In less than a week, in certain fortunate parts of the world, the Director's Cut of Zodiac will be out. What was undoubtedly the film event of 2007 may now become the DVD event of 2008 according to some sites - this DVD to beat will attract new audiences to a superb film and hopefully give various awards academies a bit of a pinch and a slap. No doubt happy that the version he most wanted to see, is about to be out and is receiving rave reviews already, David Fincher is doing the interview circuit. He's coming out with some fascinating stuff - about his vision of Zodiac, his directing methods, about future project Torso and about Jake Gyllenhaal - including some talk about Rendition.
First off, Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Eleswhere - surely one of the biggest advocates of Zodiac (to the extent that David says to him that he needs no publicist if he has Wells) - had a long and very interesting chat with Fincher. And what's even better, you can hear it for yourself, nearly 50 minutes of it, here.
There is much here that's fascinating, but as this is a site about Jake Gyllenhaal, I'll focus on some of the occasions when David discussed this actor, whom he clearly has affection for even if he sounds exasperated that Jake made such a big deal about the 'Let's do it again' issue. David says, referring to John Carroll Lynch, that he can't take credit for an actor's performance, to which Wells says 'But you have to take credit for Jake Gyllenhaal's performance'. David laughs and says: 'No, I can't even take credit for that... The editorial function of putting, recontextualising a take, taking this moment where a guy sat up, and this moment when, y'know, it's take 50 and the guy's exhausted; and this moment from take three where he's excited to be there - one will use those two things in the same sentence... thats what film making's about.'
'I don't think we averaged more than 22 takes on the movie... I'm always capable of telling people what it is that I want... In the same way that directors have to have talented actors in order to be able to tell their stories, actors need directors... they need somebody to watch their every facial twitch and respond to it in some sort of... it's an editorial function.'
Wells remarks that Jake must be immensely proud and David replies: 'I hope so, I mean he said that he is and I take him at his word for it. I've never known him to be disingeneous, but I think he is, I hope he is.'
Wells then says that he found Rendition 'enormously irritating' and 'enormously unsatisfying' because Jake's character is so passive - he does nothing for so long. David says that he's seen Rendition and that it boiled down to 'a structural issue' for him. 'It was an odd movie, I liked some of it, I thought some of the conceits were interesting' but he says that he found it unfortunate that it came down to a twist. 'Knowing Jake, I can't imagine he would say 'Y'know, in this scene, I think I'll just sit here and grimace' - he's not that guy! He's the guy who goes 'Well, don't you think I would just like overpower him and try and strangle him'. I always found the latter to be true!'
In an interview with MTV, David Fincher again mentions the 'lots of takes' issue - a real legacy of Zodiac (and remember it wasn't just Jake who mentioned it, Robert Downey Jr did likewise). MTV: 'You are infamous for the number of takes you subject your actors to. That reputation must feel a little old.' Fincher: 'It's like, who gives a sh--? It's not like it costs you an extra three bucks to see the movie. I don't know why anybody cares.' This interview also reveals that David had been associated with Black Dahlia before Zodiac. A lucky escape... I do like Fincher's humour and the start of this interview especially: MTV: 'Perhaps the best compliment I can give you is that I've seen "Zodiac" four or five times now, and it's holding up with every viewing.' Fincher: 'Jesus. I don't wish that on anybody.'
You can read another interview - and listen to snippets - with David Fincher here at Aintitcool.
The accolades in praise continue to pour in from critics for Zodiac and for the DVD. I rather liked this one. FilmStew have listed its favourite top ten scenes of 2007 and a scene from Zodiac is in second place (bearing in mind that a scene from Ratatouille is no 1): 'Dueling Belief Systems, Zodiac: The opening of David Fincher’s serial killer epic, which portrays the titular phantom’s nocturnal attack on a pair of teen lovers with bone-chilling intensity, is the stuff of nightmares. But the film’s most vital scene gets at the root of what makes us able to sleep at night. Cartoonist-turned-haggard-sleuth Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), after feverishly piecing together an elaborate string of clues, drags cop Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) out of bed and into an all-night diner, where he tries to convince the inspector of a suspect’s definite guilt. Toschi isn’t convinced, pointing to a lack of empirical evidence. The pull between faith and reason demonstrated here makes Zodiac a genuinely profound study not just of the different ways people rationalize evil, but also of the different ways we make sense of the world.'
Reviews of the Director's Cut DVD can be found here and at IGN. The latter gives a fascinating discussion, including this interesting assessment of Jake: 'Gyllenhaal's boy-next-door looks do a great job conveying Graysmith's inexperience first as a reporter, then a detective. He's one of the few young actors who seems to know how to use his looks to his character's advantage rather than just his own.'
Finally, IndieWire polled its critics and Zodiac was given the No 8 slot: 'Who knew the director of kinetic disturbances like "Seven" and "Fight Club" was capable of such profound restraint? In the unshakably haunting "Zodiac," David Fincher subdues that trademark visual virtuosity honed through years of making music videos to devastating effect. Aided by the beautiful, textured digital cinematography of Harris Savides, the director's stylistic shifting of gears imparts his period piece a perfectly suited atmosphere of dread. Tracking the ultimately stymied, decades-long search for the eponymous murderer, "Zodiac" exhilaratingly frustrates the impulses latent in its composite construction of serial killer/backstage newsroom/police procedural genres at every turn. In place of action-packed set pieces, it leaves room for existential contemplation, and real-life letdown replaces cathartic takedown: "Zodiac" upends "Dirty Harry" mythology, and turns the psychological profile of the studio epic on its head. The successive defeat of the three perfectly cast potential heroes -- the newspaper cartoonist (Jake Gyllenhaal), journalist (Robert Downey, Jr.), and chief investigator (Mark Ruffalo) -- unravels in a manner that shocks even if you know the string of murders remain among the most famous of unsolved crimes. There's no one to save the day here, and Fincher, in sticking closely to the facts, and refusing to provide the audience either cheap thrills or closure, creates as breathtakingly uncompromised a vision as American cinema has seen.'
Great stuff! I can hardly wait...
And, finally...
New pictures of Jake emerged of him having lunch yesterday in Joan's on Third in LA. Here's the link. I tend to think people should be able to eat inside an eaterie in peace, therefore I've left it so that people can look at the photos if they wish. Also, I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to Jake's cardigan...
Includes pictures from IHJ and Just Jared.
38 comments:
Hey! Great post (i sound ike a broken record... and you did this to me :P)
don't know if you've covered this already, or if you're not sick of Fincher's interviews yet, he did one with ainitcool website about the director's cut of Zodiac, rather technica discussion, very interesting though.
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35179
thanks for all the Zodiac goodies!
Hey Winterbird! I love the sound of your broken record ;) But.... your link's in the post! I didn't name it, it's a 'here' link. It's a good interview. I love Zodiac and it's the perfect antidote to the Brokeback Blues of the last coupla nights.
I'm very much looking foward to OBSESSING about Zodiac. This will occupy my January until Renditon and Lust, Caution come out in February.
Will say that in my initial viewing of Zodiac I was disappointed in the script (all else quite stunning) and felt the abiding presence of Robert Greysmith was not helpful.
Assume the woman with long dark hair is the p.a. we have seen alot. Wish she had a name!
Winterbird - I amended the post so the link is clearer, they deserve it as it's a really interesting read :D
Hi Pia! I have to say that I was captivated from the very first scene of Zodiac and had to go back to see it a second time on the same day. But above all I think I love the look of it.
The brunette isn't the usual Bafta/Cannes/TIFF lady, but we've certainly seen her before, and recently at the same cafe with Jake.
You really have issues with Jake's knitwear don't you? :D I think they would be nice to snuggle up to. Roaring fire, soft furry rug, glass of something red, Jake in his cardigan. Then Jake out of his cardigan....it all works for me!
Hey Rubes - you speak truth here with this - I love the idea of snuggling up with Jake, by a fire with the red stuff, OUT of his cardigan ;) I want to see the return of the blue jumper with the toggle! I wonder how many cardigans Jake has got - can it be coincidence that we see this one so soon after a birthday and Christmas? I love the idea of Jake on a soft, furry rug...
Haha... now i saw that link! Oops. :) actually I've only read the interview, I didn't listen to it.
The problem is these days Amazon US has super slow delivery service to the UK, I don't know what happened, i ordered 3 books in late November, and I still haven't seen them! :( I think I might try to order Zodiac DVD from independent sellers and hopefully they will be quicker. I can't wait for the speical features and Jake's commentary :)
Hey Winterbird - Amazon are so slow - I've ordered Zodiac from Playusa.com as last time I got it before it even arrived in the US stores. But I bet Christmas is gonna slow them down. (No postage either!)
I do like the sound of David's voice btw...
WDW - is the Director's cut due to be released in the UK do you know? I may have to order from PlayUSA myself if not. Or if not soon anyway.
Ruby - although it's getting reviews in the UK I can see no sign of a UK release so you're gonna have to take youself down to Playusa :D Good price and no postage. Interestingly, Playusa have no record of Rendition coming out, which is weird...
I LOVE the cardigan! Do you think I need counselling?!!
What I DO need (but can't afford at the mo-curses!) is a multi-region DVD player/recorder because I'm dying to see that "Director's Cut" of "Zodiac".
If I hear that Jake and RDJ have done a joint commentary on it and I can't listen to it I may have something of a tantrum!
Thanks for the recommendation, WDW! Just placed the order from PlayUSA, quite easy ordering process too, £16.99 including postage!
Hey Knitwear fetishist Nadine - er, I don't know how to say this but.... RDJ and Jake have done a commentary together. BUT, the good news is, multiregional DVD players are sooo cheap - GET ONE!! How can you not have one? You can get them for about £30.
You like that cardigan? Have you seen the collar? Have you seen the buttons? Why can't Jake wear one of his lovely hoodies...? Maybe he's wearing the cardie as a bet?
Hey Winterbird - let me know when you get your's (Playusa, if you're reading this, can I have a discount?). Amazon US take forever, at least Playusa stock comes from Jersey.
I feel like a TV commercial in these comments - it makes me want to do shoptv - on the Jake Channel :D
Hey WDW! Thanks for this post:) I'm still lost up on Brokeback somewhere atm, so I'm not really feeling the Zodiac stuff atm, but I'm definitely keeping it safe for a later date. I do think Zodiac is an excellent film, I just don't watch it very often, for reasons I've gone into before. But I'm definitely getting the Directors Cut (thanks for the playusa tip, btw). Oh, Nadine, apparently there are some magic words you can say to your DVD to turn it multi region - ask WDW for my email (if WDW doesn't mind of course:) if you want to know more;))
I had to quote this line about Jake "know how to use his looks to his character's advantage rather than just his own." cos it's SO true, and totally the case for me with Jake as Graysmith. It takes some talent to make Jake look unattractive to me!
Hi TL! I know you're on the Mountain still and that's a good place to be - I needed to get off it for a while although, having said that, I may pop back briefly this evening. And I'm very happy to play matchmaker with you and Nadine if she should wish!
I do love that line - it was almost the title of the post, but it was too long. But I found the older Graysmith completely fanciable. G'night *)
Just read TL's offer! Hey,thanks TL!
If you wouldn't mind playing match-maker,WDW,I'd love you to send me TL's e-mail address so we can talk Multi-region DVD players and who knows what else?! What's your stance on Jake and cardigans,Tl...or balaclava's,or tank tops...? ;-)
Hey Jake-In-Knitwear-Fetishist-Nadine - I'll email you TL's address so you can be techno.
Please don't mention Jake's name in the same sentence as tanktops...
Hey Nadine! Just got your email (thanks WDW!), so I'll email you back later:)
Please don't mention Jake's name in the same sentence as tanktops...
Lol! Is it alright to mention "tank tops" as in the top bit of a tank - cos I'd hate to never be able to mention that scene from Jarhead with Jake lying there reading Julius Caesar - with neither a cardigan or a tank top, or any other totally unecessary item of clothing to cover up that tight, fit, gorgeous,hairy chest...*drool* Er, so there's your answer, neither cardigans OR tanktops on Jake for me, thanks;) A balaclava, otoh, could be sexy in a bad boy kind of way. I can picture Brothers Jake in a balaclava;)
I've got no objection to looking at Jake sitting on a piece of metal hardware such as a tank TL! But no balaclavas please - I want to see that face :D I can see we're talking about Jake's chest hair again - and, indeed, why not?! Maybe tonight will be a good one for dreams... Off to bed with me, g'night *)
Phew! that'a relief, about the tank;D
I see what you mean about not wanting Jake's face covered up (I've said the same myself about him playing a Superhero), but I can just imagine being pushed against a wall a la BBM Reunion Kiss by a balaclava clad Brothers Jake, in the dark, and just seeing those blue eyes shining through the eye holes...Er, time for me to hit the hay now, I think. But Jim Sheridan, if you're reading...;)
Jim need look no further than here for tips on how to make the perfect Jake movie :D That's some image TL - blue eyes and the neck tattoo :D
Ha...WDW..you know how much I adore Jakey's cardigan...thanks for feeding my addiction!! But..it appears this cardigan is brown vice grey...or is that just the coloring of the photos? Sorry..I just cannot help myself...heh heh heh!! More cardigan..less scruff please. Oh yeah..thanks for the Zodiac stuff too...LOL!! I am eagerly awaiting the day I can buy it...you are the best...thanks for keeping us up with Jake...
Michele
Hey, wdd, do you know a piece of news about Torso movie?
A couple of months ago I heard Jake was attached to this movie.
I remember Jake got a fake tatoo in his arm and looked like being written this word.
Do you remember this?
Great Zodiac post, WDW. Interesting words from Fincher regarding the "how many takes" debate. Seems there's some conflict between him and Jake. But they seem ok now so that's all that matters. Play.com is a great place to buy stuff, had no idea there was a US version. Ordered my Zodiac DVD from amazon and hope to get it next week. I know Nadine may have solved her multi-region DVD situation out but I managed to change mine, quite easily, from a region 2 to a multi-region, with a couple of presses of a button on my remote.
It's getting harder and harder for me to read this blog since Jake is my main interest. Is there a way that movie/director info could be set apart? Maybe any Jake related bits could be in bold if they're embedded into things that aren't directly about Jake himself?
Sorry if this offends, just thought I'd speak up as I've had a hard time reading through the pieces I'm not personally interested in to be occasionally rewared with a Jake nugget.
Morning everyone :D The snow didn't come...
Hey Michele and you know it was you I was thinking of when I saw that cardie :D The colour of this woollie does nothing to enhance its charms for me! I'm loving the short hair...
Hi Anon - I remember it all well, the hoohah over the 'tattoo' in 2006 and the resurgance of the rumour not that long ago. I did a post about it here: http://wetdarkandwild.blogspot.com/2007/10/jake-to-work-with-fincher-again-jake.html
Morning Christie! It does seem that there was some kind of a misunderstanding, with David suggesting that Jake had wanted to attend the Globes. James Schamus (producer of BBM) said in an interview once that Jake couldn't attend due to his 7 day weeks working on Zodiac and he suggested that the Globes had snubbed Jake - he amazingly didn't receive a nomination although almost every other element of BBM did.
I can see why Jake would have wanted to go - this was a huge night for BBM if not for himself. These events don't happen often and films like BBM don't come along very often.
But as you say, this seems like water underthe bridge now and all the evidence now suggests that David and Jake have a fond friendship. Very interesting to read all this now that we're some time removed from the film itslf.
Hi Anon - I'm afraid that I will never be able to distinguish Jake from his movies and from the great people he has worked with. I'm fascinated by the processes that are shaping Jake as an actor and that are creating such incredible films. That is my prime motivation. You get the news here too but sometimes there just isn't any - which is fine by me as I want Jake making more movies! Don't worry, you haven't offended :D I'm sorry if this isn't the site for you but hopefully you'll find some posts you enjoy.
Great news is that Playusa have come up trumps again and I had an email last night saying Zodiac's in the post! Already!
G'morning lovelies! Hope nobody is froze in place. It happens.
Zodiac DVD promised by Amazon by the fourteenth, prob will be earlier. Can we do a Myers-Briggs typology on the cast and director of Zodiac?
Yhanks for linking rather than publishing the latest Jake pics, WDW - can we do a Myers-Briggs on the grey cardigan?
I figure we'll have the entire Brothers script done for our own enjoyment, way befeore 2009.
Hmmm, I feel sorta froze in place myself this morn - into the shower!
p.s. delighted to have all the Zodiac info.
Lucky you WDW! Msy the mail fly posthaste.
I'm loving the short hair...
*big grin* Could you say that a little louder, I can't quite hear you!
I better get on and order my Zodiac.....
Morning Pia - I'm sure there'a place for grey cardies, but not on Jake's bod, that's for sure ;) I think the script of Brothers is coming on nicely, now that we all have our supporting roles sorted out.
Hey Ruby! I do, I like th hair! I know I like it all Renditiony and Baftary but I do like this grown up, big broad Jake with the scruff and the short hair. Just lose the woolly, OK?
You mean you haven't ordered it yet? - what are you thinking of!
It's done. :D
Phew!
I am reading between the lines here, I don't have the whole pic, but is this for real??? I can change my Region 2 DVD into a multi-region DVD player?!! Instead of hinting at how it's done, would you be so kind as to explain how to do that here, so I can give it a go? TIA *holds breath*
Hi Anon - it's different for each DVD player but many of them can be converted by pressing a code on your remote control. What you need to do is google your make of DVD and see what it suggests. It doesn't work for all though. Have a go :)
Afternoon WDW:)
Catching up is fun:) I can't wait until Tuesday to get my Zodiac. I'm going to listen to Robert and Jake's commentary first. Later I will try and bribe my family into watching it with me.
I must add that I love Jake in his cardigans; he's so adorable when he's wearing them. I think I've seen his dad wearing them too:)
Zodiac's continual rankings in the top five to top 10 lists of all critics, has forced the studio to make a play for an Oscar nomination.
And it's all good.
All our cumulative lists for 2007 lists have Zodiac as a top five or a top ten film of 2007.
YES!
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