Friday 28 March 2008

Jarhead - 'a horse comes towards him out of the desert, out of the blackness'

Today, one of the best scenes in Jarhead - if not one of the best scenes out of all of Jake Gyllenhaal's movies - features in the UK newspaper The Guardian. Cinematographer Roger Deakins, who has been nominated for no fewer than 7 Oscars, was asked to pick the 'five favourite shots of his career'. One of these is the strangely beautiful and disturbing scene in which Jake as Swoff encounters a horse in a black rain of oil.


'Some people loved this movie, while some people hated it. The whole film was quite a challenge and I'm quite proud of the way it turned out. The brief was to create night-time scenes where the platoon was within half a mile of the oil fires in Kuwait during the Gulf war. I wanted to create a feeling of a dense, smoky atmosphere through which you could see the light coming from the fires. There are extended sequences of this type of effect throughout the film, but my favourite scene is the one in which Jake Gyllenhaal leaves the rest of the platoon, walks off alone and a horse comes towards him out of the desert, out of the blackness, and it's dripping in oil: an amazing, surreal image.'


'We thought about trying to shoot it on location out in the desert, but we knew we wouldn't be able to control the smoke if it was a windy night, so we ended up shooting most of that material on a sound stage; we blacked out the walls and put sand on the floor of the stage, then filled it with smoke sitting at a certain level, to create a landscape of endless night. I created the effect of the oil fires using columns of bare bulbs as a 360-degree light source for a flame effect. In post-production we replaced the light source with an actual shot we'd done of an oil fire and, incredibly, it matched perfectly.'


This scene in which Swoff calms the horse may be my favourite scene in Jarhead (well, my favourite Jarhead scene that doesn't feature a Santa hat) but for a whole film of favourite scenes then that would be Zodiac. So, because it's been a while since I gave Zodiac a mention here, here's a video of Jake (preceded by Mark Ruffalo) at the NYC screening of Zodiac, last Spring. This video has its charms for Rendition lovers as well because this is Rendition Jake taking a break from filming in Morocco. Jake sounds relieved that his character is spared the extravagance of Mark Ruffalo's 70s' attire - after Moonlight Mile, Jake had probably been expecting the worse.




Maggie heading for the UK

Maggie Gyllenhaal has pulled out of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee because the shooting in Connecticut had been extended from two to five weeks. 'But when the new scheduling stretched out her shoot over five weeks, she chose to stay with Peter Sarsgaard and their newborn as he films "An Education" in the U.K. The departure was amicable, given her close friendship with co-star Julianne Moore and the producers, who also made her acclaimed indie "SherryBaby." Gyllenhaal is considering other screen roles in the coming weeks.' So Pippa Lee's loss is Peter's and London's gain.


And finally

As promised, Paul, here is Trumpet Jake! I must thank (I think...) GHO for her surprise gift of Guitar Jake in a message today.


Includes pictures from IHJ.

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love how Jake can chew gum and give interviews at the same time. every now and then I sorry that he's swallowed it. Not. Yay!

I love to hear commentaries from directors and cineamatographers! Ive become so much more film literate since falling in love with Jake. The horse drenched in oil was one of the most moving scenes in Jarhead. (I think the Ellen "I will survive" Jake dirty dancing sexier than santa dance -
just sayin' - still waitin for the film when Jake gets really wet dark and wild) I do recall the terrible time during "desert storm" when the sky was raining oil and there was no water to drink for sone.

I have Southland Tales for tonight. Rich Harris I hope has commentary. have been watching DD commentary between RH and Kevin Smith, such an interesting trajectory of this film!

good for Maggie standing up for her own priorities!

thanks for keeping the flame goin', WDW!

Anonymous said...

p.s. typo, worry, not sorry.

Fri night Shiraz to blame.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hey there Pia :D I cannot abide to see Jake chew gum! I want to put my hand out and get him to spit into it while I wag my finger at him :)

Me too when it becaomes to Jake teaching film appreciation - I was an absolute novice and now, here I am visiting film festivals, awards etc and getting to know film fans, all because of Jake and his fans.

Do let me know what you think of Southland Tales. I must try and track that down over here.

I liked that about Maggie too. It must be hard sometimes. No worries, this flame is afire :D Have a good evening!

Wet Dark and Wild said...

PS - I'm on Zinfandel tonight myself ;D

Ruby said...

Hey WDW and Pia. Shame Maggie had to pull out of a movie, but good for her wanting to be in the UK with Peter and Ramona.

I'm always surprised when I see Jake chewing gum in an interview. It seems a bit rude. :/

I'm on the good fizz again tonight, courtesy of my lovely family. Cheers! :D :D

Anonymous said...

Yay... that's my favourite scene in Jarhead too! And so symbolic as well. I don't understand why people blamed Sam Mendes for not taking a "stand" in Jarhead (pro or anti war)... some said because of that, the film didn't do as well as expected at the box office... but I still think some years down the line, people will realise what a well-done film it really is... Jake didn't shave his hair off for a lesser film :P

WDW, Southland Tales will come out in UK end of this month (next Monday, actually), it's on my amazon rental list... it will be interesting to see it. I've read so many bad reviews of it, I think it might actually surprise me....

I wanna pull Jake's ear for chewing gum during an interview... lol.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hey Ruby! Are you back home then? And back on the bubbly again - enjoy the bubbles :D I'm with you on the gum thing...

Evening Winterbird - definitely, Jake wouldn't have gone through all that for a film with nothing to say. Jarhead is incredible - and that one scene is crucial.

Thanks so much for the Southland Tales news! Gonna have to see that.

I agree with you about the gum but I wanna protect Jake's ears fron you pulling them off :D

Monica said...

I cried in that scene. The think one of the most beautiful scenes that have attended in my life.
The film is excellent.

The scene of the hat is very good! Hehehehe
But in the scene where he walks toward the shower ... just a pause and a zoom ...
Hehehehehe

Anonymous said...

WDW, do you think Peter, Maggie and Bebe will be easier to find than Peter alone? :D

I think I'd have to agree with Pia about the I Will Survive dance *

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi Monica :D Jarhead has so many wonderful scenes, which all appeal in so many different ways - they make me laugh, cry and giggle and go weak at the knees :D

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hey there Anouska - posting at the same time here ;D I'm hoping that the Gyllenhaal-Sarsgaard family will be much easier to spot :D

That I Sill Survive bottom wriggle, with the cheeky glance over the shoulder... oh my :P

Anonymous said...

Okay Kate..this is going to be a quirky comment..but I feel compelled...first of all thanks for always posting!! Now...that scene in Jarhead with the horse is also one of my favorites....the horse seems so lost and in need of comfort..and Swoff touches the horse, if I can recall, (it has been awhile since I saw the movie) and says "It's alright..It's alright"...oddly enough..this is the same thing Jack says to Ennis in SNIT..he comforts Ennis, after the first kiss, by telling him "It's alright..It's alright"...I may be wrong, but I do not think so..and I just thought it odd for him to whisper the same words of comfort in two different movies....Okay quirkiness over...still loving Zodiac too...hugs to you WDW!!

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi there Anon! Do you have a name as that's a very interesting comment :D

Y'know, I nearly mentioned in the post about that. Jake talks to that horse, just as he calmed the ready-to-bolt Ennis in SNIT - absolutely. And that is definitely the mainr eason why I love that Jarhead scene - even in the middle of that awful, horrendous situation - there is a moment of compassion and empathy. Definitely not quirky - I totally agree. Hugs back - love to have a name :)

BirdGirl said...

Another great post WDW. I too love that that scene. It makes me wanna watch Jarhead even though I am sure that idea won't go over here very well.

My drink of choice tonight will be vodka cranberries. So yummy.

BTW WDW, I totally agree with your suggestion of The Killers, Bones. I thought the song was absolutely ridiculous the first time I heard it. Then is grew on me like a fungus. It is now one of my favorite songs off of Sams Town.

Have a great night everyone. I will talk to you tomorrow.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi there Bird Girl:D I know, I want to watch it too but the Jakers are not in charge of the remote control tonight.... But maybe tomorrow! Mmm vodka cranberries - yes please. I'm glad to hear you lik that song too. I really love it. Another song that's one of my favourites and I can imagine Jake singing is Coldplay's Yellow. Speak to you tomorrow - no work - phew.

Monica said...

Another scene that moved me in this movie is that they mark the leg of the character of Peter.
A scene marked an excellent performance in the Peter Sarsgaard.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Oh yes, Monica! Thanks for reminding me about that scene - I love it. The expression on Peter's face is incrdible and it's so moving when Jake grips him like that. A great scene :D

twistedlogic said...

Hey WDW! You know I love Jarhead posts and this one no exception:) Contrary to how it might appear sometimes, I do appreciate the film for the full sum of its parts, and not just certain scenes;) Loved reading all your comments! I don't have anything to add really but I noticed the thing about Swoff saying "it's alright" too.

Welcome back Ruby! Hope you had a great time:) And I'm with you all on the chewing gum - spit it out, Jake!!

Wish the weather was better this weekend, I could drag TL Jr across the river for some Gyllengaard spotting;(

paulh said...

Thanks for posting the trumpet Jake picture, WDW. P-) I love trumpet music, and they don't write as much of it as they used to in the 18th century.

Anonymous said...

2 glasses of Grade A California Red tonite = just come back and I'm feeling good. Hope this post makes sense as I'm not a big drinker. How does he get away with chewing gum during interviews? I think he does it deliberately so that we can focus attention on his beautiful mouth instead of his eyes.

Dunno 'bout you guys but I found that horse scene in Jarhead semi-erotic.

monica says: The scene of the hat is very good! Hehehehe
But in the scene where he walks toward the shower ... just a pause and a zoom ...

I'm glad I'm not alone LOL! (It's the red wine talking...)

Have seen Southland Tales twice so good luck guys and hope to hear your interpretation on it. I won't spoil it for anyone. If the Rock is included on the commentary it will be hilarious - he does it just as good as Jake.

I think I need my bed now....

Anonymous said...

LOLOL!! WDW...I think I had too many glasses of wine tonight...I forgot to sign my anonymous 28 Mrch 21:38 note...that was me

Michele..

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Morning everybody :D The sun's shining, but I fear not for long. Sorry I flaked out last night - exhausted after my first week but a full weekend of Jake will have restorative powers :D

Morning TL! That's a great idea - get across that river with TL JR with some binochulars and do some GyllenGaard spotting. They like whole food shops and cafes - last time Maggie was hear she was seen a few times around Sloane Square and South Ken :D

Hi Paul - glad you liked your pic :D

Hey Sheba - that sounds like a great tipple for the evening. I'm stocked up for the weekend on Californian Red and croissants. If you've seen Southland Tales twice then it mst be good :D

Hi Michele! I was wondering if it was you. Sounds like we were all on the vino last night - We should start a wine club (and Jake could join in as he likes the odd glass I'm sure - doesn't go well with gum though ;D)

Have a good day everyone!

Anonymous said...

Morning all. No hangover so I'm good to go.

Re: Southland. I had to watch Donnie Darko several times to 'get it' and when I did I fell in love with it. When I watched Southland Tales I had to watch it again. Put it this way, I will have to watch it again. Maybe if Richard Kelly has a commentary on it I could get more understanding?!?

The horse desert scene was a pivotal moment for Swoff. The very people he was sent to kill, he decided to show his humanity by burying one of them. When the horse appeared out of nowhere I felt that he began to get his humanity back after being lost in life, the war, the desert.

I admire that Jake also overcame his fear of horses after I read he had a bad experience with one as a child. But damn, that boy looks so good with horses, they both have that same nobility and gentleness, but with that wild side, ready to bolt at any moment *deep sigh*.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Morning Sheba! Glad you feel OK - me too :D Richard Kelly certainly knows how to make movies that need some unravelling. I'm just about getting to grips with Donnie Darko - but then again maybe not.

I remember reading about that - Jake and horses - for Brokeback. he cerainly did overcome his fear. Jake looked like a natural.

Anonymous said...

O gosh its Saturday morning. Hi, y'all There's a dusting of snow on the ground but sun in the woods.

O yes Sheba: nice comment: Jake having ghe nobiliity and gentleness of a (beautiful) horse. Altho WDW I dont agree Jake sits well in a saddle as does Heath, and that I feel added to his JT characterization - I lov'd the scene when JT was struggling to get his mare back into control and looked back at Ennis, who was watching him, amused, with a look of embarrassment.

Well Im in the middle I mean the muddle of Southland Tales, and having a pretty good time, but I must admit I did this morning read a bunch of Rotton Tomatoe reviews to help figure out WTF I'm watchimg. My favoeite reviewers like the film and are helpful - if I hadnt listened a few times to the DDarko commentary between Kelly and Kevin Smith I dont know if I would be willing to go along for the ride. Some is pretty bilarious.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Morning Pia :D Driving rain and gales here now :( And they've put Twister on the TV - seems appropriate.

Oh blimey, Southland Tales sounds tricky - maybe you should write me a cribsheet :D The commentary - and the fact that I shared some bemusement with Jake - didn't half help with Donnie Darko (that, and an IT guy at a previous job who could talk me through the whole plot over pints of real ale). Have a good day - I'm batoning down the hatches...

twistedlogic said...

Afternoon everyone! It's a wet wild and windy day here today, so Gyllengaard spotting has been postponed for the time being:(

Sheba, I think you might be onto something there, about Jake using the chewing gum to draw attention to his mouth - we know he's such a tease sometimes;) But he should know by now that we're all well aware of his luscious lips and that sexy thing he does with his tongue, so please Jake, no more chewing gum!!

Hey Pia! I love that scene from BBM too, and I agree it was totally in character for Jack. I love the way Ennis stares after him after he rides off, even craning his neck to keep sight of him until he disappears completely - and who can blame him?

Anonymous said...

WDW, this is probably one of the most beautiful cinematic scenes in a film that I have ever seen. A horse has such an elegance and beauty, and while we're used to seeing the stereotypical soldier as brutal and violent, it's good to see the human and compassionate side too, there's a lot of that in Jarhead the film and in the book - when Swoff calms the horse, and when he speaks to the Arab people crossing the desert in their language, or the sense of understanding or knowledge you can read in Jake's face when Swoff is coming home and sees another veteran. These are some of my favorite serious scenes - the other scenes (and there are 3 of them) are my favorite not-so-serious scenes, but seriously hot. ;) I thought Jake was cute chewing gum. :)

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi there, TL - it's horrible out there, don't go out :D I'm watching Helen Hunt stormchasing while eating the rest of the chocolate bunny from last weekend.

I sometimes wonder with these interviews if Jake gets nervous and so chewing gum is his way round it, like the toothpick. Or he was still quitting smoking. But what to look at? Jake's lips, his eyes? All fight for attention.


Hey Bertie :D That's a good way of looking at it - to divide the serious from the not-so-serious and then to celebrate both. That scene when Swoff talks to the Arabs in the desert and the other scene when Swoff sits in that circle of dead men - incredible.

Hope everyone's keeping wrapped up :)

Anonymous said...

I noticed the "It's all right" line too and he says it in almost exactly the same tender way in both Jarhead and BBM. Well I suppose both the poor horse and Ennis were both prone to having "low startle points" so that soothing tone was just right. Loved them both.
Janie

Anonymous said...

What a yukky day, rainy grey skies outside but sunny inside 'cos I'm here at WDW *cheesy grin*.

I have a theory about the toothpick. Is it because he quit smoking and needed to have something on his lips?

Hi Pia. You see now why, after watching it twice, I need to watch it again. It has many WTF moments. Perhaps in a few years time I will finally grasp it but now I don't even know what to say about it.

TL, now you've done it. Bringing out the big guns - the tongue!! I usually hate to see a man licking his lips but there is something so sensual about the casual way he does it. He's the exception to the rule.

...And, there's something sensual about riding a horse...... :D

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi there Janie :D Those are two wonderful moments and they do seem to link the two films together and two seemingly very different characters. Yeah, the low startle point - Jake's good at dealing with that.

Hi Sheba! Thanks for the cheesy grin :DD All sunny here. I've been having fun relaxing by researching today's post. Southland Tales sounds a challenge! Oh well, I suppose it's good to exercise the baincells now and again.

Anonymous said...

'We thought about trying to shoot it on location out in the desert, but we knew we wouldn't be able to control the smoke if it was a windy night, so we ended up shooting most of that material on a sound stage; we blacked out the walls and put sand on the floor of the stage, then filled it with smoke sitting at a certain level, to create a landscape of endless night. I created the effect of the oil fires using columns of bare bulbs as a 360-degree light source for a flame effect. In post-production we replaced the light source with an actual shot we'd done of an oil fire and, incredibly, it matched perfectly.'

Forgot to say - I thought this was amazing; when I go to a film, I get totally engrossed in it - and the technical part that makes all of the magic possible, far from detracting from it, makes it all even more amazing to me. It looked so real! It is truly art. :)

Anonymous said...

I lov'd the scene when JT was struggling to get his mare back into control and looked back at Ennis, who was watching him, amused, with a look of embarrassment.

I loved this scene too, Pia. I saw Jack's look as defiance tho! Isn't it interesting how we all interpret things? I saw Jack as defiant in the beginning, especially when he says "You ain't gettin' this one to sit around tyin' knots all day, and when he wouldn't settle for beans, and Ennis looking at him quizzicaly, as if not sure what to make of this guy who dared defy the set order of things. Loved those scenes. :)

Anonymous said...

That is so spooky, I was just about to post that very same thing about the lighting. Until yesterday, I really believed tht the scene was shot in the desert - the magic of filmmaking indeed.

Berti Knox, is that name in honour of Berti in my favourite film after BBM Moonlight Mile? I didn't realise here sername was Knox.

That last sempa fi in Jarhead was heartbreaking.

BTW today is Earth Day and everyone around the world is encouraged to turn of their lights for 1 hour at 8pm local time tonight.

Anonymous said...

Berti Knox, is that name in honour of Berti in my favourite film after BBM Moonlight Mile? I didn't realise here sername was Knox.

Yes Sheba, my user name is! Moonlight Mile just blew me away - it happened when I watched it for the second time. Probably one of the most beautiful love scenes of all time, among the wonderful things about it. I loved BBM, and Jake has so many wonderful performances, I can't pick a favorite after BBM. Moonlight Mile was film in part near where I live. BBM was the first film I ever saw Jake in - and I haven't been the same since! :)

Anonymous said...

"...And, there's something sensual about riding a horse...... :D"

Right, and Ang certainly pointed this out in scenes with Heath a'horseback - recallilng line from Annie's story. Jack Twist saying, in motel scene: "Christ, its got a be all that time a yours ahorseback makes it so goddman good."

Blimey,indeed, WDW - not only need a crib sheet for Southland Tales but we're supposed to have read a couple of Kelly's graphic novels before viewing picture. Right. Nevertheless, I like the direction in which he's headed. . . .

twistedlogic said...

All this talk about BBM is making me want to put the DVD on and watch those early scenes on the mountain. I just love seeing them trying to suss each other out and getting to know each other. The way their friendship starts to grow and blossom so naturally is just beautiful to watch...*sigh*
I've never been the same either since the first time I watched BBM.(Btw, Bertie, if you have my email please get in touch, I need to talk to you about something:))

Ruby said...

Yippee, Oxford won the University boat race! :D

Hope everyone is having a good day, despite the lousy weather. Is the sun over the yard-arm yet? I'm ready for a drink.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi there everyone - sorry I'm late back - I've been having too much fun on the new post and go carried away.

Hi Bertie - I'm really fascinated by how movies are put together myself - not least because of the artistry that went into Zodiac. I'm not surprised you love Moonlight Mile so much - That's why I will always love TDAT because it's the film I first fell for Jake in on the big screen.

Hi Sheba :D Earth Day - that sounds interesting. It's been one of those dark wet and grey days here so that the lights haven't been off, which is terrible :(

Hi there, TL :D I've put some BBM into the new post because it is all about love and how to show affection. I do love how we all approach different Jake films differently but all with such affection (except for one, which shall remain nameless ;D)

Hey Rubes - Oxford won the boatrace? Damn, missed it again, third time in a row. Must have been choppy. We've had no sun today so I reckon you can drink - I already am!

Anonymous said...

Love the GLAD award video, thanks lots for that. WHAT does he do with his gum while he's talking? lots of swallowing and tongue action and then when he's done the gum's still there.

Anonymous said...

It was a reference to federico fellini "la strada"