A wonder of Rome - WDW's report from Jake's appearance on Rome's red carpet

The Wonders of Rome

Here's one...


...and here's another.


I know which I prefer - the one that looks good in a suit.

I'm back! Good to see you all. Not only could I get no internet access but then British Airways and the Italian airtraffic controllers decided to gang up on me and go on strike. I hope Jake wasn't one of the many left stranded in Rome today - although I imagine they'd put him up somewhere special. But better late than never, hopefully, here's my account of yesterday - a special day when yet again my dream came true and I saw Jake Gyllenhaal. Any mistakes, please blame Xenia because I wrote it while drinking the bottle of absolutely gorgeous wine she gave me. This also explains the fact that I refer to 'tonight'. I wanted to retain that.

Incidentally, you might remember that when I was in Toronto I mentioned the Jake Quake effect - well, it happened again in Rome. Whenever I see Jake and I'm holding a camera there are seismic tremors for which I accept no responsibility. It is either the fault of tectonic plates or Jake's hotness, neither of which I can control.


Tonight marked the finale of Jake Week, and the week couldn't have ended any better as it ended in the company of Jake – well, OK, there were also several hundred other people who shared that company with me, but you won't find me complaining. Rome is such a beautiful city – it's been 21 years since I spent some time here and I can't believe I'd forgotten how gorgeous it is. Around every corner there's something spectacular, whether a Roman ruin, a medieval tenement, a neoclassical palace, a fountain or a park. Surely there's no more beautiful or romantic city than Rome in which to have a Jake encounter? I now have special memories of beautiful cities around the world – London, Cannes, Toronto and now Rome – and three of them I would never have visited without the incentive of Jake.


The Roman red carpet was a gorgeous one (although the grandiose red steps of Cannes will always be a winner). One side was lined with trees and flowers; the crowd lined the other side. It ended in a circular area in which the stars could pose for press and TV. It was also by far the dirtiest red carpet I've ever seen – not helped by the number of dogs I saw being walked up and down it. This was also the first carpet I'd been to within sight of bars (clearly a bonus) and so one could watch the crowd gather while enjoying a Peroni and/or a particularly fine glass of red Sicilian.


The crowd grew fast and Jake's was the name I heard most. Reese had her fans there too, of course, but it was good to see so many people in Rome out especially for our Jake. More so than in Cannes. There were some who couldn't pronounce the name but they still uttered it and it was music to the ears. I enjoyed chatting (as far as I'm able with two words of Italian) with two young girls next to me who'd travelled in to see Jake because of Brokeback. A photographer on the carpet teased another girl by saying he was so much better looking than Jake now that Jake had his beard. I think not.


It was so cold and Jake was so late. The film was due to start at 7.30pm and there was no sign of Jake at 7.15pm. We heard a security guard say that Jake was in the next car - that didn't calm the nerves much. In the meantime we'd had a very scary looking Gerard Depardieu, a famous Italian footballer (don't ask me whom but he had black hair tied back in a very short ponytail), Rome's mayor and several politicians, and women in various states of dress/undress despite the not much above freezing temperatures. They soon gave in to coats, leaving the men to chill instead.


After four hours of waiting and shivering, I knew Jake must be close because I'd stopped shaking with the cold; hypothermia had set in.

Finally, at 7.20pm, Jake arrived in a convoy that also included Reese Witherspoon, Gavin Hood and Gorgeous Kelley Sane. Jake was in grey, reminding me so much of the Jarhead premiere but without the orange tie, and he just looked tall, standing head and shoulders above everyone else, but that may be my sense of proportion being upset by Jake again. There were dignitaries to greet and then Jake was whisked off to be interviewed by E!, which took place right in front of us. The girl interviewer received a kiss on both cheeks from Jake – I don't think she deserved them because I could see her prepping for her interview with Reese by reading Reese's interview in Elle, which the interviewer had marked with pink post-it notes – not impressed. Jake was then almost physically moved along by the familiar unsmiley BG (bodyguard, but I need a nickname for him) and Jake was off – they had arrived too late.




Reese looked stunning in her purple dress but she soon gave in to a coat, which she took off right at the end of the red carpet. It was way too cold to be wearing anything other than Jake's SNL polar bear coat. But Jake was so beautiful that I couldn't stop looking at him – I heard some people call Reese's name and I realised she was standing right in front of me and I'd never noticed her. This isn't her fault – all Jake's!




I was thrilled to see my favourite, Gorgeous Kelley Sane, the screenplay writer, was there. I'm impressed with myself that I managed to tear my concentration away from Jake (who was right in front of me) to call out to Kelley. He seemed surprised to hear someone call his name and he looked at me. I told him how great the film was and that I'd seen it in Toronto, and he looked pretty pleased. A guy behind me patted my shoulder and said 'well done' – I suppose, for remembering that there is more to a film as good as this one than its stars.



When Jake moved further down the line, we tried to follow him but the crowd was big and not a little excited. So our next tactic was, as we had tickets, to go inside the theatre and watch from the foyer. There were two screens showing live action from the carpet; one showing Jake, the other showing Reese. But soon we could see Jake himself. He was laughing and smiling and just radiating! But then he was quickly marched into the theatre a few feet from me but it was madness at that point. Once Reese was in, we were let through and managed to get our seats in time to see Jake and the others take their seats. The spotlight was on them and they were announced in turn. The announcer messed up Reese's surname completely. Jake's was no problem unusually and he got a huge ovation. The film started and for much of its beginning I couldn't focus as I could see Jake.




But they disappeared long before the end and I was so disappointed that, at the end, they were nowhere to be seen. In Toronto, they returned to accept graciously the standing ovation. This time, they didn't bother. I don't blame Jake for this but I would like to blame someone. We were applauding, ready to get to our feet, until we saw that those we wished to congratulate on a truly great film experience had left us to it. Not good, New Line Cinema.

One thing though, I wish I'd had a flu jab before this event - I've never been in a cinema with so many sick people! Coughing, sneezing, hacking, spluttering - no wonder the talent did a runner...


My overall impression of tonight's event was that the stars were late and they didn't hang around a moment longer than necessary. Their reception was fabulous and I was so proud to see how well regarded Jake is in continental Europe. I was also proud to be part of another audience seeing Rendition with Jake, however briefly. But, I suppose this event went along with these so-called premieres (like the LA event last week), when the intention seems to be to entice the media and disregard the audience. Fortunately, Toronto and Cannes were nothing like that. Nevertheless, I can only be delighted that I saw Jake again tonight – looking lovely! - and he's made me fall in love again with this most beautiful of cities. And, it meant that I could meet and spend time with Xenia. Perfecto!


In the 'proper' pics of last night, do you think it looks cold? I'm still warming up. I have a lot to catch up on and so that's why I have two days off work. Thanks to everyone for your emails and comments, to Twisted Logic and Anouska for keeping me sane and thanks to Jake.


Good pictures from IHJ and the others from WDW.