Jake Gyllenhaal on the Red Cross PSA - Get ready for Mini Jakes

Jake Gyllenhaal didn't appear on the Telethon last night - along with a few others who had been named in the original list - and a couple of Twitters have placed him in San Francisco last night. Nevertheless, there is a quick, fleeting and very gorgeous glimpse of Jake in the Red Cross PSA for Haiti, which likewise didn't appear on Oprah as advertised, but is now around for us to see.


It does make one wonder where this information comes from in the first place. Rather coincidentally, as I write this post, I am watching a repeat of the telethon on the UK's TMF Channel that I just found while heading to the weather forecast.



Get ready for Mini Jakes

We've been told about the lego and now we have some images of the other Jake Prince of Persia toys that we will soon be manipulating into all sorts of positions, courtesy of McFarlane. Here we have Desert and Warrior Dastan, armed and ready for action.




It was a good thing indeed to see Brothers with friends today. Many thanks to Ruby, Anouska and Winterbird for their excellent company. I can wholeheartedly recommend the Tommy Margarita.

Films may be 'airy fairy' but Jake Gyllenhaal is 'lovely' says PoPpess Gemma

The Princess of Persia Gemma Arterton this week took to the West End boards with The Little Dog Laughed at the Garrick. Gemma is undoubtedly enjoying her return to the stage but there is one thing missing. I'll give you a clue: he has big blue eyes with a twinkle in them, he's hot and he's handy round the kitchen.


'“I really love coming back to the stage,” [Gemma] told us at the after-show bash in the Trafalgar Hotel’s Rockwell Bar. “It is a much more rounded experience to working in films, which can be quite airy fairy, although working with Jake Gyllenhaal was great. He is lovely!”' He most certainly is. He can build tables as well. But Gemma is in Jake territory there because the Garrick was home to Jake's own debut on the stage.


Talking of young Jake, a video has emerged from Jake's appearance in A Dangerous Woman, taunting Debra Winger while riding a bike (if he'd been texting at the same time he'd have been more like the youth round here). Released in 1993, A Dangerous Woman was a family effort. Written by Naomi and directed by Stephen and also featuring Maggie. But it also is a gift as it captures a step on the way while demonstrating that Jake has been plagued by bad haircuts in movies for longer than I'd thought... And right at the end there are a few seconds from an interview at that most pleasant of film festivals, Maui.



At the end of it, the interviewer, flower in her hair, grabs a hold of Jake's shoulder, encased in white t-shirt, and calls him 'A busy guy that I have to let go of'. It doesn't look to me like she's trying very hard.


Another old video has also re-emerged this week. Filmed on the set of October Sky, here we can see Jake at the other end of his teens. He is charm itself. And smart. As the real Homer Hickam declares at the end.



Telethon night in the States and Brothers opening night in the UK and a night to remember Heath Ledger wherever we are. So lots of emotions. In the UK, the Hope for Haiti telethon is on overnight on MTV and YouTube (in the US I don't think there'll be much trouble finding it). The time difference will make it hard to watch in the UK, especially if you don't have cable, but please donate here.

Jim Sheridan on Jake Gyllenhaal: 'he's a sweetheart'

Tomorrow, Brothers is finally released in the UK. It's taken quite a bit over two years to make it, but at last it's here. Not surprisingly for this film, its arrival has been low-key, with even some of the cinemas, just a few days ago, not quite certain if it was coming or not. Then one cinema chain advertised the title with the wrong film, just to make it that little bit harder for potential audiences. Reviews have been all over the place with their verdict but the majority agree that Jake Gyllenhaal, in the words of Film 2010 host and critic Jonathan Ross, is 'outstanding'.


Film 2010 included new interviews with Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman but none with Jake. And, disappointingly, the Guardian's film blogger (and possible successor to Ross on Film 2010) Jason Solomon discussed Natalie and Tobey with Jim Sheridan in his weekly podcast, but not Jake. This is despite the fact that Jason has on more than occasion shown himself to be quite the Gyllenhaalic - I remember BAFTAS 2006.


Nevertheless, in a new interview with Digital Spy, Jim Sheridan did have just a little to say about his star Jake: 'Q: You've previously said that Jake Gyllenhaal drove you mad at points - did you find a way to cope with each other in the end? JS: "Yes, I think we both realised we'd always be fighting to be the centre of attention - two mammie's boys it's called on the set! But he's a sweetheart and after I'd got used to him I adored him. He's easy to work with."'

Natalie Portman has also been telling the Mirror that on occasion, when tensions rose between Jake and Tobey, she was the mediator on set.


However, despite the UK release of Brothers tomorrow, Jake and a host of stars has other business to attend to, helping to raise funds for Haiti in George Clooney's Telethon. Jake was also one of those who filmed a Red Cross commercial for the appeal on Saturday and that will air on tomorrow's Oprah.


And finally...

As we all remember, Jake Gyllenhaal got a well-celebrated mention in a recent episode of House. Last night, it was the turn of Ugly Betty.


Pictures thanks to IHJ.