MMX - A review of 2010, a fine GyllenYear Vintage

As 2010 draws to a close, it's time to look back at a momentous year. Never mind World Cups, new governments, royal engagements and the Ashes, 2010 gave us in the UK at least a grand total of three Jake Gyllenhaal movies, almost one per season. It's been a year to remember. For me, I'll always look back on it with a big smile because I came face to face with Jake twice. So time for a quick jaunt down memory lane.



January

January began with Jake's return to LA (with beard) and the beginnings of publicity for Prince of Persia, although there was some disappointment over a cancelled pingpong tournament in NYC. Vera Farmiga and Michelle Monaghan signed on for Source Code and we got the first good look at Lego Jake. Jake partied with Marion Cotillard and we had more interviews with Tobey Maguire and Jake. On 22 January, Brothers was at last released in the UK.


February

Damn Yankees got a director in February, Todd Graff, upping our expectation. As happens so many times, there was no more news after that. A highlight of February, though, was Maggie Gyllenhaal's Academy Award nomination for Crazy Heart, an experience that Jake shared wholeheartedly, at the cost of his reputation with pancakes. Towards the end of the month, Jake headed off to Montreal to begin filming Source Code.


March

On 7 March, the Oscars took place and we had our first look at Jake on a red carpet for quite some time. The featurettes started in earnest for Prince of Persia, including intervews in which Jake took questions from fans. PoP also got its song - Alanis Morisette's I Remain and, at the end of the month, Brothers was released on DVD.


April

The big highlight of April was without doubt WonderCon in San Francisco. We had our own reporter there who gave us a full account! Jake went on display alongside Jerry Bruckheimer, Mike Newell and Jordan Mechner to present PoP to the world's gaming fans, leading to all sorts of admissions from Jake concerning his favourite games. Zelda, anyone? Jake also used the opportunity to raise interest in Source Code. Production on Source Code itself moved to Chicago. Jake also covered GQ in April and it included a revealing interview not to mention photos of Jake bringing Times Square to a standstill. A main theme of the month was, however, the mighty ostrich...


May

What can one possibly say about May? Prince of Persia arrived in a blaze of red carpets in London, Moscow and LA. Rather unusually, the London premiere took place in Westfield shopping centre, What this lost in atmosphere it gained in convenience and comfort and it was a pleasure to see Jake in person again, the first time since November 2007.

He had a big grin on his face - as can been in the superb picture by Ruby below. It stayed there through Moscow and LA. Gemma Arterton was a lovely sight at Jake's side throughout the month.


June

June was a month off for Jake and he seemed to spend much of it with Mumford and Sons and Adam Levine or doing Wing Chun Kung Fu. Jake also spent more time doing charity work, this time publicising the work of New Eyes for the Needy. More details emerged of Jake's killer fitness and diet regime for PoP alongside Jake's return to the Medical center.


July

Jake spent much of the summer in Martha's Vineyard, but he was linked to Stand Up to Cancer and appeared in adverts for the charity, not to mention SU2C hoodies and hats. We also got some of the first details and Love and Other Drugs and Source Code.


August

The two big highlights of August were the release of the Love and Other Drugs trailer and the first sighting of Jake on his Triumph Bonneville. This did indeed distract me from my pasties and moules in Cornwall. Towards the end of August, Jake and brother-in-law Peter Sarsgaard were seen in Colorado for the Leadville 100 foot race and rumours abounded about the possible filming of Bornn to Run. Since then, Peter appears to be more linked but it still remains foggy... A highlight for me was seeing a Q&A with Duncan Jones at the BFI in London.


September

We got the poster for Love and Other Drugs in September and it certainly caught everyone's attention. Meanwhile, we were all sightly distracted by Sasquatch Jake. The beard it did grow... and grow... On WDW we were a little concerned about the lack of news on future projects and so we conducted a poll and told Jake what's what. Jake spent much of the month in NYC and, at the end of it, amid the earliest screenings of LAOD, we got a report from BBMISwear of a screening with a Ed Zwick Q&A.


October

At the beginning of October we had an exclusive report from reader Xanne of Jake's appearance at the New Yorker Festival, including video and pictures. These captured the last moments of the Beard. Jake was seen doing more goodworks for the Edible Schoolyard before heading back to LA sans the Face Pet. Jake also covered Esquire in the UK.


November

Love and Other Drugs was released in the US over the Thanksgiving weekend. We had a full report from BBMISwear who was at the premiere in NYC. Also in November, Jake and Anne Hathaway visited London briefly and I was so fortunate to attend the press conference and screening, with many thanks to Bleeding Cool. The Source Code trailer arrived in November, causing a great deal of a stir. We also had a synopsis and the first pictures. In November, Jake stepped out with Taylor Swift and this also created just a little bit of a stir...


December

In December, the couple that we have grown very much attached to, for their humour and charisma and ease together, Jake and Anne Hathaway, moved on to sunny Sydney. The premiere on 6 December down under (a date once mooted for a London premiere) was an enormous success with Jake and Anne winning over audiences and media alike. They also took time to visit a children's hospital. Interest grew in Jake's approaching 30th birthday on 19 December and Jake revealed his plan to scare himself by diving with walruses and killer whales in the Arctic. He wouldn't do it alone - his family would be going too. It now seems that this may have been postponed. The year has ended with the release this week of Love and Other Drugs in the UK and with Jake and Anne's nominations for Golden Globes for their terrific performances.


So, on the last day of the year, I must thank you all for the birthday wishes and for keeping me company for another year on WDW! Thanks to that treat of the year, Prince of Persia, there have been many additions to the community in 2010 and that has been a pleasure to see whilst savouring some old and loved friendships. Every year brings us all something new in Gyllendom and 2011 will be no exception. Source Code is a certainty but you can bet there will be some unexpected delights thrown in the pot as well, plus who knows how many adventures. After what has been a truly fantastic year, here's to 2011!

Cheers to you, Jake and one and all! Happy New Year!


Many thanks for all the kind birthday wishes!

Includes pictures from IHJ and Ruby.