'The pairing of Maguire and Gyllenhaal is a stroke of genius, not just because of their similar features, but the convincing emotional shorthand they share. It's difficult to fathom that Leonardo DiCaprio was an initial contender for Gyllenhaal's role. "I had talked to Tobey and Leonardo for a few years about making a movie together," recalls Sheridan. "Leo was off doing something and Jake, I had always met Jake at Chateau [Marmont] around the pool, a lot of the time with Heath [Ledger].
"We became friendly; he wanted to do something with me and Natalie was the only one I didn't know. The boys knew her and asked Natalie and that was it."'
27 comments:
WOW. This piece of information brings back such fond memories. Jake playing by the pool with Heath, I bet they had a great time...
I know Leo DiCarprio is good friend with Tobey, so that combination seems natural. But after watching the film, I think Jake is perfect for the role. Probably less hyper, more subtle and sensitive than Leo would have been.
Jim made me smile and at the same time put tears in my eyes.
In the moment I read, I imagined how was this encounter. Heath and Jake in most of the time together around the pool!
Leo? It would be very strange to see Leo and Tobey playing brothers.
So nice to read. I had the exact same reaction as Monica. :) It's lovely to think of Jake and Heath just hanging out.
Olympia
I had the exact same reaction as Monica too. :')
Bertie
What a very special gift Jim has given us. To some of us, his comment about Jake and Heath means more than we can say. What blows my mind is he has no idea how this one small comment has effected so many of us. *heavy sigh*
On to things that didn't make me quite so emotional: LEGOS!! I will surely be visiting my local Lego store and/or Toys-R-Us store on April 1, 2010 - you bet! I have a little plastic Joker figure I got in a box of Cheerios cereal on my desk...I'm hoping Cheerios will do the same for Dastan (if not I'll put a Lego there to keep the Joker company). Luckily I have a home office...hee hee!
Great stuff WDW...thanks for the updates!
:-)
I had wondered how much time Heath and Jake spent together after BBM. It looks like they spent more time than I had thought. I wonder what time period This meeting took place? It had to have been in 2006 or 2007.
sweetpea
omg!!that's just so nice to know.
;__;
thanks Jim.
Hi there everyone :) I saw this sentence, so innocent and so snuck in there and it was like a brick to the heart. Very moving to hear Jim just incidentally say that Jake would hang out with Heath - not just on set, not just promoting the movie, but as friends. Makes me warm even more to Jim and to Brothers.
Hi Winterbird :D I like Leo but in this film?
Hi there Monica, Olympic and Bertie :D Yes, I feel just the same. It's put a big smile on my fave.
You're so right, BBMISwear :-) I like this Jim!
Ooh good luck with Mini Jakes in the Cheerios! The Lego Joker may scare him though...
Hi Sweetpea :)
I hope everyone's having a good day :) I feel all warm inside. Gonna be a BBM weekend for sure.
Waves to Gretchen, posting at the same time :)
Awww Heath and Jake :( <3
I don't know if you know this, but Tobey and Leo have been 'best friends' since childhood apparently.
In Brothers is there a lot of swearing/sex/violence? Personally i'm not affected but some relatives friends etc. don't appreciate it. Stupid I know!
I'm planning a big cinema trip for next fridaaaay :D
Silver
Hi Silver! I didn't know that about Tobey and Leo - yet again, what a small world!
You'll have a great time on Friday! There is some violence but it's not gratuitous. I didn't notice much swearing. Definitely not enough sex so your friends will be fine :D
I imagine there'll be a few cinema trips being arranged. I still don't know which cinemas near me will play it.
I love hearing about Jake and Heath hanging out. :')
I can't picture Leo in this role. It was all about Jake!
Thanks for the lovely interview. Still trying to catch up on all the Jake-news. Have been busy and out of the loop. Hope to change that soon, lol.
XOXO all!
That little sentence lurked in the back of my mind all day. As BBMIswear says, amazing that Jim will never realise what that little sentence means to some.
And at Chateau Marmont too; what an atmospheric place to put this mind-picture into - Hollywood history, literally!
Lovely. TD.
That's two revealing comments now, from interviews with the Herald. ;-) Seems the Irish haven't forgotton how to interview, even if they have forgotten how to grit roads!
Hey Get Real! Good to see you - hope the catching up goes OK. I'm with you on Leo. I just can't see it Jake IS Tommy :)
Hi TD! Don't talk to me about lack of grit! What a week... Such an evocative sentence and yes that's a hotel with more than it's fair share of HW history :)
Sheridan didn't say he was considering Leo for the role of Tobey's brother. He said Tobey and Leo wanted to work together so they were talking about doing a project, since he wanted to work with them (Leo) too. This wasn't it, tho. Leo was busy with something else. Tobey Leo and Kevin Connelly from Entourage are BFFs. For years. Teenagers.
Sheridan had an opportunity to work with Tobey and Jake. Jake was on Sheridan to do something with him. From the way I read this, Jake seems to be the prime mover. He certainly wasn't opposed to working with Tobey. If Tobey was willing. Bet Jake was the one who called Natalie Portman. Jake seems to have a lot of input with his directors when he is developing his character, and they are creating the character's world.
Apparently, Jake and Heath's friendship had a life of it's own aside from acting in a movie together. They were friends. As I have always believed. I am glad to have someone like Jim Sheridan point it out.
I'm glad for the mention of Heath in today's blog entry, as I have just come home from seeing "Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus." I liked the acting all around. The fantasy sequences were great, and so were the scenes with Christopher Plummer and Tom Waits.
Heath made his character very interesting and fascinating.
heath was not the only jake link in "Imaginarium." Verne Troyer, who plays the dwarf Percy, was in "Bubble Boy." Tom Waits wrote and sang a song for "Jarhead."
I feel like everyone else about those few little words about Jake and Heath spending time together. It made me smile and gave me a warm feeling. It certainly is a special gift that Jim unknowingly gave us.
I started my month long viewing of some of Heath's movies this past weekend with a film that I like more and more each time I watch it - Casanova! I have decided that the way he looks in the last scenes is the way I want to remember him. :)
Also on the list will be Candy, The Dark Knight, and ending with the forever loved Brokeback Mountain. In honor of Heath, I watch it all the way to the end now.... I might have to throw in A Knight's Tale to lighten things up.
Dani
Morning all! The rain is washing away the snow...
Hi Anon - the feature does say 'It's difficult to fathom that Leonardo DiCaprio was an initial contender for Gyllenhaal's role' - it is likely that Brothres was considered as one of the possible chaces for Tobey and Leo to work together. Leo then couldn't do it. Fortunately for us! Jake does have a lot of input with directors when they let him.
Hey Paul! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed Dr P!
Hey Dani :D I still haven't seen Casanova, I don't know why. But how I love the Knight's Tale.
Have a good day everyone - Friday at last!
Great post, WDW.
I've not much to add to what other commenters have said. It warmed my heart to hear Jim Sheridan talk about meeting Jake and Heath. I don't know when they started shooting Brothers, maybe autumn 2007? So the meeting might have taken place early 2007 or in the summer? Well, not really important in the great scheme of things, I guess.
Back safely in the UK, after a 12-hour door-to-door trip! My plane left 3 hours late from Rome, and a bit more disruptions once arrived in London, but all in all I can't complain too much :)
Hugs
Paola
Welcome back to cold, rainy, snowy Blighty, Paola! That's a long journey from Rome.
They filmed Brothers from the Autumn of 2007 and so these meetings could have been in 2006 but could have been anytime. I like to think of Jake hanging out by a pool. I wouldn't mind doing that right now - but maybe not here :D Hope to see you soon *)
Hi, WDaW!
Thank you so much for this piece of info. (everyone is talking about!)
I'd like to share this link with my Japanese BBM fans with the credit as well though we knew Heath used to hung out with his mates a lot at that familiar hotel in L.A.
I remember quite often his sightings were mentioned in some gossip mag.sites at that time of 2005-6( I think one time was with Ned Kelly co-star Orland who's regular resident there).
So knowing that Heath used to meet up quite regularly with Jake by avoiding paps. after the all award seasons maddness there, is not surprising but nice to be confirmed by the director. (rather than unknown source such as 'onlooker')
Sheridan must have known too well what the 1.22 news meant for Jake at that time of Brothers'shootings and gave him some time-off so that he could leave the location set A.S.A.P. from paps and journalists from TMZ.com & E! etc.
I'm still appreciated Jake refused to help/encourage any further gossip media news who's always looking for RL tragedies which Heath used to hate (he specifically said that for one of his fan site by his reply to Theresa S.)with his dignified silence.
BTW, I have noticed that my local Odeon cinema had Brothers movie poster as well as Prince of Percia on the corridor wall this week. Unfortunately I can't make it for Brokie's London screenings on 23rd due to my pre-arranged family engagement, I'm hoping to be able to watch it there later with cheaper fare. (though the Odeon cinema site has not yet listed the film. Hopefully it was not just a decoration. I'll try to make an enquiry to them.)
Pickle
Good to see you Pickle! I hope things are good with you :) Do share the link with your Japanese site.
It is good to hear about Jake and Heath from someone we 'know' rather than one of those gossip 'sources'.
Brothers is listed as 'Coming soon' on the Odeon website (thanks to Winterbird for sending me the link) so I think it will be showing there. That's good news about the poster! And the PoP poster too.
I think there are a few Brothers viewing trips being arranged for Saturday and probably after that too :D
Friday evening approaches!
It's great to see this movie finally getting some coverage in the Irish media:) It's nice to hear Jim mentioning Heath too.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!!
Hi there Carol! It certainly is :D Hope the weather's calmed down in Ireland.
Jim Sheridan suspended production for five days,and Jake went back to L.A. which makes more sense now that we learn Sheridan was aware of the close relationship between Heath and Jake.
Nice blog.
Thanks Anon :D
Ooh Carol - should have said I love your new avatar!
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