After the last few days of End of Watch excitement, Jake Gyllenhaal was back in LA yesterday to do something he does so well - dragging poor old Atticus up a steep hill. Jake, Atticus, a friend and a dog that quite possibly has the longest tongue in the dog world went for a hike in Runyon Canyon, which (speaking from personal experience) is not something to be done lightly, except if you're being carried, towed or driven. This also gave Jake the opportunity to get another of his LAPD t-shirts sweaty.
IHJ has published some more pictures of Jake and Anna Kendrick with some added information. It appears that the photos were in fact taken on 1 September and not this Monday. They show cast and crew at a petro/gas station in California, possibly on the way to the Las Vegas shoot. Whatever the date, I love these pictures and so it's great to be able to post a couple more.
Atticus is back! Yesterday, everyone's favourite floppy-eared pooch took his master Jake Gyllenhaal and his friend and fellow actor Rashida Jones out for lunch at Cafe Gratitude in LA. Unfortunately, for Atticus, the pavement outside with a waterbowl was the closest that he got to the actual nosh.
However, the event did give Atticus the chance to indulge in one of his favourite pastimes: flirting.
Many thanks to IHJ for the pics. There are lots more there.
Not wanting to be left out of the End of Watch exercise regime, everyone's favourite floppy-eared dog Atticus took Jake Gyllenhaal and friends out for a hike in LA's Runyon Canyon on 14 May. Speaking from personal experience, I can vouch that the Canyon is excellent for dogwalking and is also well known for runners carrying rocks.
And finally...
My report from the Pirates of the Caribbean 4 press conference and premiere is now up on Blogomatic3000. My review of the film is also up there.
Hot on the heels of the news that Jake Gyllenhaal may be helping Bear Grylls to construct shelters out of lemur dung and baobab twigs while devouring wriggling snakes on Man vs Wild, comes pictures of Jake taking Atticus for a run today (4 March). Several things to note here - a) Jake is not afraid to stand out (in fact I've seen duller lights on airport runways); b) Atticus needs to do a few more circuits. Please note how I'm not mentioning how scary the sunglasses are.
Nailed
As we mentioned here a few days ago, Nailed had a test screening this week. While this is indeed good news for the hope it brings that there is an initiative to finish and release this film at last, the screening has been getting some negative press. This is largely because the film was unfinished and there was a rough and ready quality to some of the scenes. The fact that some people sound surprised by this has come as a surprise to me.
The lucky audience had to sign the official secrets act but some things have reached us. Quite a full account has been given to the Playlist but again this stresses the unfinished state of the film. Not surprisingly, this means the film is not polished. However, I have also heard from other sources that I can't reveal that the film was hilarious, Jake was great in it and that the audience was told that the film will be finished and it will be released this year. Little steps.
Source Code has a doublespread in the March issue of Total Film. It includes a brief interview with Jake Gyllenhaal in which he shows yet again how eager he was to work with Duncan Jones, a director hailed as one of the most promising of his generation. When Jake is asked if he's a fan of Duncan Jones' debut film, Moon, Jake replies: 'Yes, I was a huge fan. That was what made me want to work with him. He rightfully holds the badge of one of Britain's new talents, because he is incredible.'
Did Jake get a grip on the plot when he first read the script? 'It's a hard one to explain. Ultimately the story is about a soldier who wakes up in somebody else's body, and has to relive eight minutes on this train over and over and over again, until he solves a problem that's going on.'
'So this is you in Jarhead mode? Jake: 'I'm more the person in that body than I am the soldier. But the personality of the soldier is there. The point of view of the audience is my point of view, as I see myself. But ultimately the other people on this train, and in this scenario, don't see me this way.'
More of a head-spin than Donnie Darko? 'It sort of it! But ultimately, it answers a couple more questions than Donnie Darko did. I think Donnie Darko posed more questions than it answered. And this poses questions and answers them. And also, there's this sort of hum to most of Duncan's work so far, and it carries this incessant hum that really gets into your brain after a while. And he really puts his touch on it. Duncan mixed with the crazy guy who did Donnie Darko!'
Here is what Duncan himself has to say: 'It has been a seismic shift on how I would normally work, but I think I have adjusted... Source Code is very different than Moon.. It's quite a bit different from a lot of films, to be honest, and I hope that when we are ready to show people, the patience will pay off.'
Cary Grant
Natalie Portman is continuing to pick up every award going, almost, for her compelling performance as Nina in Black Swan. Last night she picked up a SAG award and used the red carpet to repay Jake for his Palm Springs compliment, when he described Natalie as the Audrey Hepburn of her generation. Natalie told Access Hollywood: 'Well, he’s the Cary Grant of our generation. He’s so charismatic, and so dapper and smart. He’s wonderful.' You can see the interview in the right hand corner at the end of that link.
Talking of red carpets, a stylist for Kansas City has named Jake as someone to follow: 'If you like to take your style cues from celebrities, she recommends Jake Gyllenhaal — “he’s down-to-earth, athletic but knows how to get dressed up and put it together” — and Jessica Alba. “She’s eclectic, and she’ll play around with anything. I think Jennifer Aniston is always an icon, too.”' I know these pictures below aren't very red carpetty but I didn't want to leave out some of the new pictures from Jake and Atticus' walk on 29 January (thanks IHJ!)
Making more than fluff
I'm still catching up on Love and Other Drugs publicity and here are three video interviews from Australia. In the first one, in response to being teased as usual by his co-star Anne Hathaway, Jake describes the responsibility of being not only an actor but a movie star. 'I feel a responsibility, I definitely do, I think somewhere to make movies that I think are not just fluff and I feel a responsibility to make movies where I was brought up, to entertain and also to say something that I think I believe in and have some balls to be honest. Your work is your voice and so I consider whatever it is that I have to be an opportunity to say something.'
This draws a great response from Anne: 'A conscientious movie star, but a movie star nonetheless.'
The second video includes a discussion by Jake of what Anne brought to the role while at the end of this video, Jake is interviewed on the Sydney red carpet and admits that when it comes to partying, the Australians are hard to beat! Thanks to BBMISwear for the heads up!
And finally...
Many thanks to Eureka from sending in this photograph of a sign for Love and Other Drugs from a theatre in Madrid. But this is no ordinary poster. As befitting a very old cinema, this poster is hand painted and beautiful. One hopes films don't swap over too often.
Includes pictures from IHJ, Eureka and scans by WDW.
Whenever I see Jake Gyllenhaal with a new haircut, I can't help hoping that it might be a blue flag, waving in an imminent new role. And when it's paired with a shave, then I don't just see one flag, it's a veritable display of bunting. But, that said, it's very nice to see Atticus out for a walk with a mate yesterday (29 January) in Beverly Hills. Luckily for us, they decided to take their owners with them.
Several things to note here in addition to the gorgeous new haircut (reminiscent of the Source Code look perhaps?): a) LA is having to endure another hot, sunny January, poor sods; and b) the Nike is back where it belongs.
The day before (28 January), Jake was back at everyone's favourite Medical Center, putting in some extra hours. Another hint perhaps of things a-happening? Or have I just eaten too many soft-centred chocolates?
And while we're talking new pictures - here are some more images of Jake at the Globes, where it looks like he was sitting at quite a table. I remember CZJ when she was knee-high to a grasshopper back there on Home Farm with Ma and Pa Larkin...
Many thanks to IHJ for the lovely new pictures! There are lots more there.
These days it seems like movies are made anywhere but Los Angeles. Which may be a nusiance for movie stars because that's where many of them live. But, take a film out of a studio set, and it makes for all sorts of exciting adventures for fans (as we've seen on WDW more than once over the last few years) while also giving Jake Gyllenhaal a deep insight into tagines and fish 'n' chips. For a long shoot, hotels won't do. Stars want to feel more at home and that often means being given someone else's home.
In this article, a real estate agent from Pittsburgh talks about how they go about creating a home from home for the stars who visit the city, including Jake Gyllenhaal who filmed Love and Other Drugs in Pittsburgh last year.
And while some stars may want luxuriant splendour, access to main roads and airports, Jake is somewhat different: '"He wanted to be where he could walk around, be close to stores," she said. "He wanted to be where he could go to Whole Foods." Ms. Neiman found a private home in Shadyside -- she lives close by and volunteered to walk his dog every day -- but the homeowner got cold feet about relocating. So Mr. Gyllenhaal ended up staying in a vacant unit at the Beechwood Commons townhouse development in Squirrel Hill.'
'Vacant unit' conjures up images of Jake having to sleep on a mattress on the floor of a bare apartment with paint still drying on the walls, while Atticus could run and play on a square piece of newly-seeded grass with tree saplings in cages every few feet.
Obviously, next time Jake is filming in Oxford I would be more than happy to let him and Atticus have full use of my flat. We may not have a Whole Foods but we do have a Tesco and a coffee shop. I'd have to spend some time explaining how to operate the washing machine and the microwave is dysfunctional but apart from that it'd be ideal. However, it may be better if Jake moves into my neighbour's flat instead.
And finally...
So far it's been a hot summer for many of us in the Northern Hemisphere (although admittedly it's a little more sporadic over here in southern England), which means that we can empathise with those hot medieval Persian warriors and Hassansins having to do battle and fight wrongs and do wrongs in very high temperatures. I think that the Hassansins must have had a particularly hard time due to all those elaborate head wrappings and studs. And then there's the ostrich that had to wear a woolly hat.
In one of Jake's Prince of Persia interviews, Jake had some fine advice when asked what's the best way to keep cool in the desert (you may want to get a notebook and pen ready): 'Water, water, water!' And wear lots of layers (although if the layers include padded jackets and goretex, this might not be so effective).
'I learned a great trick: like the Berber I wore a lot of layers - and I wasn't as hot as the people who ran around in shorts and T-shirts!' Not as hot? I will beg to differ with Jake on that one...
To continue the clothes talk: 'As a boy I dreamed of slipping into the shoes of Indiana Jones and Robin Hood.' I'm trying to imagine Robin Hood wearing shoes and not little felt boots with feathers at the top.
'A couple of my crazy stunts did happen, which were incorporated into the film. I was very proud - until I was hanging upside down two hours later on a wire.'
'I was in the gym every day for months before we started filming. Later, I trained to do the stunts and fights in particular. That was like a boot camp. I really went to my limits!'
More on those poor innocent ostriches: 'They are really nasty! They can kill you with their beaks, and, because they're so huge, they can trample you easily. In one scene, I stumble into a race and ! was pursued by eight animals. No kidding: I ran because I literally ran for my life.' More here.
So, we end on another handy tip from Jake: If you want to run fast you can do worse than be chased by 8 ostriches.
** Update: Prince of Persia overtakes SATC2 at the holiday box office! **
Thanks to the photographic team of USA Today we have proof of that fine age-old adage: 'Nothing sets off a brick wall quite like Jake Gyllenhaal'. Photographer Robert Hanashiro describes the background to the fabulous photo of Jake that adorned the front page of the newspaper last week. When faced with the option of taking photos of Jake in the basement of the El Capitan theatre against an Alice in Wonderland backdrop, Hanshiro took the risky decision to move to a brick alley. The results are stunning. You can read all about it here.
Pictures from USA Today.
We've seen the cast of Prince of Persia take the Gyllenhaal Spelling test - and largely fail. Today the cast has a go at the PoP Movie Quiz. It is spoilery so you may want to wait until you've seen the fim but otherwise enjoy seeing how bad Jake is. Not that the others are much better, mind you. When asked how many times Dastan and Tamina kiss in the film, Sir Ben Kingsley slips into character and asks would Nizam care? Possibly not.
I must thank those who have been sending me interviews and features from all corners of the globe for Prince of Persia. Many thanks to Linda for this scan from the Mexican TabascoHOY. You can read the article here.
A feature from Brazil (with thanks to Monica) contains a lovely snippet about Jake's set companion Atticus, who is truly a Hollywwod dog. Please excuse my poor translation: 'The interview with Jake Gyllenhaal was amazing. The guy is a family man. The actor spoke of his father (Stephen) and his actress sister (Maggie) more than the movie. He said he loves to cook, goes to the market to select ingredients for the dishes. He has a dog that accompanies him to film sets. On the set, the dog, very playful, has learned the codes and he makes no sound when you hear 'Shoot', coming back to life at 'Cut', when he runs into the scene to try to knock over the good guy from Brokeback Mountain.'
In a German interview with Gala.de, Jake confirms that Atticus is his companion on set. He also says that cookbooks fill his bookshelves and they are his obsession. [Well, I've got lego and a veritable Prince of Persia library on mine...] Jake says that 'If I'm in a strange city, I ask first when the market days are.' This seems like a good point to tell Jake that Oxford's market is on a Wednesday.
'I like to cook, grow my own vegetables and it's nice to sit comfortably with friends at a table and chat. I am a good listener.' Jake also owns up to his Martha Plimpton crush. Jake admits that he was never so proud in his life as when Maggie was nominated for an Oscar and he sat in the audience. He also says that the ring he is often seen wearing these days says 'Carpe Diem' or 'Seize the Day'. 'This is my life motto.'
Intriguingly, this interview begins with a suggestion that the keys were lost for this interview at the Dorchester and Jake had to break in, ala Dastan. My German is too rusty and so updated to add a translation from my good German friend Uli (no doubt still celebrating Germany's Eurovision win on Saturday...): 'In the posh London hotel, The Dorchester, Jake breaks open the door to the interview room - much to the horror of the staff - because the key is missing and then, during the "Gala"-Interview, made his cool Princeof Persia-Barbie [ie, action figure] climb over glasses and through the flowers on the table.' Thanks Uli!
There is another fine interview from DigitalDVD in Germany. Jake talks again about how proud he was of making his first big jump onset and that he took a photo of himself afterwards. Jake says here that he's thinking of making it his screensaver. [Something else Jake and I have in common!]
Jake's favourite scene in the movie is one of mine for sure: 'The fight scene with Asoka. Asoka followed me on a horse. He has a spear in his hand and he gallops behind me while I run before him and he comes closer and closer. I run into a small tunnel, I jump high at the end, then up the wall and get him out of the saddle. The Parkour here is very smart and cool.' [Again, my rusty German.]
Jake also suggests that he may have been a bit hasty in running away from the ostriches... and gives some interesting detail about his costume. 'From the beginning, Jerry Bruckheimer said that this character must be a real person, and must not be a cartoon. I worked with our costume designer Penny Rose for how Dastan's clothes should look. Behind every piece of clothing lies a story that is not necessarily told in the film, but I know it. At the beginning of the film I wear this one jacket. If you look closely, you can see some things that hang down on this jacket. We came to the conclusion that these were pieces of hair from women that he had courted earlier, perhaps, and later Dastan had attached them to his jacket.'
'I love Morocco, I've shot two films there. Overall, I have spent four to five months in Morocco, I traveled everywhere - Marrakech, Erfoud and Ouarzazate. The Moroccans are lovable, generous and full of life. The country has a wonderful culture and an extraordinary history... I've eaten a lot of tagine. I love this stew. Just great, in fact I have eaten nothing else. And so I stayed in shape. Do you want to know my secret of how to stay fit? it's the tagine diet.' There is much more to read so do take a look.
But may the last word rest today with Sir Ben who is again insisting that Dastan has a northwest London accent. '"We [Jake and Sir Ben] discovered each other while filming, and that's one of the delightful things about what we do," says Kingsley. "No day's the same. No film's the same. No cast is the same... His accent is impeccable," Kingsley notes of the Los Angeles native. "I can tell you what street in Northwest London that boy comes from. I can tell you what school he went to. It's a very accurate accent."' I lived in NW London for years (NW3 to be precise) and I can honestly say it definitely wasn't my street.
The Independent reports today on Prince of Persia's success across international box offices this weekend, beating SATC2 soundly into second place, and good to read that PoP opened top in another country today, Australia!
