Jake Gyllenhaal greets 2012 and the lost Jonathan Ross interview emerges

At last, we have our first sightings of Jake Gyllenhaal in 2012 and it's clear that he has not been taking any of my suggestions for New Year Resolutions seriously at all. This is clearly going to be one of those hairy years that we will look back upon in future times and recall with incredulity how long the beard got by the end of December 2012. Firstly, Jake was spotted in Venice, LA, on New Years Day, having found the only cafe open in the entire northern hemisphere. Trust Jake to sniff it out. Like many of the rest of us on New Years Day, Jake had adopted the big sunglasses look but they were also accompanied by a lovely big smile (despite the possible ticket). And... The Trousers...

Jake may have seen in the new year still attached to his beloved Green Trousers but maybe he wore them a day too long and they fell apart at the seams and had to be binned. When Jake was seen again, this time on 4 January, the Trousers were gone and replaced by jeans. Please note how I'm not mentioning that the trouser leg is still tucked into the shoe. Many thanks to IHJ for ending the GyllenDrought with a Double Whammy! There are lots more there. Thanks to T for the link to the ticket article.

The lost interview!

I could hardly believe my eyes yesterday when a WDW reader very kindly posted a link to a video on YouTube which presents the long lost appearance of Jake on the Friday Night with Jonathan Ross show which aired in March 2004. I never expected to see this. I am so pleased I can. Many thanks to the poster.



I may never think of Elliott Gould in the same way again...

How Gwyneth Paltrow domesticated the 'gorgeous and hilarious' Jake Gyllenhaal... (it involves spandex)

Jake Gyllenhaal's movies are awash with glorious, heated chemistry. For me there is a great exception proving the rule. It will come as no surprise to you that, in my opinion, this is Proof and the (lack of) chemistry with Gwyneth Paltrow. I wrote a post on it almost two years ago to the day. It seems that some ghosts were laid to rest, at least publicly - although privately things may have been settled a long time ago - at the Elle Tribute to Hollywood Women on Monday night.


Jake generously and warmly introduced Gwynnie as follows: '"Bottom line, she is not a mere mortal like the rest of us," the actor, 29, said in his introduction. "She is an Internet-savvy, award-winning, lifestyle guru, making all of us look lazy. She doesn’t just find a nice guy to settle down with -- she marries a rock star and then domesticates him. She doesn’t just cook -- she goes to Spain with Mario Batali and then domesticates him! She is not just a lifestyle guru, but she invents a whole new fitness movement and then convinces me to try it, and I do it, and I am, therefore, domesticated ... sweating my ass off in spandex, which is humbling and embarrassing."


'When Paltrow, 38, took the stage, she said she didn't have a speech because, "I kind of wanted to speak from my heart." And she was more candid than ever. See more pics from ELLE's Women in Hollywood event. "Jake is gorgeous and hilarious and when we worked together in Proof, I was pregnant and I was a f****** nightmare hormonal mess, but we managed to stay friends through it anyways," she said.


'Since Proof, she said, "I had my kids and everything really changed for me, so I feel so honored that you are honoring me because I feel like I have shifted focus so much. "I have this really great guy [Coldplay's Chris Martin], and these two great kids, and I feel like that was all a process of getting me to where I am. I am a woman in Hollywood and I am a mother in Hollywood and I come from a woman in Hollywood, my mother Blythe," she concluded. "I think that she did such a good job teaching me how to be a woman in Hollywood, teaching me god values, and I hope to pass that on to my kids." Source.


There are some videos from the event here and they include little moments of Jake.



There is another video here.

I had a relatively close encounter with Gwyneth a couple of years ago - if you can call sitting in the second row of the Jonathan Ross show during her and Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man special a close encounter. RDJ charmed me far more even though Gwynnie had a go at drinking a pint of stout. She claimed she didn't watch movies just documentaries. You can read the full account of mine and Ruby's serendipitous adventure here.


And finally...

It looks like Jake Gyllenhaal is definitely back for business as a tweeter from MTV movies this evening mentions that he will be interviewing Jake and Ed Zwick tomorrow. You could send along some questions!

And even more finally...

The WDW GyllenForum Pub opened for business last night. This very informal and small forum aims to continue all those conversations that we always seem to cut off every time Jake heads out to another restaurant. So, if you're in the mood for a chat with some like-minded Jakers, pull up a chair.


Many thanks to IHJ for the pics!

WDW meets Jake Gyllenhaal - and swallow, don't chew... Jake and that pickled onion

Time to hang up the banners, wave the flags, and blow those bugles! Special post tonight and I'm not talking goalposts. A little over a month ago, you might recall that I spent an incredible day at the Westfield Shopping Centre in London and I didn't even set foot in a single shop (except for Smiths... and the Disney Shop...). 9 May was Prince of Persia world premiere day and Jake Gyllenhaal came to town. And this happened. Yes, that's Jake and me!


And more than that, there's a video of it. And it's all thanks to friends at HeyUGuys (an award winning UK movie blog that I urge you to follow) who recorded it and sent it along to me today, with a note that this might make my day. And it did. Please excuse my jumping up and down in the video - I'm usually very sedate. It's the Jake Factor.



Jake also has a strange effect on physics because I realise now Jake squeezed my right arm and not my left. And what felt like a couple of minutes is just a few seconds but Jake made me feel very special for those seconds. If you also watch the end of the video there's some extraordinary tongue action...



While we're talking about 9 May, here are some leaflets I picked up from the concierge desk.



We all remember Jake cooking the iPad on Jonathan Ross that week and we all heard about the Pickled Onion Eating Competition - behaviour that takes place nightly in pubs up and down Blighty. Now we can catch a look.



I am at least grateful that when I met Jake Gyllenhaal I didn't have a pickled onion in my gob.

And finally...

On 24 May, Jake popped by one of his favourite charities, New Eyes for the Needy. Read the full story here and more on Jake and his eyes here tomorrow. 'Clelia Biamonti, Board President of New Eyes: “Jake has agreed to chair the newly formed Advisory Committee for New Eyes. We are lucky and happy to have Jake on our side– encouraging us and believing in the work we do!”'


Thanks Dave!

Prince of Persia Saturday - the Jake Gyllenhaal Guide to Brit cuisine

Last night, Jake Gyllenhaal not only tried his hand at some more Brit speak (something to do with stilton) on Late Night with Jonathan Ross, he also showed he was a dab hand at that fine British tradition: student cooking - ie, rustling up something disgusting from the leftovers in the fridge. With a lovely bit of iPad to add seasoning. It all tasted better than that pickled onion.



More JR clips to come.

And as dessert, here are a couple more clips from Prince of Persia, including some with my feathery creatures.





Also a glimpse from yesterday's press conference.



A new post will be later this afternoon with details of the live streaming of the Prince of Persia live chat this evening and the premiere on Sunday - all of which you can watch live on WDW, thanks to the official Prince of Persia site.

Back into the Big Smoke! Catch you all later!

PoP Friday: Jake Gyllenhaal on the TV - ET and JR

Short, sharp, snappy posting! I know that's not what WDW is known for - never say one word if 140 will do - but that is the way forward as we race through Prince of Persia country this weekend. Jake Gyllenhaal and the PoP crew were featured on ET last night and, with thanks to IHJ, we can all enjoy it today. Apparently, there will be a report from London on the show on Monday.



Tonight, of course, Jake is appearing on Late Night With Jonathan Ross (10.35pm, BBC1) and it seems he doesn't just talk about PoP, there is also some discussion about a certain Viagra salesman we will be meeting later in the year. Jake also provides some reassurance...

Jake 'loses it' - while we try and keep up with him

Now that Jake's back in the US, presumably in NYC and hopefully having enjoyed a long lie in this Sunday morning before a week of talk shows, it's time to take a deep breath and catch up.


'Jake Gyllenhaal loses it on British TV'

I did find it very amusing to see that the BBC themselves had posted a video on YouTube of Jake getting inspiration for his swim back across the pond by remembering Jonathan Ross' dodgy Unforgiven joke, the one for the history books. Also good to see that the BBC were not the first to get the clip up, having been beaten by our very own Twisted Logic.

It seems that the link doesn't work for everyone - I don't know what the BBC did to protect the clip - so for those for whom it doesn't work, try this.

Jake's interview on the UK's Sky News

It may have been a flying - or swimming - visit, but no doubt it was crammed full of interviews and press, which will come to light through Rendition week. One such interview was with Andrew Wilson for Sky News. Looking very relaxed, Jake discusses why the film Rendition should be seen and argues that the fact that it shows that the practice of rendition goes on is reason enough. 'I pride myself as an American that we have due process. We have the ability to speak our minds, that we have the ability to be who we are - and we get criticised for it - but be honest about it. And that that's something that makes us - and the potential to be extraordinary people. I think by taking these things away, I think we're doing almost exactly what we fear so much.'


Yet again, Jake repeats that he chose to do the movie because of the line 'This is my first torture' - that he 'looked forward to saying it the whole time.' I'm starting to almost believe this was the reason Jake chose to take on the role, in which case, praise be to Kelley Sane the gorgeous scriptwriter for including it!


Other new American interviews recorded on the day of the LA press junket have shown up on YouTube including an interveiw on Entertainment Studios, kindly posted for us all to enjoy by Cherita. The other video is an interview with 'Gino' of WISN. Big thanks are due to Stephanie for her efforts to upload everything to I Heart Jake, so that we can all share in Rendition week, regardless of which side of the pond we find ourselves.


Peter's view of Rendition

With all the excitement surrounding Jake, we shouldn't forget Peter Sarsgaard's role in Rendition, not least because it is a fine performance. His character faces his own dilemmas and also has to make life-changing decisions, just as Douglas must. This is what Peter told ABC News: 'It's not really only about rendition, in my mind. It's also about this struggle that we're going through as a country, where we're trying to balance personal freedoms with the safety of our society. And it is a balancing act, but I think this is a case of us having gone way too far.'


There are other ways to be a superhero

A few days ago, an article appeared in which Jake showed that he has once and for all put all thought of superheroes behind him, albeit it possibly reluctantly. This makes it extremely unlikely that we will ever see Jake as a Wonder Twin with Maggie in the Justice League - however appealing it may be to have seen Spandex Jake transform into ice objects and weather patterns. This picture below is as close to Jake as a spider-man that I can find..


“I have definitely wanted to play superheroes in the past,” Gyllenhaal confessed, revealing that he’s sat through more than a few casting calls. “I’ve definitely been into [playing a comic-book character] but, for one reason or another, it hasn’t ever worked out.” ...- and now he’s at the point where he’d rather play a real-life superman. “I think what I’ve resigned myself to is [thinking about] the world we live in,” he explained. “I think of how a character, in reality, is like a superhero - rather than actually being a superhero.”... “I’d love to play a really cool character like Jason Bourne,” he gushed. “Not necessarily a superhero, but definitely a cool character that does great, fun [real-world] action.”


Speaking for myself, I hope indeed that one day we may see Jake dominating the big screen as an action hero - not one modelled on the incredible Jason Bourne - but as a character that Jake can make unique and his own.


Includes pictures from IHJ.

Jake's flying visit, new Jonathan Ross videos and Ellen looks forward

Thanks yet again to Twisted Logic who's been working hard all day on last night's TV appearances by Jake, here are two more videos. The first shows clips from the Green Room of Jake's (and Jools Holland's) reactions to Jonathan's flirtations with Katie (Jordan) Price and Peter Andre. I think Jake may have been rather surprised with what Jonathan's allowed to get away with on the BBC!



The other video clip comes from the BBC1 10pm News, which used Rendition as an entry into a discussion of the extraordinary practice itself. It is a very unusual - and extremely invaluable - opportunity for an actor to profile his film on this stage.


And he's off...

Now that's what I call quick. Barely 24 hours after arriving at Heathrow, Jake Gyllenhaal leaves London for the next stage of Rendition Week - the New York chat show circuit. However speedy, we loved to have you on our shores, Jake, and now we're all looking forward to the next few days and the release of Rendition at the end of the week. I'm not so sure what the scarf is for, unless Jake is feeling a little delicate through very understandable tiredness - a very warm day for us in London today.






And finally...

One of the most eagerly anticipated appearances Jake will make next week is on the Ellen DeGeneres show. It seems Ellen is looking forward to it too (although, as we know from Jake's words at the LA premiere, the show has already been recorded):

"Interview Magazine calls him the hottest bachelor in America. JAKE GYLLENHAAL joins me to talk about his new, ripped from the headlines, movie, "Rendition." Jake stalked me on my last birthday, I'll see what plans he has for me this year. He also says that he can cook a whole meal in two and a half minutes. I'll put him to the test. Then, car jumper CHRIS BRYANT is back. I've been working the phones to help make him a superstar. We'll see if I've made any progress. Plus, I'm going "walking in Burbank" with Grammy Award winner MARC COHN. He's going to sing, "Live Out The String" from his new CD, "Join The Parade." I will be sure to ask him how his marriage to Elizabeth Vargas is going and about his near-death experience when he got shot in the head during an attempted carjacking."


Includes pictures from IHJ.

Video - Jake Gyllenhaal on Jonathan Ross (Part 2 now added)

Huge thanks to Twisted Logic for her dedication to the cause of Gyllenhaalism - here is Part 1 of Tonight with Jonathan Ross.

Now edited to say here's Part 2! Thanks TL - time for a nap...

Jake on Jonathan Ross - initial impressions

I think this was an uncomfortable interview - possibly because Jonathan kicked it off by focusing on Brokeback Mountain which, clearly, Jonathan considers an important film, but Jake didn't need to see that scene where they left the mountain again - he said he's seen it 'a million times'. Jake was clearly disappointed to have been introduced with that clip again - he referred to it again later on.


The Four Poofs and a Piano wore Jake t-shirts as expected and sand Jake the Peg (?) - the old Rolf Harris song about the character called Jake with three legs.

Jonathan asked Jake how he could reconcile his flying with caring for the evironment, and so Jake persistently said through the interview that he swam across the ocean. Jonathan said that having seen Jake's stomach muscles at the beginning of Rendition he wasn't surprised. Jake at this point said he had to leave so he could swim back...


A clip was shown of Jake shoulder popping as a boy in City Slickers and the audience all went 'Aaaahhhh!' and Jake said he remembered shooting the scene in the classroom as if it were yesterday.

Jake said that he'd known Meryl, Reese and Alan for a long time, even though he didn't act with them in the film. Jonathan said that his job was made easier by loving the film - good to hear. Jake spoke eloquently, if briefly, about the practice of rendition. There was a great clip too from the film and Jake discussed how he and Meryl had filmed the phonecall - he was on the line for her - while he had a recording of Meryl. A great scene though.


When asked what Jake would have been if not an actor, instead of saying a professional swimmer, Jake said he would have been a farmer.

Finally, Jonathan asked Jake if he were single, for the ladies and for the band. Jake replied 'On behalf of the ladies I am, on behalf of the band I'm not - but I love the shirts!'

Oh yes, Jake's still in the Green Room having to listen to Jordan and Peter - as am I - sigh. Actually judging by Jake's expression and clapping in the Green Room, he's enjoying it!

Pictures from IHJ.