him in mortal danger.
Collapse
Jake confronts the full scope of the betrayal - Kitty/Katherine planned her own lover's murder with her husband Berman to gain oil rights. Jake's guilt over failing Evelyn Mulwray crashes down on him as he faces failing her daughter too.
Crisis
Jake wrestles with what to do with the truth. He's haunted by Chinatown and paralyzed by guilt. Can he save Katherine/Kitty from her fate, or will history repeat itself? He processes the weight of the past and his role in these tragedies.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jake accepts that he cannot change the past or save everyone. He understands that some things are beyond his control - like Chinatown before - but he can still seek truth and justice within the limits of a corrupt system.
Synthesis
Jake confronts the conspirators with the truth. The murder conspiracy and oil fraud are exposed. Katherine/Kitty escapes consequences through wealth and connections. Jake must accept this bitter reality - another case where justice is incomplete.
Transformation
Jake listens to the recording of the murder, alone in his office. Unlike the opening where he was prosperous and confident, he's now older, wearier, resigned to L.A.'s corruption. He's learned to live with ghosts and moral compromise.