Tuesday, 23 November 2010

Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway - putting emotion into the romance

Before we get going, it is possible that we need to get going on whipping up our finest quorn chicken soup for Jake. Twitter suggests that Jake Gyllenhaal was supposed to be interviewed by satellite for an LA breakfast show this morning. One suggestion for Jake's cancellation was that he's unwell. If that's the case, then put your feet up, Jake, and feel better quickly. I usually recommend beer and ice cream in such instances and everyone tells me what a bad idea this is.


This post is adorned with some stunning photographs from a shoot for the LA Times (via IHJ). To go with them we have some fine words to match - an interview with Jake for the Huffington Post. Jake talks about the interpretation of Love and Other Drugs and how it relates to that most fearsome of genres - The RomCom.

'I think filmmakers in particular feel like they have to carve some perfect sculpture with their movie and everything has to stay within one tone - as if life is like one tone all the time. People have to classify a movie, like, "It's a drama, it's a comedy, it's a romantic comedy." The truth is (I'll speak for myself here), the day is filled with a million emotions probably very similar to the things that happen in this movie. You believe Oliver Platt [who plays my boss] when he's funny and you're moved by him, too. The nature of the actors in this movie, you know, we all love to walk that line. I think that's really where great movies exist.'


'We don't like to call this film a romantic comedy, we're calling it an emotional comedy, which I think is more appropriate. You have to be invested. How many bullshit love stories are there out there? There are real stakes in this one. In order for the humor to land, in order for people to care about the love story, the stakes have to be raised. I think people are tired of romantic comedies. Because we love the genre, we wanted to give it more respect than people have in the last little while.'



Q: You play Jamie Randall, who sells Viagra for Pfizer. Could you buy into the mythology of being the typical pharmaceutical sales rep? JG: 'I definitely could buy into that. Part of my job is a little bit of that. I've gotta be a salesman. There's a nature to the act -- there's a real performance -- and there's a real performance to sales, so I think as an actor, it's natural. I think the only other role I could play really well would be a politician (laughs); there's an element of sales to that, too.'


'What I loved about [playing Jamie] is I don't think this guy knows what's at stake. I don't think he knows what he's selling completely. I think that's part of the pharmaceutical world. I would say about half the people I talked to [while doing research for the character] were aware of the effect of what they were doing. It isn't just about driving sales, it's about people's health, too. What I love about Jamie is his sense of performance, and I don't mean performance in the Viagra sense (laughs). A real sense of being able to walk into a room and have so much confidence that people would trust whatever he said. That was really wonderful to play, because I haven't played anything like that before.'



'I don't mean to sound like an old veteran because I'm without a doubt not one. But I've been doing this for 15 years now. Working with Anne, we did Brokeback and we did this -- it was magical. I hate to sound like an actor when I say that, but Ed and Anne and I had an incredible experience on this movie. In an odd way, it's the first movie I've made where I'm desperate for an audience to see it, because all we did was think about how much we care about our audience and how much we respect them. But I also know what an experience it was for me as an actor and I don't really mind what they think, which is a first for me. And I feel totally comfortable with Anne. She's ballsy, she's just a ballsy actor. For a woman her age to be that way with the scrutiny that she's under as an actress, is badass. You don't find that. She's pretty amazing.'


I particularly liked this tribute to Josh Gad: 'Josh Gad [who plays Jamie's brother] is the engine in this film. Josh Gad will be and is becoming a force to be reckoned with. He brought all the humor and energy to the movie, and was a huge influence on me, and an inspiration in terms of comedy. He's a great actor. Working with Oliver Platt and Hank Azaria, they're comedic geniuses but also really great actors.'


Q: What was it like to work with real Parkinson's patients in the film? JG: 'That was a hard day. It was moving in so many ways, but also really funny. Two of the women who helped Anne were at the [LA premiere] the other night and they're wonderful women, so funny and lighthearted. And with the passing of Jill Clayburgh [who played my mother in the film], I was just thinking, some people live healthy long lives and don't really ever live. And some people's lives are shorter and they live it to the fullest extent possible, in sickness and in health. Those are the people I admire and would love to mimic my life after. You can be some slick ol' pharmaceutical salesman who's #2 in the country and financially stable and got it all together, or, you know, you can have love. Which would you pick?'



When Anne Hathaway was interviewed by Chelsea Handler, she not only revelaed that she pinched her Brokeback Mountain underwear but also gave us a glimpse - as it were - of what exactly there was between herself and Jake during the shooting of Love and Other Drugs: 'Pretty much “a thong with a lot of tape, and the sides were cut off,” is all that separated both actors private areas while filming their new Edward Zwick film. “I spent weeks and weeks naked with Jake Gyllenhaal…and they paid me!”

Fox has released this video, which has one of those real Jakisms about himself and Anne: '"I have more and more belief in like the cosmic nature of things and fate," said Gyllenhaal. "And there is without a doubt something that she and I have that is that way."



As for Anne's character, Maggie, you can see some more of her incredible loft apartment at this site.

27 comments:

winterbird said...

Jake, I have campbells chicken soup - just give me your address!

Beer and ice cream, that sounds like my hangover cure... :P

I'm so excited I am finally going to see LAOD tomorrow! I hope laughing and crying out loud by yourself is acceptable etiquette here.

Thanks for the post, as always :)

Anonymous said...

Jake feel better. I hope we see you on the Early show tomorrow.

Thanks WDW for more wonderful interviews. I think after working so wonderfully together I wonder how it will be for them on their next projects, whether they'll miss these fun times together. Hopefully this won't be the last time we'll see them together

sweetpea

Anonymous said...

WOW Jake finally admits he has talented hair (well we already knew it and it certainly did a lot in POP)

I think that there is a process of maturing, Jake is getting older, so of course that will reflect in each role he takes. And the decisions he makes both personally and professionally.

of course, for me, playing Jack Twist really stretched Jake's talents, he mentioned LAOD was like the next step from BBM

sweetpea

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hello Winterbird! As a veggie I must obviously go the beer and ice cream route. I really wish we could all see LAOD with you tomorrow, still such a wait for hhere and elsewhere. I know I've seen it but I want everyone else to as well!

I hope we do too, Sweetpea :) I think we'll see Jake and Anne together again - they're too good together for directors to ignore.

I love the idea of talented hair! Jake has amazingly gifted hair :D

mermon said...

Hi!
Thanks for all the goodies WDW. For those beautiful, warm pictures, where Jake and Anne look just like loving couple. Those funny interviews. That one about Jake's and Anne's hair is very fine. And they are great together as always, and I have never enough of them. They are so intelligent and witty together, than even they talk about the same movie all the time and nudity mostly - each interview is a bit different and always funny.
I have never felt that before. I feel like a mother wanting her child to be happy with the right person. When I see them together how they feel about each other and behave together, I can't help myself, knowing, that Anne is happy with another guy, I just think they are perfect matched. Though maybe they don't know it yet. Though Jake looks on those pictures like he already knew :) Yes Jake, it looks like cosmic fate. Don't ignore that :)

Just Fan said...

Jake and Anne are adorable. I'm very much looking forward to LAOD. I'm very disappointed that the reviews are so negative (I just took a look on rotten tomatoes) though, from the early buzz I was expecting mostly good reviews.
I hope Jake and Anne aren't too disappointed about it and enjoyed doing promo together as much as we enjoyed watching them together. :)

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi Mermon! The appeal of Jake and Anne together is very great but they just show what wonderful friends and actors they are - and we really could have film after film with them. I can't think of another couple like them in modern cinema - wonderful!

Hi JF! We must be looking at different reviews. Almost everything I've seen has been positive and I just can't see anything to worry about. This film gives me such a good feeling. I've seen it and it is way more than I expected from a so-called 'RomCom'.

Cazajuguetes said...

Just wanted to say hi.
Nice pictures!
I'm saving this post to read tomorrow. ;o)

Monica said...

Bad news for me:
New release date for Love And Other Drugs in Brazil: April 21. Seriously!

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to hear that, monica. It stinks that we all can't have the same release date all over the world

sweetpea

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi Eureka!

That is terrible, Monica! It'll be out on DVD around April :(

get real said...

More news to catch up on. :)

Hope Jake feels better. :/ Sorry he had to cancel the interviews.

A heads up that Jake and Anne will be on the Charlie Rose Show tomorrow night!! So glad they will be on. Since he didn't do the show with Heath/Ang I am glad he gets to do it with Anne. :)

BBMISwear said...

Wow...I really have to say that Fox is doing such a fantastic job with the PR for this film. We definitely have Jake and Anne to thank most, of course, because they are the two who are giving us so much of themselves and have that unbelievable chemistry together that a movie studio can't force but if Fox didn't set up all these press engagements we wouldn't be seeing all this great stuff!! I am very grateful for all of it and simply can't get enough!!

A shout out to Susan who asked me an interesting question in yesterday's comments which truly made me laugh because I don't remember saying "publicly" that I am going to make a ringtone out of Hey Lisa! YES, I am going to make a ringtone out of Hey Lisa - very cool you remembered!! My partner-in-crime from the L.A. premiere actually just sent me some audio samples last night and I plan to add a second clip to the Hey Lisa clip that is rather unique but hasn't been made public yet so I'm not going to mention it until it's available on line. (I'm guessing anyone reading this is wondering what all this nonsense is about - LOL)! Well rest assured that this 'not yet public clip' is going to appear on my favorite Jake Gyllenhaal website in the not too distant future. I'll let you all guess what my favorite Jake Gyllenhaal website is! Anyway, the combo of Hey Lisa and this other clip will be the perfect ringtone IMHO - (now to just figure out how to actually do it - I need to do some reading up on my iphone I think).

Anyway, thanks for the Hey Lisas...it really brightens my day each time I see that. Did I mention he says Lisa 6 times in the movie?! (Just kidding...I know I've mentioned this about 4 times now). Sorry!

Thanks for keeping all the great stuff coming at us WDW! Happy LAOD viewing to all in the U.S. who will see it tomorrow (I'll be there too). Please do let us know what you think - I'm guessing you'll all love it!

Cheers!

:-)

mermon said...

Sorry for bad news Monica! April?
It's unfair. And I thought I am in the worst position having to wait till February!

Of course WDW, I know they are friends, not a couple. I remember one of the first interviews when Anne was surprised to hear they have such a big chemistry. They made this film long time ago, I think, that during promotion they became even closer than before. It such a intensive time for them. Almost as hard work as making the movie :)The fact, they are wonderful couple I know mostly from seeing them together in interviews. I can only imagine how it looks like on the screen, probably much hotter.
I suppose they do it a bit to promote the movie, but they are very convincing.

Alejandra said...

When I read the release date for LAOD in Brazil, I obviously ran to check the schedule in Argentina. It says Jan. 27th... Phew!

Wonderful interviews today. And those pics? I saw them earlier and they blew me away.

Might take me a while to check the vids but I'm on it. ;-)

Yet another great post, WDW! Thank you for your work.

And thank you, Jake, for working so hard too. Making films and promoting them so lovingly so that we don't miss them. Hope you're well. :-)

mermon said...

Hey Lisa! When I write it down I'm not only seeing it with my eyes, but I hear this sound in my ears, with Jake's voice of course. It may become one of the famous names very soon :)
American Gyllenhaalic, please share with us your opinion and impression after seeing the movie. You are the first lucky ones.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

That's great news, Get Real! I hope it'll be available online. I've been keen to see Jake on that for so so long.

Hey BBMISwear :-) Ooh yes, private clips about to be made available! I'll have to see what I can do about that :D And thank you!

I just feel happy when he mentions Kate on Regis!

Hey Monica! They are so convincing - incredible :D And such an intense time.

Thanks, Alejandra! We have such a lot to be grateful to Jake for - wonderful. How I hate these staggered release dates, though. I really do. I can see why they do it but I don't like it.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi Mermon! Posting at the same time :D I need to set up a page at the forum so that we can have a discussion of the film - with spoilers for some - and without spoilers for others. I'm on the case!

Anonymous said...

By this time tomorrow I will have seen LAOD at least once! I'm contemplating an early exit from work because I know I won't be able to concentrate properly on anything else!!

:D Lisa, it's just so obvious to me about the ringtone - if there is a line in the movie where he says "(ANYTHING), Susan" you better know I'll be all over it!! :P

The bad news is that tomorrow is hubby's birthday followed by Thanksgiving on Thursday, which means I may not have the luxury of keeping up with the blog OR the forum as I would like. I'll have to play catch up all over again...

Susan

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Morning everyone!

Hi Susan! Enjoy! I remember that Brothers came out here on Mr WDW's birthday - it does make things more difficult.

So the 24th has arrived at last! Have a great time to all those on the other side of the pond :D

I may have to make do with Unstoppable!

BBMISwear said...

Yay - Wednesday is here! Good idea, WDW, about a place in the forum for people to comment on the movie. I have only been there a couple of times and, believe me, I think I could spend a lot of time there if I let myself (so I don't let myself)! :-)

No pressure on the 'private clips' - good stuff for when it's a bit slower around here (no complaints that it hasn't been slow around here for weeks)!!

I just laughed out loud (at 6:30AM no less - hope I didn't wake anyone up) at your comment about Jake saying Kate on Regis! Remember my email to you as soon as I saw it?! It's the little things that make us happy, huh?!

Well nose to the grindstone for a bit - lots to get done before heading to the theater. Have a good day all and enjoy LAOD for those who can today - I'll be thinking of you!

:-)

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi BBMISwear! I do remember that - so funny! And some real goodies to post, thank you :-)

Interesting to see what what the Rose interview is like today.

I've set up a Spoilers allowed thread on the forum for discussion of LAOD in all its glory! There's another thread there to discuss the film more generally for those who have to tap their feet and wait for longer.

Hui said...

OMG!!!!unseen pics from Esquire
http://www.esquire.co.uk/2010/11/as-yet-unseen-jake-gyllenhaal/

So hot and adorable :)

mermon said...

Hi everybody!

What a beautiful pictures of Jake! Thank you Hui. I like the most the one with scissors and the other one in a coat and bare feet.
Have a great day with Jake American fans! I wish I were in States today! :)

Darling Bluebell said...

Happy Jaking, America! :) I wish those of you who get to see the film today a great time. And I hope Jake will feel better soon if he's sick. :( Big virtual hugs from this side of the pond!

Love the interview in the Huffington Post. I keep saying it, but what a metaphor man he is... *swoon*
And I totally agree with Jake on Anne's hair in LAOD. I wish I had curls like that! ;)

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi Hui! I must check those out :D

Hey there Mermon :D

Those LAOD curls are amazing, Lady Ekster! I quite like 'em. Anne has the most beautiful hair.

Off out for jugs of cocktails with Rubes tonight - they are necessary! What a day... I'll try and have a Glee. ;-)

Serene Hill said...

Hey WDW, this is the big day for LAOD, any premiere? But if Jake's is really sick, he may not be able to attend the premieres, hope he's okay.
I have some very nice soups here Jake, if you want to continue your eating quest, feel free to come here.. Why it seems that chicken soup is the best food for sick people there?
Great pics and vids, he is really proud of his hair, we love it too Jake!! And I really love that dot/mole on his right cheek..hehe..
Great interview too, the Huffington, Jake has always do great interviews though.
Well, Thanks for the post WDW!!!