Jake: 'You look like a nice mint chocolate chip cookie'

Buona mattina! I'm shortly off to the Eternal City which, even if it weren't for Jake and Rendition, would be an amazing thing for me and will take me back to my years as a Roman archaeologist. I'll do all I can to fight the urge, but the odd picture of a ruin may turn up. If Jake should need a guide to the forum...

I couldn't leave without sharing my delight in this new article about Jake in which the interviewer Lisa is subjected to the full onslaught of Gyllencharm, rendering her, no doubt, a Gyllenhaalic for life.

It begins endearingly: “For me, being far away from home is a learning experience,” he explains. “This was shot in North Africa, in a different country with a lot of different rules, and I felt very isolated. It was a very good thing for me. You need to ostracize yourself to learn.”


But then the attack begins...
'“You look like a nice mint chocolate chip cookie,” he suggests in reaction to the mint green blouse and a dark brown skirt I am wearing. “I do?” I ask, blushing and feeling like a 14-year-old. At my advanced age, it really does take a great actor to make me feel that way. “That’s my favorite flavor, so I’ll take that as a compliment,” I offer. ““You should – that’s my favorite flavor too,” he replies.

Now I’m totally flustered. As a mature professional, I like to think I can handle any curve ball that’s thrown my way, but Gyllenhaal is looking at me with his adorable blue eyes and incredibly long eyelashes. “Okay, where do we go from here?” I say, stalling for time while I try to recollect my next question. “Let’s just talk about ice cream,” he offers, oozing boyish charm.

Oh yes, Jake Gyllenhaal has arrived. The man has definitely arrived.'


Israeli actor Yigal Naor has received much praise for Rendition, notably from Jonathan Ross in Film 2007. It is interesting to hear Yigal speak about Jake: “It was beautiful to work with Jake... I’m double his age – I have a son his age - and what really amazed me is his kind of silence, his way of letting things go through him without pushing anything. He goes so deep into himself and has this way of searching for his truth. He’s fighting for every feeling, even the slightest glimpse of the eye. He is a great cinema actor.”


Gavin Hood talks about Rendition and Wolverine

To find out more about the film and what it was like to direct it, you may want to watch this video interview, Secrets Out, with Gavin Hood. In it, he discusses the sheer scale of filming Rendition in locations across the world and with cast and crew from every corner of the planet. He also compares Rendition with his newest and radically different project, the much anticipated Wolverine.


Zodiac Director's Cut

With all the excitement about Rendition, one shouldn't forget that the next Jake offering we'll be getting will be the Director's Cut of Zodiac, due in the American stores on January 8. Variety has pointed out that Paramount is showing its support for David Fincher by delivering the Director's Cut version to 'the Producers Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild, instead of the official release version.' This is the first time Paramount has sent out a Director's Cut. The Oscar panellists have been sent the theatrical release as that is the only one permitted.


Work must be almost complete on this new version, because David Fincher is to present it at 'a November 19 event hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Fincher will be on hand for a discussion at the Walter Reade Theater.'

Vedali! (all Italian on the site is the responsibility of Babelfish)

Includes pictures from IHJ.

Rendition - 'bring plenty of tissues and don't wear mascara'

On This Morning Alison and Jake warned all of us about to see Rendition 'bring plenty of tissues and don't wear mascara.' It may have been said in jest but, believe me, it's good advice. This isn't a review as such, and there are no spoilers, but I had to tell you that I have just returned home from a packed screening of Rendition and I've learned something.


What I've learned is, if you see a film for the first time - say, Rendition - at a Film Festival - Toronto, for example - and you're well aware that its leading man and heartthrob - oh, I don't know, let's throw the name Jake Gyllenhaal in the air - is in the audience with you... the film doesn't really go in. How is a girl to concentrate in such testing circumstances, eh? I know I was deeply affected by it and mesmerised by it and by Jake's performance - I was close to sobbing on a friend's shoulder at one point, simply because I was overcome by how grown up and sexy Gavin Hood was allowing Jake to be. I really appreciated that this was a Jake I hadn't seen before and I was proud of him and his performance shredded me.


BUT, that was not an ordinary experience, it was the culmination of a day of Bountiful Jake, on foreign shores, with dear friends, and in the company (albeit at a distance) of Jake Gyllenhaal, Gavin Hood, Reese Witherspoon, Omar Metwally, Kelly Sane, Peter Sarsgaard and others whom we have to thank for Rendition.

Tonight was altogether different - a provincial cinema on the outskirts of a town - but it was hugely special, because tonight was about the film Rendition. I know so many of you will be joining me on both sides of the pond tomorrow in seeing Rendition, and I would say nothing to spoil it, my intention here is to tell you that you are in for a treat of the highest cinematic order.


The first time I saw Rendition, my eyes and my heart were completely overwhelmed by Jake and, for that reason, I would urge you all to plan a second viewing because it will be different. I saw so much that was new this second time: the colours of Morocco were more vibrant, the music more beguiling, and I could almost smell the Hookah pipes. I appreciated the work of other fine actors: Meryl Streep was absolutely superb - every line was considered, tried for size and then expressed with perfect intention. Omar Metwally, Yigal Naor, Zineb Oukach were mesmerising and oh so complicated. Every character has two sides; nothing could be what they think. The characters played by Reese Witherspoon and Peter Sarsgaard might be existing in the cold, crisp, light blue space of Washington DC but they're lost in their own maze, having to make choices, face truths and balance huge concepts.



And then there's Jake. I have to say that I'm proud of myself for allowing the power and emotion of the storyline to distract from Jake (although there are a couple of scenes where that's simply not possible!). Even so, without doubt, however exceptional the whole cast is in Rendition, this is Jake's film and I have never seen a performance from him like it. Douglas Freeman is an observer but this isn't through choice. This is a terrible thing he's being forced to watch - he doesn't like it, it's unpleasant and it's not giving results. So what should he do about it? The struggle within Douglas is so realistically enacted by Jake, I was moved beyond words by his maturity as an actor and at the depth of feeling conveyed.


I did take Alison and Jake's advice - I took tissues and I wore no mascara. I'm glad for that because I was in tears long before the end. And I'm glad to report that the cinema was packed and appreciative. People quietly applauded and, among the comments, I heard very impressed and moved individuals praise the film. One guy reminded his friend of Jonathan Ross' review and said that JR had been impressed by the risks that Gavin had taken with the structure. The risks, the guy said, went beyond that.


These were serious moviegoers in the audience with me tonight and it was a huge success. As I left, the attendant asked me if I'd liked it. I said (and the red, puffy eyes may have been a give away) it was a great film and he should tell his friends to see it. You should, too. For all those fortunate enough to be able to see Rendition tomorrow, I hope you enjoy it and I look forward to hearing what you think.

I'm proud of you, Jake.


Pictures from IHJ.

Rendition - a tremendous piece of drama - complicated, compelling and stylish

Jonathan Ross, arguably Britain's most influential film critic, tonight delivered his opinion of Rendition in the UK's premiere film review programme, Film 2007, and it was superlative. Thanks once again to the wonderful Twisted Logic - here is the review and interview with Jake.

There are several films being released this Autumn and Winter on the War on Terror and the war in Iraq and Jonathan Ross would love them to have 'half of [Rendition's] urgency and quality'.


'It sets out to do a difficult job and does it spectacularly well'.

'Complicated issues are dealt with in a way that doesn't duck their complexity.'

A 'gripping drama'.

'The subtle, effective work of Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon suggests they're both maturing into major figures in modern American film.'


'Meryl Streep is predictably brilliant.'

Of Yigal Naor - 'I found myself knocked sideways.' This was 'one of many sources of satisfaction.'

'It's just a very complicated, compelling and stylish film - a tremendous piece of drama, which takes exciting risks with its structure and never loses sight of the big question it's raising.'


Film 2007 included a brief interview with Jake

Jake: 'It's more important that a discussion is started than that there's an opinion.'

Jake: 'Politics don't really move my heart. Movies are the opportunity to sit in the dark and explore things that you wouldn't normally explore.'

Jake: 'This has a message that I believe needs to be out there along with a human story.'

So great and so important to have this review from Film 2007 - this undoubtedly will put bums on seats. Three days to go and I for one can hardly wait.

Pictures from IHJ. This is the second post tonight - please don't forget to look at the last post for a very entertaining radio interview broadcast today in the UK.