Jake Gyllenhaal continues filming Prisoners and is another cowboy role on the cards?

At the risk of interfering with serious chocolate ingestion and snow shovelling, I thought I'd take this holiday opportunity to a) bemoan the lack of Jake Gyllenhaal sightings and b) post the little information that we have about what Jake's been up to over the last few days. Filming continues on Prisoners in Georgia. Ironically, the best report we have had from the set is when the cameras moved indoors away from the hubbub of the streets. When Prisoners moved into his home, the owner kindly posted some information on it as well as some photos.

     

 Jake has, however, had a break from filming. He was spotted last Sunday in Frankies in NYC. After the small world coincidence of recording the audiobook for The Great Gatsby, to complement the movie starring friends Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan, there is another coincidence brewing on the sidelines. There are reports that Jake is among the actors being considered to star in Jane Got a Gun in which another friend and co-star of Jake's - Natalie Portman. This western features Natalie as a woman on the run from her nasty husband. Originally, that role was to have gone to Jude Law but now that he's dropped out it could go to Jake - or to Tobey. Yet again, Hollywood seems to think that these two actors are interchangeable, especially in movies starring Natalie Portman.

 Wouldn't it be good to see Jake wearing a cowboy hat again?

 

Jake Gyllenhaal flies out of LA again...

It appears as if LA was a flying visit, literally. Yesterday (4 December), Jake Gyllenhaal was seen at the Bop Hope Airport in Burbank wearing his new favourite trousers. Please note how I'm not mentioning that the trousers need pulling our from behind the shoes.

There's something else I'm not mentioning...

Many thanks to IHJ for the lovely new pics!

Jim Sheridan's Brothers - a look at how Hollywood adapts national identity

After all the excitement of the last few days, with more than its fair show of gun showdowns, gritty worms and rampaging torrents, it makes a rather pleasant interlude to sit back in comfort this evening and read an indepth article that takes us back to those days of Brothers. This edition of Film International looks at what Jim Sheridan did with the Danish original by Susanne Bier to 'Hollywoodise' its treatment of family issues and the war in Afghanistan. Above all, it looks at how nationalism is shifted when two very different countries adapt the same story. Of coursem this is confused somewhat because Sheridan is from Ireland, the old world. Along the way of course, there is Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman.

Many thanks to BBMISwear for the scans.

Jake Gyllenhaal on the coming together of 'incredible' Duncan Jones' and the 'crazy guy who did Donnie Darko' - and much, much more

Source Code has a doublespread in the March issue of Total Film. It includes a brief interview with Jake Gyllenhaal in which he shows yet again how eager he was to work with Duncan Jones, a director hailed as one of the most promising of his generation. When Jake is asked if he's a fan of Duncan Jones' debut film, Moon, Jake replies: 'Yes, I was a huge fan. That was what made me want to work with him. He rightfully holds the badge of one of Britain's new talents, because he is incredible.'


Did Jake get a grip on the plot when he first read the script? 'It's a hard one to explain. Ultimately the story is about a soldier who wakes up in somebody else's body, and has to relive eight minutes on this train over and over and over again, until he solves a problem that's going on.'

'So this is you in Jarhead mode? Jake: 'I'm more the person in that body than I am the soldier. But the personality of the soldier is there. The point of view of the audience is my point of view, as I see myself. But ultimately the other people on this train, and in this scenario, don't see me this way.'


More of a head-spin than Donnie Darko? 'It sort of it! But ultimately, it answers a couple more questions than Donnie Darko did. I think Donnie Darko posed more questions than it answered. And this poses questions and answers them. And also, there's this sort of hum to most of Duncan's work so far, and it carries this incessant hum that really gets into your brain after a while. And he really puts his touch on it. Duncan mixed with the crazy guy who did Donnie Darko!'

Here is what Duncan himself has to say: 'It has been a seismic shift on how I would normally work, but I think I have adjusted... Source Code is very different than Moon.. It's quite a bit different from a lot of films, to be honest, and I hope that when we are ready to show people, the patience will pay off.'


Cary Grant

Natalie Portman is continuing to pick up every award going, almost, for her compelling performance as Nina in Black Swan. Last night she picked up a SAG award and used the red carpet to repay Jake for his Palm Springs compliment, when he described Natalie as the Audrey Hepburn of her generation. Natalie told Access Hollywood: 'Well, he’s the Cary Grant of our generation. He’s so charismatic, and so dapper and smart. He’s wonderful.' You can see the interview in the right hand corner at the end of that link.


Talking of red carpets, a stylist for Kansas City has named Jake as someone to follow: 'If you like to take your style cues from celebrities, she recommends Jake Gyllenhaal — “he’s down-to-earth, athletic but knows how to get dressed up and put it together” — and Jessica Alba. “She’s eclectic, and she’ll play around with anything. I think Jennifer Aniston is always an icon, too.”' I know these pictures below aren't very red carpetty but I didn't want to leave out some of the new pictures from Jake and Atticus' walk on 29 January (thanks IHJ!)



Making more than fluff

I'm still catching up on Love and Other Drugs publicity and here are three video interviews from Australia. In the first one, in response to being teased as usual by his co-star Anne Hathaway, Jake describes the responsibility of being not only an actor but a movie star. 'I feel a responsibility, I definitely do, I think somewhere to make movies that I think are not just fluff and I feel a responsibility to make movies where I was brought up, to entertain and also to say something that I think I believe in and have some balls to be honest. Your work is your voice and so I consider whatever it is that I have to be an opportunity to say something.'

This draws a great response from Anne: 'A conscientious movie star, but a movie star nonetheless.'


The second video includes a discussion by Jake of what Anne brought to the role while at the end of this video, Jake is interviewed on the Sydney red carpet and admits that when it comes to partying, the Australians are hard to beat! Thanks to BBMISwear for the heads up!

And finally...

Many thanks to Eureka from sending in this photograph of a sign for Love and Other Drugs from a theatre in Madrid. But this is no ordinary poster. As befitting a very old cinema, this poster is hand painted and beautiful. One hopes films don't swap over too often.


Includes pictures from IHJ, Eureka and scans by WDW.

Source Code begins its screenings, Jake Gyllenhaal's 'roasting' in full and on 'The Fighter's Couch'

Source Code has started its screenings. It's early days but it's great to hear one of the first comments about the film from someone who was lucky enough to see it today: 'In some ways, this film is this year's Inception'. If so, then that would be right on so many levels.


We're now lucky enough to have Jake Gyllenhaal's presentation speech in its entirety from Palm Springs on 8 January. The sound comes and goes but it's good enough to get the feel of Jake's raucous speech and the 'rowdy' crowd. Jake was definitely in the party mood... As Natalie said later, 'He threatened that he was going to be roasting me'.



There are more highlights in these two videos below, including a lovely hug between Javier Bardem and Natalie Portman. I do apologise for the inclusion of Mark Wahlberg in the second...




Talking of Wahlberg, he features in this amusing account in The Wrap of the Festival after party at the Parker Palm Springs Hotel. 'Early arrivers David O. Russell, Amy Adams and Mark Wahlberg planted a flag on what became “The Fighter Couch." The trio held court in the open-to-the-public hotel lobby, choosing this space over the official party. Sitting with their reps and friends, nearly all the non-industry attendees missed them while rushing by to get to the official party’s “check-in” in the backyard...'


'After swapping a tux for a sweater to go more low-profile, Jake Gyllenhaal perched up on the back of the “Fighter Couch,” traded Blackberry info with Amy Adams, and went on on one with Wahlberg before a sparkly dressed local interrupted the two and unknowingly asked Wahlberg to shoot a photo of her with Gyllenhaal. “There’s a lot more qualified people here to handle a camera,” Wahlberg quipped.'

[This picture from the Blame It video was the most 'Jake on a couch at a party' picture that I could find - just imagine Ron Howard is David O Russell...]

And finally...

A shout out to Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard whose off-Broadway production of Chekhov's Three Sisters begins tomorrow. More details here.



Includes pictures from IHJ and links.

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.

Jake Gyllenhaal presents Natalie Portman with her Desert Palm: 'She is elegant, graceful, has amazing eyebrows...'

Last night, Jake Gyllenhaal was back on a red carpet, this time at the 22nd Palm Springs International Film Festival where, at a glitzy Cartier gala, he presented Natalie Portman with her Desert Palm Achievement Award. 'She is elegant, graceful, has amazing eyebrows, is talented, really short, funny, smart, dedicated, incredibly kind and Jewish.'


Jake apologised to the audience for having lost a button off his jacket 'But apparently Mary Hart [the MC] isn’t wearing any underwear.'


The LA Times reported: 'And a tie-less and expletive-dropping Jake Gyllenhaal said of Portman, “She has recently announced that she is gonna have a baby, who will probably need therapy after watching ‘Black Swan.’"'


While hopefully a video of the speech itself will showup, at the moment we have a brief interview with Jake on the red carpet. The interviewer doesn't get many points for his questions...



There is also a brief glimpse of Jake here:



Many thanks to IHJ for some wonderful pictures from last night! Here are just a sample of some of my favourites, there are many more there.






I was delighted to see a picture of Jake with another of his Brothers co-stars Carey Mulligan.


I'm sure that more details will follow...

Jake Gyllenhaal to present Natalie Portman with a Desert Palm tonight and Jake's interest in the Great Wall of China journey

[Update] Jake's name has been removed from the cast of New Year's Eve (again...).

Tonight the Palm Springs International Film Festival begins with a gala, during which Jake Gyllenhaal will present friend and co-star Natalie Portman with a Desert Palm Achievement Award. If you live in that timezone (or simply cannot sleep) you can watch livestreaming of the red carpet here. Other recipients of awards tonight include, I'm delighted to say, Carey Mulligan, Colin Firth, Danny Boyle and David O'Russell. David Fincher will be presenting his entire Social Network cast with the Ensemble Award.


So while we wait for new pictures of Jake tonight, looking all lovely and gorgeous on the red carpet in the desert, there's time to take a closer look at Jake's Jumper at LAX yesterday.


Back in August, we reported here (in what has become known as my 'Ugly Fish' post) that 'Bicycle adventurer Kevin Foster, while signing books this week, suggested that a movie of his cycle ride along the Great Wall of China may be about to become a reality and Jake Gyllenhaal is a possible for the role (with Kathy Bates as the mother).'


Today there was an update in which it sounds as if Jake and his management are indeed interested in this role which, you may well agree, would suit Jake all the way down to his cycling socks. 'A screenplay has been completed and the Chinese government has tentatively offered $25 million to partially finance the film. That's roughly half the movie's budget, Foster said. The trick now is to fill out the rest of the proposed budget, choose a lead actor and start filming as early as 2012, Foster said... The key to the project is to find the right actor to star in the film, Foster said.'


'The targeted actor? Jake Gyllenhaal, star of "Brokeback Mountain" and other critically acclaimed films in recent years, is Foster's favorite. "It's a great fit," Foster said. "Jake is 30, my age when I rode on the Great Wall." Gyllenhaal's management company has taken an interest in the story and passed it on to the actor, who is interested in the project, Foster said. The Gyllenhaal possibility will put traction behind the idea, Holland said.' I can certainly see that this is just the type of film that would interest Jake and so this could be one to watch.


Includes pictures from IHJ.

My review (with spoilers) of 127 Hours is now up at MovieBrit.

Jake Gyllenhaal parties, Source Code's first showing and Peter Sarsgaard to go (possibly) to Comic-Con

On Martha's Vineyard, in the summer, non-famous people are so few and far between, they stand out as a bit of a curiosity. Every summer the island sinks a few inches further into the Atlantic Ocean, such is the weight of the influx of arty, movie, music types. At the same time, as the Exodus empties Beverly Hills, one can wander through the deserted streets of Hollywood, tumbleweed blowing past one's ears, vultures circling overhead. Should you be fortunate enough to be on MV at this golden time of year, it is more than likely that you will be outnumbered by the famous, who will mill round you, excited to hear what life is like for this outnumbered breed of non-famous.


Last Friday, there was an account on Facebook that 'Mitchell enjoyed dining with the stars (tho not dancing with them) Friday at the home of Tamara Weiss of Midnight Farm on Martha's Vineyard. Name dropping--impossible to resist...Tamara's husband cooked for Mitchell and Carly Simon, Jake Gyllenhall, Jim Belushi, Amy Brennerman (Private Practice/Judging Amy), Busy Phill...ipps (Cougartown), and NY restaurateur Keith McNally (Pulino's, Balthazar, Minetta Tavern...)...'


It's great to see Jake spending more time with fellow godparent for Matilda Busy Philipps. I wonder how these parties go when the stars turn up - do they get introduced, I wonder, or are people expected to know who everyone is and what they do? What is MV Star etiquette? Do you learn it or are you just born with knowledge of it? I will also admit to thinking that 'Cougartown' was another place on MV, like Edgartown. Sounded like an interesting place.


Source Code

Source Code is coming together! A Jake Gyllenhaal director who tweets is to be reasured and Duncan Jones has been doing a great job of keeping us up to date with developments to Source Code. Admittedly, Duncan's about as good as most other people in knowing how to spell Jake's name, but he had this to say on 19 July: 'Just finishing the edit. it's called Source Code, and Jake Gyllenhall is in it! Should be fun!'


On 14 July there was a significant and triumphant tweet: 'Finally got a chance to show a cut of Source Code to a small audience last night... saw a woman in front of me jump in her seat! Victory!' This means one of three things: a) Duncan gave her a tickle; b) the audience was very short; c) SC was bloody good and full of surprises. I believe that Duncan will be at Comic-Con in San Diego this week but not because of SC, but as a visitor.


Comic-Con

One other person who may well be at Comic-Con this week in San Diego is our very own Peter Sarsgaard. Peter, of course, plays the baddie (Hector Hammond) with the very big head in the Green Lantern starring Ryan Reynolds. Tim Robbins plays his father. Peter is expected to be in San Diego, as is another of Jake's co-stars Natalie Portman, who will be publicising Thor. More details here and here. This will be a fun event to follow.


Many thanks to IHJ for some wonderful new old stills and on set photos from that most amazing of Jake movies, Zodiac. They illustrate the post tonight.