'A friend indeed' - Cowboys in love, cowboys alone

Many miles away from here, in Perth, it is now early Saturday morning, which means that, as far as we know, Heath will be laid to rest in a few hours, among family and friends, in a town he loved and which still loves him.

This post will be constantly updated as more information becomes available about today.


The neighbourhood where Heath's mother lives looks to be almost under siege, by both police and photographers - the intense privacy of Heath's family at uncomfortable odds with the media's preoccupation with their son. After all, this isn't Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, this is Applecross, Perth, and this is a normal loving and private family. A local paper said that Jake has arrived in Perth, but this is as yet unsubstantiated, and little mention of his presence has been made.



According to a report, Heath's 'parents Kim and Sally Ledger want to follow a sombre ceremony with a celebration on Cottesloe Beach in their native Perth, Australia. Childhood friend Paul Mullert tells The Australian Times newspaper Ledger was "the quintessential Australian, who loved nothing more (than) slipping on a pair of boardies and his (flip-flops) and heading to Cottesloe Beach."' Here's the beach - what a place to spend a hot summer's evening. Of course, Heath won't be there - by then he'll be buried in Karrakatta Cemetery.


Here are more details of the family's farewell this evening. Love as always to Heath's family, friends and fans, especially during the next few hours and days.

The cowboy in love now a cowboy alone

In 2006, Jake Gyllenhaal appeared on the cover of Italian Vanity Fair as part of the promotion for Brokeback Mountain. The legend on the cover calls this stunning young man a cowboy in love, a theme that is continued on Jake's new Italian Vanity Fair cover, but now that cowboy is alone. Here are both covers, as well as the beautiful picture inside the 2006 issue, here divided into two, of Ang Lee with both Jake and Heath. I know this is a favourite picture of more than one reader here, myself included.



A huge thanks to Xenia and Sonia who have done great work in translating this interview for us all - thereby throwing light on the mystery of the never ending supply of cappuccinos brought to the hotel suite where the interview took place. I hadn't realised at the time, but the feature begins with the description of Jake sitting quietly in the director's chair on the set of Brothers, staring into space, trying to take in what had happened. A whole new level is added to Jake's words, which, so often enigmatic and open to interpretation, now are poignant reminders of a friend lost.



Jake has talked about Heath before, most recently when Jake appeared on the Jonathan Ross Show, but here he describes how much he cares for him: 'Ours has been a blind date. In the movie we had to play the part of two lovers, but we had never exchanged more than a couple of words, we had no idea if we would have been fine together. But Brokeback Mountain worked because we found that “feeling”. In the story, Jack and Ennis don’t know each other, and fall in love slowly and in the same way we have slowly liked each other. And have become friends. Friends indeed: I think you can see this in the movie.' As the cover says: 'Brokeback Mountain has given me the most important experience of my career, and a friend indeed.'

As always, noone can flirt like Jake Gyllenhaal, and, right at the beginning, when the interviewer introduces herself, Jake's response is: 'mmm... Just Gorgeous.'


And finally...

Farragut North is off - as far as Jake's concerned, and as far as Mike Nichols is concerned. Now, Doug Hughes will direct the play, with performances beginning in the summer. Jake seems to have a busy year ahead of him as far as movies go and maybe there wasn't the time for this project. I would have loved to have seen Jake on the stage - and at the stage door - but the idea of 2009 full of Jake movies is a happy one.


Includes pictures from IHJ, ATC, Vanity Fair.

Jake on gaining a new perspective on the world and on life

Earlier today, I posted a quote from Jake on Fox news, in which he said: 'I don't hold it against people for wanting to know about our personal lives and reading all those magazines and what not... Our world is in a very bad place at the moment, so I think it is only appropriate that people look to other things and have an interest in all the drama and happenings of celebrity lives, and I hope that at some point I can help the public sedate and escape what's really happening in the outside world'. Now, here is a video of Jake on Fox (see spoiler alert below) discussing Rendition and the pleasure he had filming with Moroccan actors and actresses.


Before, in an interview, Jake seemed to express some ambivalence about the practice of Rendition, arguably saying that the parental state has a duty to protect its citizens who shouldn't presume to be told everything. In this interview, Jake calls rendition an 'outlet of suspicion' - something that was originally intended for extreme circumstances but has degenerated and is very wrong.


Jake also remarks that he is constantly asked about how in this film he was cast opposite Reese Witherspoon, Meryly Streep and Alan Arkin, but his scenes weren't with them. Instead, Jake insists he relished his opportunity to work with North Africans who have known what it is like when 'every day life is threatened or there's that potential and they're alive and loving.' Jake says he had a wonderful experience working with these actors who gave him a 'perspective on the world and on life, which I encourage every young person, or young American, to have.'


Spoiler alert: The video contains two clips from the film, including the infamous Pie Chart scene and a brief moment from the interrogation, which is similar to a scene in the trailer. Thanks to UV at DC for finding this video.

Farragut North indefinitely postponed?

I'm sure you remember Farragut North. The latest speculation, and it is only that, surrounding this Broadway project is that Mike Nichols will now not be directing the play and the whole production has been put on hold. Is that because Jake is too busy? He would have finished Brothers before the Autumn opening of the play next year, or is there something else lined up for Jake next year? All very intriguing and, if the play doesn't come to pass, not a little disappointing. However, if it suggests that Jake has more than one project lined up, whether it's a new Fincher movie or not, then all is good.

Jake wants to get the power back in his hands again?

Hot on the heels of Sporty Jake, we now have the promising prospect of Jake Gyllenhaal back on the stage - move over Broadway Joe, Broadway Jake is back! According to today's New York Post the play Farragut North has been taken from off-Broadway Second Stage Theatre and director James Lapine and is now in the hands of well-known stage and screen director Mike Nichols, who is all set to put the political drama on Broadway, during the Presidential campaigns of Autumn/Fall 2008, and with Jake Gyllenhaal at the helm.



This all sounds perfect but who can say at this stage whether Jake's role in this will come to fruition? - sources are few and far between and Chinese Whispers are doing their thing across the world wide web so that now it sounds as if Jake is already having costume fittings. It also makes one wonder the reason for the shift in theatre and director - with Jake on board, Broadway seems more apposite for his debut on the US stage and the whole affair becomes that bit more irresistible.


I hope you will forgive me but I got wrapped up in West End Jake yesterday evening for the post on This is Our Youth and I did some more furtling around. This is partly because there is something so appealing about the thought of London Jake, especially for me who spends so much of her time in this fine town. And now, this Jake seems closer as the prospect tantalises of Jake on another stage, in another great city. Jake received superlative reviews for his performance in This is Our Youth - one can only imagine how his presence and talent will dominate a stage now, after five years of honing his craft.


Here is one such review of the London play: 'This Is Our Youth is a wonderful discovery. Three talented young stars of the future, all of whom have already made some high profile films, give up their time to appear onstage in London, visiting the basics of their craft. For one, Jake Gyllenhaal (Warren), this is his stage debut, all the more hard to believe as he gives such an accomplished and secure performance... Tousled haired Jake Gyllenhaal is immensely likeable as he conveys Warren's tendency for a rather naïve honesty. He can only tell the truth in response to Jessica's question, "Do you want to mess around or do you want to have a serious discussion?" Gyllenhaal gives Warren all the fidgetting mannerisms of gauche youth. It is Warren who becomes more assured in the course of the play, when he is able to bite back at Dennis' put downs.'


Jake was also interviewed for the Telegraph when he was in London. I particularly like this interview just for the little glimpse it affords of Jake walking the same streets (Notting Hill in this case) that I visit every working day: 'In his spare time, he has seen several theatre matinees, and explored Notting Hill and Hampstead Heath on foot - an odd sensation for an LA native: "It's weird, using your legs for anything but pushing a gas pedal."' The photos below show Jake in London in 2003 - I believe that is Kirsten's bag in the first picture(!), taken in Notting Hill.




What is especially interesting about this interview is that in it Jake tells us why he decided to take to the stage and this may well indicate his reasons for wanted to do Farragut North next year - that's if he does, of course. This is Our Youth followed a quick succession of movies for Jake and it is possible that he views Brokeback Mountain, Jarhead, Zodiac and Rendition as another quick moving conveyor belt of film production and film publicity and he wants to step off, take a breath, before getting back on for the next block. We must hope though, that there could be one more film (at least!) between Rendition and this pause for breath.


'One reason he wanted to work in the theatre is his over-exposure to Hollywood. "There's a kind of monotone drone about life there," he reflects. "You do one film, then you're up for another." He says he has learned to see through the hyperbolic flattery that is the currency of industry conversations. And he needed a change of pace. "I did five films last year," he says, looking bemused. "It was fine, except the power is not in your hands in terms of how your performance is shaped. To be able to have some sort of say over a story was really the big thing that made me want to try theatre."'


Before I leave this interview, there is a little comment at the end, which made me feel for Jake. He is discussing The Good Girl and his co-star Jennifer Aniston: "She's great in it, and this will allow people to see Jennifer in a new way," he says. "And yes, we make out in the film. That wasn't hard at all, except for an uncomfortable, awkward sex scene." He sighs. "I don't know if it looks that way on screen." Jake then goes on to say how lucky he has been: "These days, a lot of children are forced into growing up quickly. For me, it could easily have been something else. I don't think I'll look back on my youth with too many regrets."


Final thoughts

Now briefly back to Mike Nichols and his Broadway Venture. It also looks like Nichols will be bringing another great actor to the stage, Morgan Freeman, who may star in The Country Girl. His wife may be played by Frances McDormand, whom I recall was also caught up in the Christmas fire at Manka's Inverness Lodge along with the Gyllenhaal family. Another link is that I believe Mike Nichols is married to Diane Sawyer who came over a little peculiar and light headed when she interviewed Jake as part of the Zodiac promotion in the Spring. She mentioned that Jake's SNL performance had had quite an effect on her - didn't she say that she fell out of bed? Mike Nichols may well have had a practical demonstration of the appeal of his potential leading man.


Includes pictures from IHJ.