Jake Gyllenhaal - 'the new punk rock movie star'

I'm sure many of us are familiar with the video of Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard in which they discuss the true meaning of a Jarhead - something to do with a bamboo shoot - and warn us that 'Jarhead' must never be used in the plural. So I was very happy to come across another interview from the same British press junket. There is something about watching Jake and Peter strike sparks off each other and, as can be expected, there are some very funny bits, including something about Troy and cowboys, and Swoff and Troy ('Is that Alan Troy?') being 'friends out of wedlock'.



There is also a fuller discussion of how the movie Jarhead plays with the concept that soldiers learn about war from movies - ironically, in this film, the marines learn that movies (Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket, The Deerhunter) can never prepare them for the reality of being a soldier-in-waiting. I hope you enjoy the interview.


As I'm taking a trip down memory lane, I thought I'd take a look at an event that took place back in the golden year of 2004. On 2 June, Jake was given a New Power accolade by Premiere magazine, in the Forbidden City restaurant in Hollywood. This annual event, which was hosted by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, celebrates 'hot film industry innovators under the age of 35'.


Jake's award was presented to him by Mark Ruffalo and, according to Fashion Wire, Jake had this to say about the event: '“I know you guys came to see me tonight, not Tom Cruise,” kidded Gyllenhaal, whom presenter Mark Ruffalo crowned “the new punk rock movie star,” “This award means a lot to me because my girlfriend and my sister already have one. But it really does look like a penis. Oops, sorry ‘Premiere.’” Here below, is a picture of Jake and Mark with the award so you can judge its appearance for yourselves...



I liked the detail provided by Variety that 'guests and presenters including Naomi Watts, Mark Ruffalo and Marlon Wayans enjoyed cosmopolitans, cartons of Chinese food and free back massages.' All at the same time? What kind of an awards ceremony was this?? Variety also tells us that the event lost power for a while.


Incidentally, Mark Ruffalo had originally played the part of Warren in This Is Our Youth, the role that Jake took over. In the Daily Mail back in 2002, it was reported: ''I'm a little scared to be doing theatre in London,' Gyllenhaal confessed to me recently. 'I met Mark Ruffalo and he admitted he was nervous about anyone else playing Warren in This Is Our Youth, but he was happy to pass on the torch,' he said. In fact, I also bumped into Ruffalo in Los Angeles, and he was choked about not coming to London. 'I'm too old now, otherwise I would have jumped at the idea,' he told me. 'Jake has my blessing, though, and I might try to get over to see the play.''


Halloween

It's that time of year again... Kate Hudson (who was also given one of the New Power awards with Jake in 2004) has held her Halloween party again and details are just emerging. While we have photos of Gwen Stefani dressed as a fried egg (and her husband as bacon), we are so far spared photos of Jake and Reese in costume. And that is just as well, because according to OK! 'Also invited, and dressed as cats, cheerleaders and other ghoulish figures, were Jake Gyllenhaal, Reese Witherspoon, Dax Shepard, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, Sean Hayes, David Spade, Lukas Haas and Jennifer Meyer.'

NOTE: It now looks like this could be a false report, and OK! combined party lists from this and previous years - for reasons only known to them.


Includes pictures from IHJ.