Thursday 31 December 2009

Cheers! A salute to the past decade of Jake Gyllenhaal's movie triumphs

I am very ready to see out my birthday and see in the new decade in a heightened state of relaxation. This follows a wonderful couple of days in the Big Smoke spent in fine company discovering new muscles while clinging to the sides of the Natural History Museum ice rink. So, while I look for a dark man to cross my threshhold carrying coal - take that as your cue, Jake Gyllenhaal - time for the final survey of the decade. I hope you'll join me in raising a glass of the fizzy stuff to make a toast - to Jake for ten years of roles to make him proud and to us for cheering him along, from the sidelines, on his way to another decade of brave, triumphant and entertaining filmmaking. Cheers!


Here is my totally personal list of my top ten favourite moments from Jake's cinematic appearances over the Noughties. Brothers is in the fortunate position of straddling a couple of decades. These are in no particular order as a choice would be far too difficult.

1. Two scenes in Brothers - the bar scene between Tommy and Dave and the decorating scene - who could fail not to fall for Tommy's charm (except Grace)?



2. Jake's first appearance at the start of a new day in Rendition. When I see one of Jake's films, I'm always thrilled to see his first scene, but this reached whole new levels with Rendition.


3. Swoff making white footsteps in the blackened sand.


4. Robert Graysmith discovering that some houses in California do have basements after all. I wanted to push Jake through that door to safety. We've not seen Jake do horror often, but he'd be good at it.


5. Jimmy Livingston stealing beer in Bubble Boy. Jake can also do physical comedy. He's very good at it. One moment, Jake can make us laugh as Jimmy badly robs a store of a can of beer while, in the next, he can make us cry as Jimmy and his father dream of escaping to the moon.



6.The Dozy Embrace - the stillness of Jake here. Nothing more to say about this moment.


7. The courtscene in Moonlight Mile. Another example of how Jake can pull the heart out, even during a courtroom scene.


8. For me, one of the iconic moments of the last decade of cinema, is the sight of Donnie Darko racing down that hill to the sound of The Killing Moon.


9. Wet Sam leaping over the cars to rescue Laura from Certain Death. This was one of those defining steps on the path to Gyllenhaalism for me.


10. The blue eyes hiding under the hat of a young cowboy as he sees Ennis Del Mar for the first time. The first time we saw Jack Twist, too.


Who knows - we may even get Nailed in this coming decade! That's got to be worth celebrating.

Happy New Year to you all and to Jake! And thanks to each of you for keeping me company through the last year.

Includes pictures from IHJ.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for all you do, WDW. Thanks for the decade of Jake. He'll always be Jack Twist to me.

I also like him in Oct Sky and TDAT

Have a happy Birthday and a Happy New Year!

sweetpea

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Thanks so much, Sweetpea. I'm having a lovely birthday - just been trying out my new camera - a present to myself :D It's been a great decade of Jake and I cannot wait for twaht the next one will bring.

Happy New Year to you too!

Ruby said...

Number 10 is one of my favourite movie moments evah! :)

Happy New Year to all Wet Dark and Wild readers. I"m looking forward to seeing what Jake will bring us in 2010. :D

sheba said...

That first picture is the wallpaper on my BlackBerry. I'm becoming obsessed with its mystery. My wish list is this 'courage' poster.

Again... Happy New Year Everybody xx

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Me too, Rubes - it's simply wonderful :D

Happy New Year to you - how are your new ice skating muscles? Mine are making their presence known.

Happy New Year Sheba! It's a great, great pic. And it's in the gorgeous calendar Uli did for me and I love it!!

Carol said...

Happy birthday WDW and Happy New Year to you and everyone here.

Thanks for putting a smile on my face with all your great posts and keeping us all informed. It is much appreciated.

Looking forward to what I know is going to be a great 2010 for us all with so much to look forward to:)

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Thanks so much Carol! It's been a real pleasure and 2010 is going to be fantastic :D Happy New Year to you!

Anonymous said...

Great choice of movie moments, you`ve listed many of my favorites. I tried to make a list but I keep thinking of more scenes to add and there`s no way my stupid home computer would let me post that long a comment. :D

I wish you and all my gyllenhaalic friends a Happy New Year, filled with love and health and happiness and a ton of Jake movies and goodies. :)

Olympia

Monica said...

Happy New Year, Wet Dark And Wild!
Happy New Year, for all people of this blog!

My favorite movie is Brokeback Mountain. Ennis and Jack will always be unforgettable for me!

I also like Zodiac, Moonlight Mile, Donnie Darko, Jarhead and The Good Girl.

I need to wait a little longer to see Brothers.

winterbird said...

All great moments of Jake on screen!

The first time we saw Jack Twist is definitely a memorable moment of the decade, period. :)

*jealous of the Brothers moments*

Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Such a great post, and Happy Birthday, WDW! Ahhhh, our favorite Jake moments in film:

Some of my favorite Jake film moments, not necessarily in order:

1. Brokeback Mountain

This film is full of beautiful moments of both Heath and Jake's work, but the Dozy Embrace is my favorite too. Jack's bittersweet expression of love tinged with the pain of Heath's leaving him over and over, past and present, always makes me cry. There's even a bit of resignation to his expression, which makes me bawl all the more.

2. SNL - And I Am Telling You, I'm Not Goin'

He was fantastic here, great guns in a gown and who knew he could sing so well? I loved when he was singing the loooooong finish and had to catch his breath. He's very funny. :)

3. Brothers

The scene where he goes to the airport to meet his brother Sam, with Sam's wife and children, just broke my heart. He's trying to get himself together, and has become close to Grace and the girls over the time Sam has been gone, and as happy as he is that Sam is alive and well and home again, when Grace and the girls return to Sam's arms again, Tommy feels the mixed emotions of being glad and also of feeling left out again. The scene at the dinner table, when he first gets out of prison and his father and he trade barbs and slings, where he slams his fist on the table.

4. Rendition

Aside from the opening scenes (for artistic reasons only!), I was moved by the scene where Douglas grabs Anwar by the throat and then stops, realizing what he could become, and chooses not to become that. Jake can say so much, and is great at, showing conflicting emotions, without a word.

5. Zodiac

I loved the scene where he meets his future wife for dinner and has a few awkward but adorable moments, which she seems to feel too. I loved the scene as well where he's at rock bottom with his obsession with the case, it's consumed him, the house a clutter of notes and files, and she decides she can't take anymore. While I'm sure it was difficult, I felt disappointed that he didn't get support and understanding from her in something that was so important to him, and to others. (Sorry, Chloe!) :)

6. Moonlight Mile

I loved him in the moonlight scene, where he goes to Bertie's house. I loved the jukebox dancing scene. I loved that he had the same fears as Bertie.

7. Jarhead

Again, aside from the "scenes", I loved where he's comforting the horse covered in oil. It was a great book too.

8. Donnie Darko

I also loved the dream-like opening scenes, Donnie in his pajamas, and waking up on the golf course. It's a great film.

9. The Good Girl

I loved the innocent intensity of love that he gave to Jen's character.

I haven't seen Bubble Boy completely, but I loved what I did see, which was surprising. I loved him in October Sky. I liked TDAT a lot too - looking forward to PoP and LaOD, more Sesame Street and Source Code and whatever else Jake has in store for us.

Happy New Year!

Bertie

Anonymous said...

OMG, I'm sorry that post was so long! lol

Bertie

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi there Olympia! Sorry you're still struggling with the Home PC blues... It was so hard choosing 10 and maybe if you ask me next month it'll change again. But I thought I'd have a go. I could have 10 BBM moments on their own but the whole thing was one life-changing moment and I didn't want to exclude the rest - and there is so much of it!!! I wish you too, Olympia, a very happy New Year!!

Happy New Year Monica! I really hope your wait for Brothers ends soon, I really want you to see it and hear what you think of it :)

Happy New Year Winterbird! I hope we'll share some Brothers moments soon :D I'll never forget the first time we - and Ennis - set eyes on Jack Twist - happy sigh *)

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Ooh Bertie, posting at the same time - good to see you and I love your post! Your top 10 is way better! I love that moment with the horse in Jarhead and that scene in Zodiac when Jake meets Chloe. With so many superb films there must be a huge number of great moments and I love to hear what people think!

That Rendition scene - shocked me. So powerful. The beauty of Jake in Rendition set against the horror and terror of it all. I must see it again.

Another scene in DDarko for me was the series of images to Head over Heels and in a similar way I loved the opening to Zodiac, with the delivery of the letter. Also the funeral procession in MMile.

I love so much of Brothers, it's hard picking moments - but that moment when Tommy sat by the fire an talked through what he'd done. Superb.

We have a wealth of choice with Jake - we are so lucky!

KeepCalm+CarryOn said...

Wish I had more time now to wax lyrical about all the magical moments Jake has given us on film...none more magical or beautiful than the dozy embrace. For so many reasons,wonderful and wistful,that scene makes me ache, for Jack and Ennis and for Jake and Heath (rest easy,gorgeous boy)...

...but to happier thoughts... Happy Birthday WDW and Happy New Year to you, to Jake and to all WDWers! Hope 2010 is a happy,healthy and peaceful year for all of us!

Love Nadine xx

Incognita said...

A belated Happy Birthday Kate and an early Happy 2010 to you!
Power to your ventures in the brand new decade!
XOXO
Maya

PS my word is great - "comewind"

TD said...

Happy New Year WDW!
TD

anouska said...

Happy bday and NY again, WDW!

Have no skating muscles, only bruises :)

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Good morning everyone and Happy 2010!

I may be talking quietly for a while...

Happy New Year, Nadine! I am so glad to see 2010 :D I hope you have a good, good year *)

Happy New Year, Incognita! Great to see you - and thank you!

Happy New Year, TD!

Happy New Year, Nouskie! Thanks so much for much for London - that ice rink definitely had extra slip...

Gonna take it slow today :D I hope Jake had fun.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

There's a tweet from last night that says they saw Jake in NYC :D

http://twitter.com/georgegsmithjr

I just saw the Times Square celebrations on the news - Jake was a little difficult to spot...

Anonymous said...

Maya, nice to see you! Happy New Year! :)

Bertie

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday, WDW, and Happy New Year!!!
Hope you had good celebrations :)
Thank you so much for this wonderful post!
I can't single out any specific Jake moments on screen from the one you chose, because I agree they are all powerful, emotional and significant in their different ways, and I'm glad you included the courtroom scene in MM, I was overwhelmed by how subtly (as in, 'non intrusively') and yet powerfully Jake stole the scene there, how mature his acting already was at that young age...

Thank you.
Have a great day!
Hope to see you soon, maybe for a Brothers viewing?
Paola

get real said...

The perfect post for the new year!

Wishing you all a wonderful 2010 and to lots of Jaking! :D

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Happy New Year Paola in Rome! I hope you had a good evening.

The courtroom scene was so moving and yes you're right very mature. It always moves me.

I would love to meet up for Brothers!

Thanks Get Real! Happy New Year to you!

I just got back from seeing Sherlock Holmes finally - very enjoyable :D

BBMISwear said...

Happy New Year WDW and all the WDWers out there! I personally am looking forward to 2010 for many reasons!

I am having a nice mellow weekend and hope you are all getting to do the same (of course unless you want to have a non-mellow weekend). A Nor'easter is coming our way here in New England so it's a good weekend to stay inside.

In regard to Jake's movie triumphs...I love the post, WDW, but honestly could never even narrow it down! I give you so much credit when you do these lists and polls as you obviously put that thinking cap of yours on and some how come up with some "top 10's". I find that so hard to do. I love them all and am equally as excited for the movie scenes we will see of Jake in 2010. This is one busy guy. Isn't it great?!

Happy New Year again (and then we can stop talking about the holidays, right)? Just kidding.

:-)

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hey BBMISwear :-) I'm enjoying a mellow time too! Watching The Good Shepherd.

It's so hard picking just ten moments - I could go on and on but I quite enjoy making myself pick, even if I change my mind the next day.

Keep warm and dry in the storm!

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Good morning all! I hope everyone's taking it easy - or shopping :D

acquaalta said...

omg ... those white footsteps in the black sand!!! I always thought I am the only one who'd love that scene - soooo fantatstic. Beautiful and disturbing all at once.
A very belated Happy New Year and Happy birthday to you!!!
:)

Anonymous said...

Hi

The moviereviewers of Sweden's biggest daily, the non-subscribed Aftonbladet, has published their list of the best movies of the latest decade.

http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/film/article6370685.ab

Rough translation

Quote

"Brokeback" - the decade film

FILM LIST OF THE 25 BEST MOVIES ON 00s!

On 26 December we published readers' lists of 2000s best films - now it's our turn.

1. Brokeback Mountain

"Brokeback Mountain" is a film about love. It was noticed that it was about a couple of people at a certain place and at a certain time. Cowboys afraid to show their feelings in the 1960s in rural America. But the subject is universal for people everywhere in all times. Director Ang Lee will gladly tell you about people trapped in others' perception. During the 2000s he also made "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "The Hulk".

Unquote

Cheers

H.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Thanks so much, Acquaalta!

And I love that scene. I think it was hard for Jake and he did it perfectly. It's extremely moving and so expressive.

Thanks, H. Good to see BBM staying so high in the memories of critics and filmgoers alike.