Source Code given a 12A certificate, David Fincher sticks by his actors and Jake Gyllenhaal needs more sunnies

Source Code has been passed by the British Board of of Film Classification for its release on 1 April. Rather surprisingly for a film about a train blowing up every 8 minutes, it's been given a 12A certificate, and this is for 'one use of strong language and moderate threat'. This doesn't necessarily tally with tales of models of Jake Gyllenhaal as Colter Stevens in bits and handless but it does at least mean a wider audience as well as the suggestion that the focus is on story rather than gore.


The other news from this is that Source Code will be just 93 minutes and 13 seconds. I could have done with at least another half hour but, again, it may mean tight, edge of your seat plotting. Thanks to friends at Bleeding Cool for the heads up!


Talking of Jake making movies, David Fincher is getting very close to winning, I hope, his Oscar for directing Social Network. Fincher has an interview that appears in the new issue of The Hollywood Reporter and in it he describes the reason for his big fallout with Sony during the production of Zodiac. At the time I remember hearing that it was to do with the length of the film. However, David tells us that it was actually because of the casting. Fincher toughed it out for the actors he wanted. And anyone who has seen this critically acclaimed film would realise that the combination of Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr and Mark Ruffalo was inspired. The fact that this film did so poorly at the box office in comparison to other Fincher movies will remain a mystery long after everyone knows just who the Zodiac was... Fincher tells us that for Zodiac he was told to get 'Russell Crowe and Tom Cruise'.


And finally...

Jake Gyllenhaal is back in NYC and doing his best to improve his disguise. According to People 'Jake Gyllenhaal and Zac Efron bumped into each other outside the Solstice Sunglass Boutique in New York. According to a source, the guys both tried on the same shades while shopping separately. Gyllenhaal was there first and was soft-spoken and friendly while browsing the frames, the source says.'


As we know, Jake has been known to text on the subway while wearing sunglasses - something no non-movie star could ever accomplish without years of training for a movie star diploma. Gemma Arterton once teased Jake for wearing his sunnies inside: 'I used to say 'Stop wearing sunglasses indoors,' and he'd say: 'You little commoner'. He, therefore, needs more sunglasses than most. And it does make a change from buying coffee.


Many thanks to ManMadeMovies, IHJ and BBMISwear for the pictures/scans!

Jake Gyllenhaal and his Queen Amidala doll, Speedy Jake and congratulations to Gemma Arterton

"I first met Natalie at a Star Wars convention waiting in line for her to sign my Queen Amidala doll and I'm really hoping she wins the Oscar... Because if she does, then that doll is going to be worth a shitload of money!" And so Jake Gyllenhaal introduced Natalie Portman at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on 8 January. I'm particularly impressed because Jake could pronounce Amidala. Take a look at the videos below to see Jake presenting the award as well as being interviewed with and without Natalie about what the festival means to him and if he'll be at Natalie's baby shower.



Despite hailing Natalie as 'the Audrey Hepburn of our generation', she's not quite perfect 'She's a vegan, which makes it really frustrating when you're picking a place to eat.'





After causing some discussion at the Festival with his shoes (and button), there is further opportunity today to discuss Jake's footwear. Before heading down to Palm Springs, Jake went out for a run in LA with some nearly not there running shoes. No button issues this time, though.


Congratulations to Gemma!

The nominees were announced today for the BAFTA Orange Wednesday Rising Star Awards and it was great to see another co-star of Jake's get a nod - this time Gemma Arterton. To further add to the Jake connection, Peter Sarsgaard and Mike Newell were among the selection panel.


And finally...

Jake was also seen out and about at the Hollywood Farmer's Market.



Includes pictures from IHJ.

My review of Season of the Witch is now up at MovieBrit.

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.

Jake Gyllenhaal - Le Grand Yummy

I have come to the conclusion that there may not be any cameras in New York City. I have to admit that this irrefutable and indisputable deduction did come as something of a surprise to me, but I can see no alternative. Jake Gyllenhaal continues his quest to eat at every restaurant, milkbar and cafe in the entire city and still no photographs. Not a sausage. This is despite numerous sightings. On Friday for instance, no doubt inspired by my own experiences at the Foodie Festival in Oxford the other week, Jake was seen at Le Grand Fooding event - 'Le Grand Yummy'.


The tweets continue a worrying trend and theme, which I think you'll pick up on: 'Sittin next to jake gyllenhaal right now. He looks like a lumberjack.'

'Uhh Jake Gyllenhaal (sp?) is here. He has grown a beard and looks manly.'


And the pièce de résistance: 'Jake gyllenhall at the foodie show at PS1. Big red beard!'


On Saturday Jake was seen at an Italian restaurant: 'Jake Gyllenhaal at Robertas in Bushwick tonight. No body guards or shades just a full beard. Was friendly.'


Someone else also saw Jake in Bushwick: 'just saw jake brokeback mountain gyllenhall!!! full beard but yet so handsome!! bushwick brooklyn.'

So.... to sum up, Big Applers should be looking out for a very hungry Jake Gyllenhaal with a big red beard looking like a friendly, manly lumberjack. How can you miss him?


Judging by the poll, the vast majority of Gyllenhaalics - or at least the ones who have noticed that Jake has a beard - want the face pet removed and ritually buried.


Princess of Persia

Gemma Arterton is continuing her takeover of the movie world but she pops up in this positive review of the 'delicious' Blu-ray: 'Arterton, while preferring her arthouse movies, had a great time playing a Middle Eastern princess in 500 A.D., with Jake Gyllenhaal appearing as the prince of the title. "I still enjoy the spectacle -- and that film in particular," Arterton says in an interview. "I was sort of sad that it didn't do well at the box office because I thought it was actually kind of original and it was beautifully shot and it was a different world and it deserved to do better than it did. Who knows why it didn't do as well as it should have?"'


Who knows indeed, but the dollars continue to roll in from the DVD/Blu-ray and, speaking for myself, I have come to love this film so much, when I watch it now, with it still looking glorious on my own TV set, I can almost feel the sun and sand on my face. And I take umbrage at certain people who say that they don't see Jake as 'leading man material'. Watching Jake Gyllenhaal on the big screen, you need to use more than your eyes.


Includes pictures from IHJ.

Gemma Arterton on Jake Gyllenhaal - 'He's a real softie at heart'. PoP videos, and hi-res Love and Other Drugs poster and images

Prince of Persia DVD. Out today in the UK. Out tomorrow in the USA. Already out across much of the known world. Without any more ado, a clip. Be warned - this is not for the faint-hearted. We have violence and peril. But that's nothing compared to to what we have in the second clip. In that one we have gratuitous ostrich pecking and bare chest - and I don't mean a bare ostrich breast served with sage and onion stuffing, cranberry sauce and roast potatoes.




As if that weren't enough, Disney in the Netherlands has given us one of my favourite scenes form the film. The bit where Dastan tells Garsiv he has his hand on his sword again. And Tus takes Dastan by the wrist. And you just know that Dastan will do what he wants and that means taking the city of Alamut almost single-handed.



To commemorate the release of Prince of Persia into our homes - something we have been waiting for for well over two years - another Q&A with Jake Gyllenhaal from London in May has been released (with AP). And again, there are some familiar answers but it never hurts to bring Jake into the procedings.


'AP: I’m presuming you’ve been offered loads of different action roles before, so what was it about Prince Dustan that really grabbed you? GYLLENHAAL: Well, to me the moment I read the first sequence of the movie, which is the siege on Alamut where he’s (Prince Dustan) jumping around and lighting things on fire and having a good time doing it, I think that was the moment when I thought, ’there’s a sense of humor here.’ Here’s one of those classic characters that’s in the vein of Errol Flynn or Indiana Jones and those are the movies I loved when I was a kid, and I loved watching.'


'AP: So you wanted to have a laugh? GYLLENHAAL: Yeah I wanted to have a good time, and I wanted to know that I was making a movie that an audience could have a good time in too. AP: And had you played the video game before? Are you any good? GYLLENHAAL: When I was eight or nine years old I played the original side-scroller game a lot. And then I took a 20 year hiatus (laughs) and only picked it up when I was doing research for the movie — which was very, very difficult research, it was hard. Three to four times a day I would have to be forced to go and play the video game. People don’t really know how hard it is to be an actor and I can tell you how hard it is; it’s working out every day and getting paid for it and also playing video games. So it’s really been tough, a really tough road (laughs).'


'AP: Did you enjoy the stunts? It’s very different doing them compared with playing the game. I’m actually quite disappointed you’re just sitting there and you haven’t swung through the window onto a horse. GYLLENHAAL: That would be an incredible entrance, I would have done that for you if I could have and we had more time. But no, Mike Newell, the director, had a wire attached to my back and he would just control me ... I would do whatever he wanted. Move to the left, move to the right, jump, fight this guy, win!'


'AP: I want to ask you about the Parkour (free-running) stunts. Are you quite good at that now? GYLLENHAAL: No, I have to say. I saw this thing on MTV called “The Ultimate Parkour Challenge” ... where they brought in some of the best Parkour athletes in the world. And I watched them do all these crazy things, which was actually semi-disturbing to see because they got injured quite a lot and I just thought ’I’ve got no idea what I’m doing, these guys are extraordinary.’ The fundamentals I do know and I can do things, but ultimately I cannot say I’m a card carrying Parkour athlete. I just try to mimic. I did jumps, I did my own jumps and different things but the dangerous stuff was done by the professionals.”'

'AP: Would you return to the role? GYLLENHAAL: Of course, I’d loved playing the role. I loved being a part of the movie. It’s an incredible world, so if that were an opportunity, I would definitely take it.' Source.


For me, Jake doesn't have to leap through the window onto a horse to make an impression - all he need do is open the door and walk into the room.

This video is a new one for me from that extraordinarily special Prince of Persia London red carpet. In this one, you'll be glad to hear, you're spared me jumping up and down in the background.



And finally

Thanks to IHJ, we have the hi-res poster for Love and Other Drugs plus the two other images that so far we had only seen in a small format. They are wonderful.




Includes pictures from IHJ, LA Times and Jordan Mechner.

Jake Gyllenhaal - action hero any time you want. Prince of Persia DVD - now we can turn back, fast forward and freeze time...

Update: I now can access the interactive features thanks to Brendon of www.bleedingcool.com who found some bleeding cool software. If anyone else is having trouble, do get in touch!

The short post this evening is necessitated by several factors: the arrival of Prince Dastan through my letterbox this morning (he parkoured his way in there) and the fact that Blogger is so overwhelmed by the hotness and agility of Jake Gyllenhaal in his Dastan leathers that it's making posting almost impossible. Nevertheless, I will battle through the red error messages emblazoned across the screen regardless and try and get this out before Blogger notices and without me having to chuck burning oil all over it. Here is a glimpse of one of the bits and pieces from the Blu-ray edition courtesy of MovieWeb.



This little parkour clip includes a bunch of Prince Dastans but not necessarily the Jake Gyllenhaal one. Some of the other clips from the Blu-ray are also available:






Unfortunately, I can't bring you more details of the other interactive pieces from the Blu-Ray because my software will allow me to access the list without actually being able to play them. However, it is clear from their names and the Behind the scenes feature on the DVD that some of these are duplicates and others can be found in that DVD extra. And it is superb! There is LOTS of Jake. With and without the straw hat. In Morocco and at Pinewood. [Update: There are bits and pieces that are new in the Blu-ray interactive extras and hopefully these will be available shortly as well. Notably, the visualisations of the dagger turning back time and the stunts; other features that stand out but without Jake are the recreations of Alamut.)


Interestingly, this feature is not on the 3-disc Blu-Ray DVD set. I have to say - Penny Rose (the costume designer), what an amazing woman and Jake does a great impression (if he doesn't want to wear a costume then someone else jolly well would!) - and in the behind the scenes we actually see one of Jake's big jumps. Not a stunt Jake, but Jake himself. I know, I couldn't do it. However, the vivid desert and oasis and exotic city colours of the Blu-ray are something to behold. IHJ has some screencaps from the video features above.




Mike Newell tells us again that with Jake he was expecting the great acting, the good looks but he was not expecting the all-round action hero that he got.


I have been able to see the 'Heads' deleted scene and we haven't missed much. Jake is in it only briefly - when he appears in Tamina's bedchamber to escort her into the king's presence (see the picture below from the Visual Guide). The rest of the scene does what it says on the tin - Garsiv presents some heads to the king with his usual charm.


Enjoy the DVD when it reaches you - now we have the power to turn back, fast forward and freeze time. Again and again. And again.

Speaking of Gemma Arterton, I saw Tamara Drewe yesterday and I've pondered about it over at MovieBrit today.

Time to Stand Up to Cancer - and Jake Gyllenhaal attracts

Tonight is the night that the stars will come out to stand up to cancer. It's not known for sure whether Jake Gyllenhaal will be among them at the Telethon or if his contribution will stand as the two TV spots shown in July but, irrespective of that, this is a great cause. Here is the official site link. You can make a donation there as well as buy some of the cool SU2C clobber that Jake likes to wear - on his head in particular.




No guarantees that this will work, but you should be able to watch the telethon below at the appointed time, which is 8pm EST and 1am BST.



Jake Gyllenhaal attracts

Gemma Arterton's new film, Tamara Drew, opened in the UK today (and I was lucky enough to see it) and as part of the publicity there has been the occasional mention of a recent co-star - and I don't mean Daniel Craig. One article came up with some helpful suggestions for Jake's appeal, to which we can no doubt add a couple of thousand.


1. He is devastatingly handsome.
2. He is lovely, amiable and friendly.
3. He has a sense of wit.
4. And despite mega fame, he is extremely grounded and humble.
[5. Your suggestions please.]


Gemma's own suggestion: 'The nicest thing about Jake is that he’s such a lovely, funny, kind and down-to-earth guy.' Can I add hot?


I don't link to the Daily Mail lightly, but they do have a rather complimentary feature about Jake today. There are some old quotes from Jake but there is a mention of 'the quietly beautiful Brokeback'. I like that.


W

W magazine has a striking photo on its cover this month of Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling. But don't let that distract you from some of the other names on the cover.

I hope you all will forgive me the presumption of wishing Carol a wonderful Big Day tomorrow from all of us at WDW!

Includes pictures from IHJ.