Jake Gyllenhaal's eyes : 'hurt and delight, mischief and danger' in a glance - and TIFF blues

Today Toronto announced the galas for the festival next month and, as feared, Brothers is not among the list. I'm not the only one feeling gloomy about this tonight - Jeff Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere, while noting that Brothers must not have been submitted, admits to feeling 'damn disappointed'.


So what's one to do except to cheer oneself up with some Jake. The other day I posted a feature about that most marvellous thing - the Gyllenhug. So, here is the second half of that feature - this time looking at that other formidable weapon of Jake's, which has the power to reduce all on the receiving end to a quivering heap - the dreamy, intense stare, remarked upon by so many who see Jake Gyllenhaal - those beautiful pools of blue.



Obviously aware of the power of those eyes of his, Jake takes pity and often wears sunglasses. At the same time, the glasses serve the double purpose of protecting Jake's eyes for our future. Despite his memories of being the four-eyed kid dressed as a tube of toothpaste, Jake has blossomed with age (and contact lenses). However, 'I don't think of myself as good-looking. Not at all. When I was a kid I had these huge glasses. I once went to a fancy dress as a Crest toothpaste tube with these huge glasses stuck on. That is how I see myself most of the time. A Crest toothpaste tube with bad eyesight.'


In the words of actress Amanda Donohoe - and who am I to argue? - 'I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating biscuits! He has the most gorgeous bedroom eyes. He's quite Irish looking and has a piercing stare.'


David Fincher remarked to Jake in Interview last October - about Douglas Freeman - 'but the light caught your eyes in this really neat way.'



Susan Sarandon from Moonlight Mile knows what she's on about: 'He's gorgeous, and he's got those big dreamy eyes'.


Other descriptions of Jake that make mention of those eyes - and there are many such odes - include: Jake is a 'performer whose dreamy gaze pulls you in as if into deep waters.' The New York Times put it this way: 'With Gyllenhaal, though, the eyes have it; strikingly blue and expressive, they telegraph hurt and delight, mischief and danger.'



Journalists are not the only ones who fall victim to the Jake glance - members of the public are equally vulnerable, including those who, during their encounter with Jake in the streets and parks of cities around the world, are dazzled by those 'sapphire blue orbs', even while attempting, with Jake, to pull a romantically-inclined Atticus off their dog...' [Mental note: get an attractive dog.]


To finish, here is a quote from one of my very favourite interviews with Jake in which the interviewer falls hook line and sinker: 'Gyllenhaal is also great at flirting, joking and flattering, challenging in those areas the likes of Tom Cruise and George Clooney. “You look like a nice mint chocolate chip cookie,” he suggests in reaction to the mint green blouse and a dark brown skirt I am wearing. “I do?” I ask, blushing and feeling like a 14-year-old. At my advanced age, it really does take a great actor to make me feel that way. “That’s my favorite flavor, so I’ll take that as a compliment,” I offer. ““You should – that’s my favorite flavor too,” he replies.'


'Now I’m totally flustered. As a mature professional, I like to think I can handle any curve ball that’s thrown my way, but Gyllenhaal is looking at me with his adorable blue eyes and incredibly long eyelashes. “Okay, where do we go from here?” I say, stalling for time while I try to recollect my next question. “Let’s just talk about ice cream,” he offers, oozing boyish charm.'


As you'll appreciate, it's been incredibly difficult selecting photographs for this post... Includes pictures from IHJ. The eyes are all Jake's.