Jake - I am constantly aware of the environment

A double post today because tomorrow I have a date with tens of thousands of people at Wembley Stadium, London. At the risk of being rained on for ten hours solid - although now they say the sun may shine on us after all, despite it being Ladies Day at Wimbledon - I'm going to be within telescope range of the Live Earth bonanza. A few eco-friendly movie stars are going to host parts of the event in London, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck and Cameron Diaz, although - alas - one particular movie star will be absent and missed.



MTV UK released a brief video in which Al Gore discusses this opportunity to fight the 'money in pollution' and there, adding his piece, is Jake Gyllenhaal. Unfortunately, I know that this video cannot be seen outside the UK. As meagre compensation, I can assure you that Jake's interview - filmed in Cannes - is fleeting, comprising only one sentence. This is what Jake said and the pictures in this post show what he looked like saying it.



"I am constantly aware of the environment, on a simple level of letting my food cool before I put it in the refrigerator, to making sure that my lights are off when I leave my house."



So if anyone here should catch any of the London Live Earth show tomorrow on TV - or if you're there yourself - I'm in about row 1,500... give or take a few score.

Jake at the polls on National Kissing Day

Apparently, today is National Kissing Day - I don't know if that's a celebratory day across the world or whether it just applies to the lucky people of the UK - but, whichever it is, I hope everyone here puckers up for the one they love - or like a lot. To mark the day, the satellite channel Sky Movies Comedy has released the results of its survey of 1000 film-goers, a survey that was designed to discover the Best Screen Kiss.


The Director of Sky Movies, Ian Lewis, commented that 'From this list, it seems that what makes a truly memorable kissing scene is an element of the unexpected or the unusual, that sticks in the memory long after most of the rest of the film might be forgotten.' This may be true of the majority of films featured on the list, but not of one in particular because, there at number 10, is the kiss between Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain.


The other kisses include the winning smooch between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in From Here to Eternity, the number 2 kiss between the Lady and the Tramp, the number 6 strange, upside down (and very unsexy in my opinion) kiss between Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst in Spider-Man, and the disturbing 'kiss of death' between brothers Al Pacino and John Cazale in Godfather II. One thing I did note was that at least four of the top 10 kisses involved water.


Jake is featured in two other current polls, and these require our action. Firstly, and most immediately, Jake is featured in this week's vote for Most Attractive Man in Hello magazine. If he wins this week's vote he will then be included in the monthly vote, which, I fear, many of us will remember from last year which involved quite a tussle with Jon Bon Jovi of all people. You can only vote every 15 minutes but if you do you will help Jake fend off the likes of Prince Harry (surely too young for the poll but currently at number 2), Batman, Matthew McConaughey (surely too old for the poll but currently at number 4), our very own Heath Ledger and last and definitely least Jesse Metcalfe.


Finally, the nominations for Fox's Teen Choice Awards have been announced. To vote in this requires patience and being a teenager. However, as we are all teenagers here, this shouldn't be a problem. Incredibly, Jake has not been included in the Choice Male Hottie poll - even though Orlando Bloom, Zac Efron and somebody called 'T.I.' are. Instead, Jake is nominated in one of the other 699 categories: Choice Movie Actor: Horror/thriller. Here, Jake must compete with Josh Duhamel, Jim Carrey, Ryan Gosling and Shia LaBeouf. The results will be aired on Fox on Sunday 26 August.


So stop what you're doing and do your duty.

Includes pictures from IHJ.

Jake celebrates 4 July in Martha's Vineyard (probably)

A quick update for now - I'll be back later today - but I couldn't let this pass. It looks like Jake Gyllenhaal, as we probably all suspected, is in Martha's Vineyard where he may be participating, to whatever level of enthusiasm, in the whirl of MV high society. As a Brit, this whole MV social scene is a bit of a mystery and reminds me of my appreciation for Jane Austen novels.



A MV blog reports on the goings on at MV's famous July 4 party: "Just because some of these people are actors and actresses, does not mean I can't tell what they really mean - Jake Gyllenhaal, for example, who was there chilling, I can read him like a book! But, deep down inside, i think he wishes he wasn't there either, as his mother tows him around showing him off to all the people he missed seeing last summer. He's been around our circle of friends even before his 1991 role in City Slickers, we've all watched him and his sister grow into well-known and respected actors."



Please note that, if nothing else, this post allows me to revisit some of my favourite pictures from last year - September in/on/at Martha's Vineyard - courtesy of IHJ.

Jake on Jack - let's take a risk but I can't do it alone

I had a Brokeback moment today - I was listening to my MP3 player on random and on came Wings from Brokeback's perfect soundtrack by Gustavo Santaolalla. It had been a while since I last heard it and it was as fresh and as moving as the first time it flooded over me.


So I'm using that as an excuse to revisit another old interview with Jake Gyllenhaal from this special period. In December 2005, Jake stared out with stunning blue eyes from the cover of Bent magazine. Inside, Jake focused on his working relationship with Heath Ledger and reflected on how 'emotionally tied' he had become to Jack Twist. "The way Ang described Jack, and the way it's been written, is he's more open to his emotions - and to a relationship. Ennis is more withdrawn. Jack, to me, tries really hard to hold on to the one thing that he knows is real in his life - his love for Ennis. Somewhere in him he has enough courage to say, 'let's try this. Let's take this risk, but I need you to take it with me. I can't do it alone.' There comes a time, I think, in every relationship, where you have to say, 'Are you gonna make this sacrifice or not? And if you're not, then I'm gonna find somebody else who is maybe more willing.' "


As for Jake's intimate scenes with Heath: "Heath and I trusted each other enough to take risks. It was wonderful creating an intimacy with him. He made me feel comfortable; he made me want to be present, and that's the best thing you can ask for from someone you're acting with... The question of identity, whether it's sexual or whatever, is what makes this movie so powerful. My own struggle with who I am, and who I am to other people, is hopefully interlaced with this character."


Along the way in this interview, we also learn that, in addition to learning 'how to do the cowboy things', Jake spent time with a voice coach, learning how to age and deepen his voice in three stages throughout the film. But finally: " What really tears me apart is, Ennis and Jack are two people who actually found love. If you have love, you should hold on to it."


I have so many bits and piecs of 'Jake things', and a recent addition is this peculiar picture of the Jack and Ennis doppelgangers. I can't remember which magazine it came from (Heat I think), unfortunately, and I don't know if they come with extra shirts. Those are some fine curls on Ennis' head....


Includes pictures from IHJ.

Jake out and about, just like us

It's been a while since we saw Jake Gyllenhaal - is he on a beach somewhere? In rehearsals or important meetings? Could he be learning lines even? But while we sit and wait for Jake to show up again, as he will, and wonder whether that will be with new sunglasses, new Nike or a shaven face, IHJ has pulled a rabbit out of the hat and given us some new old pictures which include these photographs that have caught my imagination, not least because I am probably not the only person here to have done exactly the same thing today!


I don't know why it is, but I love to see pictures of Jake doing something outside the world of Hollywood and movie promotion, that belongs instead in our world of the mundane. It just shows, every so often, if you look up while engaged in the most normal of everyday activities, you might just spot a familiar face at the cashpoint. Oh yes, and these were also taken in London (in March 2004) - another bonus.



Among the other new old photos are further pictures from 2004, which show Jake as the ever attentive boyfriend, carefully protecting his pale girl from the harsh LA rays, and photographs of a tired but cheerful Jake from May last year having lunch with his father Stephen in West Hollywood.





Finally, I'm unable to ignore these photographs of Jake arriving back at LAX in January this year. I think Jake is beautiful here. He looks tired, having just filmed SNL in NYC (the night before I believe), but he has 'Rendition Hair', albeit covered with another of Jake's strange gardening or landscaping caps.



Pictures from IHJ.

Reese - but no Jake - on the set of Rendition

I'm afraid that Jake Gyllenhaal is nowhere to be seen, but I wanted to post some of these 'new' pictures from Rendition, which show Reese Witherspoon in the latter stages of pregnancy kicking a ball around, as well as an image of Reese from the movie carrying the baby. The film is only three months away now, the trailer has been seen at special closed previews - the chances are that, if you go and see a Rated movie in the next few weeks, you may be treated to the trailer yourself! I hope that it isn't just a wishful dream that it won't be long before pictures of Jake on set are also released.







Thanks to a very special friend for alerting me to these photos, which are from the Glamour Reese Witherspoon Gallery.

Jake and Abby Singer - Sometimes dreams are all you got

Zodiac is out on DVD (in the US) in just over three weeks but guess what? That's not the only DVD release coming out on July 24 that features Jake Gyllenhaal. Also on that day is released the DVD of Abby Singer The Movie, which contains a cameo of Jake filmed in 2003 at the Independent Spirit Awards. The more you read about this film, the more incredible it sounds.



The producers/main actors essentially spent two years seeking out cameos using, by the sound of it, all manner of clever disguises. In 2002, for instance, disguised as volunteers they sneaked into the Sundance Film Festival and, in 2003, got into the Golden Globes After Party and a number of other exclusive parties. Jake and Jill Hennessey were willing victims from the 2003 Independent Spirit Awards held in Santa Monica, where Jake's films The Good Girl and Lovely & Amazing were both successful (Maggie was nominated as best actress for Secretary). The location explains why Jake shouts out 'Just have some independent spirit!' I'd been wondering why...


The Abby Singer story is all about chasing your dream, as is the story of its creation. The main character Curtis Clemins (played by producer Clint Palmer) has to decide between the love of his life and following his dream. Having been brought to an all time low at the Sundance Film Festival, Curtis rounds up an old friend to help him pick up the pieces. To find out more, here is the official trailer of Abby Singer The Movie.


In this short video of outtakes from Abby Singer, we can see Jake taking this cameo role as seriously as any other, asking if he should play it natural, not as if they were at the awards, and whether he should take his jacket off. You can't help but wish this DVD release all the best for its success. I also just want to say that I love the music!


Includes photographs from Abby Singer the Movie 2007 Blog.