Jake Gyllenhaal back in LA? Love and Other Drugs on the festival menu? To squee or not to squee?

The indications are that Jake Gyllenhaal is now back on the mainland - while one lucky holidaymaker to California spotted Jake on Wednesday, a tweet on the same day placed him in Santa Monica. Wednesday is Farmer's Market day in Santa Monica, so a great chance for Jake to stock up that empty fridge while he works through the holiday laundry.


Talking of clothes, new old pictures from IHJ show Jake a full 6 years ago, in July 2004, combining wearing a super dope t-shirt with giving a famous and fabulous GyllenHug while carrying a takeaway.



No doubt Jake's now back at home sifting through all those scripts that landed on his doormat while he was away. Meanwhile, the next film, Love and Other Drugs, is attracting appreciative noises and interested nods despite having been seen by very few. At this time of year, interest in a movie inevitably leads to talk about the late summer festivals Venice and Toronto, both of which have enjoyed visits from Jake in the past. In a very interesting and detailed assembly of the films that may make an appearance at one or other or both of these festivals, we have this:


'”Love & Other Drugs,” directed by Edward Zwick (USA) - Probably more suited for Toronto than Venice, this re-teaming of “Brokeback Mountain” not-quite-couple Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway is based on Jamie Reidy’s memoir “Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman.” Reportedly gross out comedy meets romantic drama, Gyllenhaal plays said Viagra salesman, who meets Hathaway’s character - who has Parkinson’s Disease (cue Oscar buzz) - while on the job. A love affair ensues, and one can only assume it’s made all the more enjoyable by supporting cast members Hank Azaria, Judy Greer and Oliver Platt. Director Zwick (who also co-wrote the script) is definitely hit and miss, but his work with relationship dramas on television (“My So-Called Life,” “Once and Again”) suggests he could be more than capable of making “Love” a must see on the fall fest circuit. [Peter Knegt]'

And then there's always the London festival in October, of course.


And finally...

On Twitter today, there was a little discussion - led by novelist and poet Margaret Atwood - about the use of a new verb: 'to squee'. A side-effect of becoming a Gyllenhaalic is an innate ability to squee. It cannot be taught - it just happens. Delicate refining may be required but generally you're good to go from the very start.


Certain situations lend themselves best to squeeing - a red carpet with Jake on the end of it, a first meeting with fellow Jake fans, a reunion with fellow Jake fans who are now close friends, the news that Jake is starting a new movie, the appearance of a much longed for poster and trailer, the first day of the film's opening, the day the DVD turns up in your post, revisiting a much loved picture of Jake wearing a big smile, the sight of Jake when he's been gone for too long. If you're a Gyllenhaalic you know how to squee.


Many thanks to IHJ for the pictures.

A new post on MovieBrit rounding up, sort of, the movie week as it appeared to me.