Jake makes memories in Cannes, Natalie gets ready and hopes for Heath

Great today to discover, thanks to Sass, another video from that most glamorous of festivals, the Cannes International Film Festival. Thursday 17 May was an incredible day, for those walking the red carpet and for those lucky enough to be next to it. Hot, sunny, wonderful company, lots of excitement and joy, and there was Jake Gyllenhaal walking (at one point dancing) the Palais red carpet, looking like he owned it and, no doubt, making memories for himself too. Of all this year's red carpet events, this was the one where Jake looked like he was having the most fun. Watching this video is the perfect antidote to winter, so enjoy some Jake therapy here.




Talking of Zodiac, I Heart Jake has kindly posted some more pictures from the documentary on the UK edition of the Zodiac DVD. In addition, there are also new pictures from the LA premiere of a different film, Rendition. Looking at these pictures, I can appreciate why Jake shaved, that looks itchy!







Brothers gets underway

Today is the day we all start looking towards New Mexico as Brothers begins work in earnest. The film has been attracting some media attention already, not least because of its leading lady, Natalie Portman, who has featured in several interviews over the last few days (including this very interesting and lengthy feature in the Guardian last weekend, in which we find that Natalie 'socially' knows her Brothers co-stars!). Natalie told MTV 'I did [see “Brodre”], but I’m not going to study it... I think it’s a very different movie.” I like the sound of that. She also describes the basic plot: 'I play Tobey Maguire's wife. Tobey plays a Marine who is sent off to war the same week that his brother, who Jake Gyllenhaal plays, gets out of jail. So when Jake gets out of jail, he's sort of taking care of his brother's wife and kids while he's away. Obviously when he comes back, there's a problem.'


The strike by America's TV and film writers continues and is now affecting filming schedules, although not Brothers. Natalie Portman's support for a whole range of courses is well known and, some days ago, she touched on what the strike means for Brothers: 'Next to start shooting for Portman, as studios try to get projects in before the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) contract expires next spring, is a Jim Sheridan film, "Brothers," with Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal. It's based on a Susanne Bier film with a screenplay adaptation by David Benioff ("The Kite Runner," "Wolverine")... "It's tricky because obviously we all support the writers and the strike," Portman said, "but Jim's style of directing is that we improvise a lot. We're doing that and hoping that's not infringing on anything. We're not allowed to have any rewrites. Jim's in the Writers Guild, so he's obviously not doing any rewrites."'


The Gotham Awards Gala

Tonight the independent Gotham Awards is held in Brooklyn and among the contenders for the top prize is Heath Ledger's I'm Not There. Among the expected attendees is Heath's co-star from The Dark Knight, Maggie Gyllenhaal. Here's hoping that we may have a photo of the two together tonight and also that I'm Not There gets its prize. Roger Ebert, winning his battle against cancer, will also be there to accept a special tribute award.


Includes pictures from IHJ.