[Updated] Jake Gyllenhaal - 'lovable' becomes 'edgy' (and lovable)

It probably doesn't come as any surprise to you that Jim Sheridan is a man with a sense of humour - or should that be half-man/half-fish?: '"I called up the only person who could direct this movie and, within days, Jim was sitting on my deck talking about the project," producer Ryan Kavanaugh said before Sunday's School of Visual Arts screening. "About an hour into the conversation and, mind you, this is the first time I met Jim, he reaches into his coat pocket, whips out a pair of swim trunks, gets butt-naked, puts on the swim trunks and runs into the water and body-surfs for an hour. It was then that the ride of 'Brothers' began."' Source.


It is possible that this is also an indication that the Pacific Ocean has more going for it than the Irish Channel?


Therefore, we should also not be surprised that Jim Sheridan cast Brothers with an eye on playing games with us, the viewers, by not giving us quite what we expect from Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire: '“I wasn’t consciously trying to make my movie different,” Sheridan says. “I was only trying to answer questions in the original movie that were interesting to me.”'


'Jim Sheridan’s version of the film is — typical of his work — more family-oriented, focusing on how surviving a painful and spiritually challenging POW experience could change a soldier to the extent that his family can barely recognize him when he returns home. In the film, that soldier is played by Spider-Man himself, Tobey Maguire in a creative casting choice that works simply because audiences would never anticipate that Maguire would go through such brutal psychological changes. It was a casting decision made specifically by Sheridan to play with audience expectations. “That’s why we cast Tobey, so that no one would expect it,” revealed Sheridan.'


'That casting approach was also applied to the role of Maguire’s ex-con brother who is surprisingly played by the typically gentle Jake Gyllenhaal. “Jake is often thought of as the lovable centre-of-attention character,” said Sheridan. “I found it interesting to cast him as the edgy ex-con just to play with that image.”' Jake lovable? Let me think about that for one tenth of a tranosecond. Source.

[Update from the SFGate:] '"Where the movie lives and dies is in the relationship between the two brothers," says Sheridan, who says Maguire and Gyllenhaal deliver in roles that are more grown-up than what they customarily play. To look convincing as a prisoner of war, Maguire dropped 25 pounds from his already thin frame. "He is a vegan, so as far as I am concerned he doesn't eat anyway. He ate less vegan," said Sheridan, who worries about Maguire's extreme diet having a long-term effect. As an actor "Tobey likes to control a lot. That is the way he lives. He has a cook that cooks for him. His world is very controlled. Even when acting, he is not the kind of guy who would get loose. He's quiet and pensive and thinking about things." By contrast, Gyllenhaal is a "free-wheeling actor. He is always looking around. He has three or four things going through his head, and normal stars just have one." It would mean trouble, Sheridan believes, if a director told Gyllenhaal to just stand there and hit his mark. "The way he lives in a scene is to be half there and half out there looking around. I found it completely fascinating."'


Jake may also be something of a surprise (though a well-rewarded one) to some in Prince of Persia. This was addressed by Jerry Bruckheimer in a new, short interview: 'Q: Jake Gyllenhaal doesn’t seem like an obvious choice to play the titular Prince of Persia, how did he come to be cast? Jerry Bruckheimer: First and foremost, because he’s a great young actor who’s already proven that he can play almost anything. Jake is also very athletic, and for his role as the Prince he put on a lot of muscle and worked out every day both before and during the shoot, which was very physically demanding. He’s really a perfect choice as the Prince, and a few people who have seen test screenings of the film have responded very enthusiastically to Jake’s performance.''



We have more fan pictures from the set of Love and Other Drugs, demonstrating very clearly that Jake attended the Brothers cocktail party very definitely dressed as Jamie Reidy. Many thanks to Bob and Michael who took the trouble to post their pictures.



To finish off today, how great is it that after all this time there is a new video - at least to me - from that shiniest of red carpets, Cannes and the Zodiac premiere. Hearing that music, seeing Jake, David, Chloe and Mark, brings it flooding back! Here's the clip.


Includes pictures from IHJ, Inquirer, Bob and Michael.

Doctor Parnassus arrives in Cannes

The 62nd Cannes Film Festival is now underway and, although this year there is no Jake Gyllenhaal to shine on that reddest of carpets, you can still find our thoughts and dreams on the Croisette. Heath Ledger's Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus receives its premiere at Cannes, out of competition, next week, and you don't need me to tell you how hard that is or to imagine what we should have seen in Cannes on 22 May but won't.


At the opening of the Festival, amongst a montage of clips from all of the films, a glimpse from Doctor Parnassus was shown, and there is Heath, again in disguise. You can see the clip here, go to about 21:40.


Terry Gilliam has been interviewed in the Times this week and the passion with which he speaks for Heath... this film is almost like a crusade for Gilliam. He is using Doctor Parnassus to win every piece of recognition for Heath he can, every award for Heath he can. On Heath's posthumous Oscar: “But wouldn’t it have been nice if they had noticed before? Even before Brokeback Mountain he was doing brilliant work. Everything he has done has been solid, even the earlier silly things. I first saw him in The Four Feathers and he just takes over the screen. He was what, 21 years old?” The planned release date for Doctor Parnassus is in the autumn. “We want to be in that last third for the Academy Awards! Maybe we’ll get another award for Heath. We’re going to get as many awards as possible for him, long after he’s gone.”'


'“I think there are going to be moments in Parnassus; I’m just waiting to hear what the audience does when they see certain shots. There are lines that we refused to change after Heath died. It’s like the script was prescient. It’s really spooky.”'


The video below, of stills from the film, has Heath talking about what working with Terry Gilliam means to him and also about future plans. But be warned - there is a sting in the tail that will just rip your heart out. I wish I'd have known before I saw it so you might want to leave it be.



Includes pictures from the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Support Site.

WDW makes two! Brothers and Nailed, however, don't make Cannes...

Wet Dark and Wild is two today, which I'm afraid means that the site has entered into the terrible toddler phase. This means lots of craving for sweet drinks and an irresistible urge to pull things off shelves, spill perfume and spit out sprouts. Before WDW grows out of this phase, I thought I'd celebrate the beginning of a third year (one which should have at least one film in it...) by indulging in a bit - and I'm not saying which bit - of cheeky Jake. Talking of whom, Jake Gyllenhaal wrapped in gold paper and a red bow would be a perfectly acceptable present, if someone could arrange it. A big thank you and cake all round to everyone, including Jake, for making the last two years very busy and a lot of fun. A lot of fun.















Meanwhile, the list for Cannes has been announced and, maybe not surprisingly, Brothers and Nailed are not on the list. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus will premiere in Cannes, outside of the competition, while in it will be Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if we see Brothers and possibly Nailed at a festival in the Autumn.

Includes pictures from IHJ.

Tobey's Cannes 'thing' and Jennifer's luck with the 'beautiful, talented, young' Jake

Jeffrey Wells over at Hollywood Elsewhere had a chance to chat to Jim Sheridan this week and discovered from the horse's mouth, as it were, that Brothers probably won't make an appearance at Cannes International Fim Festival this May after all. This is partly (ie, maybe completely) because 'Tobey [Maguire] doesn't want to go there.'


I can see what Tobey means... all those 5 star hotels, the beautiful riviera coastline and restaurants, the chance to meet one's peers and fellow film makers and film movers, an atmosphere of excitement that makes those white tents along the Croisette and promenade quiver, and more than a few appreciative fans cheering you along the reddest red carpet that I've ever seen. It's tough, all right. Fortunately, Jake Gyllenhaal's own experience at Cannes in 2007 did nothing but leave the widest smile on his face.


Nevertheless, I don't think that we, who are so eager to see Brothers, should worry. A presentation at Cannes doesn't mean that your 'normal' film goers will see the film at that time, and the proIMDb release dates for parts of northern Europe for October and November may indicate that a festival later in the year, in Toronto or London, may be preferred - if Tobey doesn't mind, of course. And, at least we know that Sheridan is talking about the film.


ETA: It turns out that Tobey may have an excuse after all (something to do with babies...).

Jennifer and Jake

A couple of newly available videos about Jake focus on the charisma that exists between himself and that much-loved co-star of his, Jennifer Aniston. In this video, Jen sits next to Jake and describes the envy with which she was viewed by her friends for being able to make out with this stunner: 'The amount of women in my life that have seen this movie and go 'God, you get to roll around with this beautiful, young, talented... boy/man.'



The second video shows Jake receiving his Hollywood Film Award from his very own Mrs Robinson.





Includes pictures from IHJ and Just Jared.

While PoP gives us the slip (for now), a perfect moment recaptured

While I bubble and boil and hyperventilate in a bad way over the news (now confirmed by Variety) that Prince of Persia has now been pushed back to May 2010, I thought I'd beg your indulgence today for an indulgent 'cheer-myself-up' kind of post. While I heartily approve of Disney's desire to protect Prince of Persia at all costs (whether against rampaging transformers or potential strikes or because of wanting to spend more resources on complicated and breathtaking cgi), my initial response is still to return to Disney my collection of Finding Nemo plushies and even (but maybe not) my almost life-size Pluto. I wonder what Jake's response was...


So, during my Post-Pop-News-Blues last night, I tripped over something that is special to me. This recently uploaded video from Broadband TV takes a look at Movie Star Jake Gyllenhaal, mostly in his suit, tie or tux, on some of the most glamorous nights of his career. Film festivals and especially award shows dominate, particularly the event with the reddest carpet of them all - the Cannes International Film Festival.



And there, right at the end, is a moment I will never forget. For the first time, I can see on video the moment when Jake Gyllenhaal turned at the top of the steps of the Palais to point, wave and laugh at myself and my two friends who'd travelled to see Jake's Zodiac triumph. The initial cupped ear moment is missing but I am never ever going to forget being on the receiving end of this...




And while I'm having one of my 'Cannes moments', it's good to see that this is back again:



Picture from IHJ. This post is dedicated to my Cannes brother and sister and to Jake, without whom...

Cannes - A day to remember one year on, through Jake's words, videos and images

This day last year was a special day for any Gyllenhaalic and, I don't doubt, for the leader of the clan himself, Jake Gyllenhaal. It was the first day of the 60th Cannes Film Festival - the sun was hot, no carpet has been redder (or with more steps), the sun was blue, the yachts were mega and the wine matched the carpet. But nothing and no-one shone or looked more beautiful than Jake on that stunning day. This video below doesn't have a covering image but, if you click play, you get a treat.



Jake gave some remarkable interviews during his flying visit to the Riviera, possibly inspired by the paradise setting of the Eden Roc hotel in Antibes, along the coast from Cannes. 'Venice is beautiful, but I never got to do my interviews by the ocean. This is great - it's beautiful' (BBC News). This post illustrates this amazing day through some of my favourite Cannes Jake quotes, videos and photographs, including some of my own as we waited on the sidelines for Jake and the Zodiac crew to arrive at the Palais.


Jake talks about passion

Zodiac was all about obsession and passion and Jake was at pains to point out that he is someone who lives for passion. It was a recurring theme through several interviews. Here are a few examples. 'My heart is a much stronger muscle than my head (Guardian Unlimited podcast).


'I am someone who lives for passion. It's constructive and it can create beautiful things' (the Netherlands newspaper AD).



'And I think I do understand passion very well - I'm very passionate about certain things and I spend a lot of time on them.' (Guardian Unlimited podcast)


'Even if it perhaps sounds geeky, I have a big passion for chewing gum. I am very passionate where politics are concerned. I am a passionate cyclist. And I am a passionate family member, and my friends are unbelievably important to me. Obviously I am somewhat obsessive, when it concerns relationships' (Welt Online).



'Like any other sane person, I do not want to be judged by my looks. If somebody compliments me on my looks - which I did nothing to get - it has no value for me whatsoever. I would rather deal with people who appreciate me for what I do in my movies' (AD).

'Now that time [Brokeback Mountain] has passed, I try to look back on that period. 'Joy' is the word to describe it. But after a while you have to let go of the past and focus on something new. However, a big success like Brokeback Mountain can also be very 'chaining'. It's like it has become a part of you and you can't let it go. And there's another side-effect: if someone now gives criticism, it hurts twice as bad - after hearing so much praise' (AD)



'If I go to Cannes, I sure know what to do, don't I? Today, I'm here for interviews and I'm happy to do it. And I'm not just saying that to be polite. I'm very proud of Zodiac. I'm willing to do everything I can to make sure the movie will stay in theaters for a long time' (AD).



WDW's day in the sun with good friends and Jake








Thanks and love to my good friends, Mouk and Ing - I have been thinking of you both as well as Jake today and remembering our amazing day in which we basked in the sun. Of course, that day is also memorable to me because it's the day I came down with chicken pox. I am so relieved that I infected neither of you - or Jake for that matter! And a big thanks to Jake for our moment.






Pictures from IHJ, Just Jared and WDW.