Pure Jake - in good times and in bad times

Jake Gyllenhaal has the uncanny and mysteriously wonderful ability to turn up just when you need him - not necessarily in the flesh (a moment's silence for an appreciative thought) but often in photographs. Today, thanks to IHJ, here are outtakes from Jake's shoot for the October issue of Interview. These photographs (works of art seems a better name for them) were taken by Mark Seliger in Santa Clarita, which is just to the north west of Burbank and San Fernando, Los Angeles.

Whether in a boat, riding a bike (with or without a hazardous saddle), chopping wood or just standing around being in the business of looking beautiful, Jake is a sight for sore eyes.







Today, People published a source from the Brothers' set. Who can know for sure, but this may be a semi-official response to the calls from some quarters for Jake to give a statement regarding the loss of his friend - although why Jake is expected to make his grief public is not something I can fathom, especially considering how private Heath was. This is what People had to say:

'Heath Ledger's sudden death has been especially tough on his good friend – and Brokeback Mountain costar – Jake Gyllenhaal. The actor, who is godfather to Ledger's two-year-old daughter Matilda, has been devastated by last week's news. Says one Gyllenhaal friend, "Jake is taking this harder than most people." Nowhere is that more apparent than on the New Mexico set of Gyllenhaal's latest movie, Brothers. "This has had a strong personal effect on [Jake]," says a set source. The insider adds that Gyllenhaal left the set immediately after learning of Ledger's Jan. 22 death – but he flew back on a commercial flight to shoot an additional scene on Thursday. "He was there, but he wasn't with us. It was obviously a major trauma," says the movie source. "These guys were very close. [Jake] was sitting in the director's chair staring off into space." Gyllenhaal has been off since shooting that scene, and was photographed Saturday looking subdued with girlfriend Reese Witherspoon in Los Angeles. Set sources say director Jim Sheridan is shooting around the grieving actor during his personal leave.'


'The 27-year-old's somber mood is a sharp contrast to the happier times on the set of Brothers. During one intense early prison scene, Gyllenhaal jokingly reached into his pocket and took out a picture of his Brokeback beau to stick on the prison wall. "Like those prisoners put [loved ones] on the wall, but Jake's was Heath Ledger," one set source recalls. "That was hilarious. It was a nice moment." The source adds, "When you think back on it now, it's touching."'

True or not, the very idea of Jake messing around on set like this makes me smile, especially as it involves Heath. On another level, it makes me want to see Brothers even more, maybe something to do with the image of Jake in a bunkbed in a cell with a tattoo, talking of which:


Judging by how many people emailed me today to tell me about this article in Dissident Voice, I can see it has struck a note with many people. This is a beautifully written, personal tribute to Heath, by Gary Leupp, a Professor of History and Adjunct Professor of Comparative Religion at Tufts University, Massachusetts: 'I was not the most ardent fan; I saw only three of Ledger’s films. But I found his performance as Ennis Del Mar in the epic Brokeback Mountain — a study in quiet, lonely, dignified, protracted pain soothed intermittently by sublime moments of intimacy — was as soaring as the film’s Santaolalla soundtrack. Some criticized the film for lack of realism — the initial physical episode between Ennis and Jack was indeed implausibly executed — but the performances rang true. They stuck in your head, made you think and feel.'


In his article, the professor also respects Jake's silence, even if this does little to help us as individuals who want a leader of likemind to express our love for Heath and our feeling at some of the abusive outrages we have seen over the last week: 'Jake Gyllenhaal is reportedly filming in New Mexico. He has issued no statement so far, a conspicuous void in the posthumous closure process. One report says he is too upset about Heath’s death to talk to the media. (This is in contrast to Ledger’s family which conducted a very dignified brief interview with the press outside their Perth home within hours of his death.) He seems like such a good guy, a Buddhist seeking mindfulness, politicized, working with World Can’t Wait. I feel for him and respect his silence. On the other hand I wish he would vent his pain on behalf of all of us who at least in small quantity share it, and might derive some comfort in his thoughts.' I also believe Jake should be allowed the comfort of his silence.


Includes pictures from IHJ and Bruno Press.