Watch Jake Gyllenhaal read Wilfred Owen for Words of War - video and images

On 8 May, Jake Gyllenhaal attended the Headline Project's Words of War event in NYC and took to the podium to read Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen, who died on the Front in 1918. You can read the verse of this beautiful poem here. You can also watch Jake read it here.



At the auction, Jake pledged a '$5,000 donation to go toward training efforts in EMDR, a specific kind of psychotherapy used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder'.

From the Wall Street Journal: 'Actor Jake Gyllenhaal, a friend of the Headstrong Project's chairman and executive director Zach Iscol, read a poem by World War I poet Wilfred Owen, after two other veterans, Gerardo Mena and Garrett Anderson, read their own work. "If I spoke for myself, it would do no service," said Mr. Gyllenhaal. "I'm an actor."'

Photos have also emerged of Jake at the Met Gala which took place on 6 May, including more photos of Jake with good friend Marcus Mumford. Vanity Fair has a funny little detail about last Sunday's Lucille Lortel Awards. '“Don’t cry when you lose!” a playful America Ferrera shouted to fellow nominee Jake Gyllenhaal moments before taking her seat'.

Thanks very much to IHJ for all these lovely pictures and especially for that wonderful video. There are lots more there from Jake's busy week.

Jake Gyllenhaal at the Lucille Lortel Awards and out and about in NYC. Plus a WDW Spring Interlude

Last night (5 May), the Lucille Lortel Awards took place at New York University's Skirball Center. Jake Gyllenhaal had a nomination for his role in If There Is.... but although he didn't win, the next best thing happened. Jake presented an award to his young co-star in the play, Annie Funke, who was hailed as best featured access for her role. Details here. One suspects Jake was very proud indeed.

Meanwhile, Jake has been seen out and about across NYC over the last few days. He was spotted out for a walk on 2 May with End of Watch co-star America Ferrera, who was also at the Lucille Lortel Awards, before later catching up with Marcus Mumford (photos here).America also attended the Lucille Lortel Awards. Later that evening, Jake attended The Great Gatsby after party with its leading lady Carey Mulligan (and wife of Marcus). Good to hear that also sitting at the same table was another co-star of Jake's, Tobey Maguire. This was the place to be. What a shame I live in Oxford and couldn't make it...

On 3 May, Jake was seen out for a walk with his mum Naomi.

Not all potential new movie news is good news. It turns out that we (and I would argue Jake) had a lucky escape. We hear this week that Jake was considered for a role in The Hangover, as was Lindsay Lohan. Takes a deep breath and exhales in relief. It was not meant to be.

Thanks very much to IHJ for the pics! There are plenty more there.

WDW Interlude

Finally, after the most horrible summer and winter on record, Spring has arrived in the UK! We've had two weeks of warm sunshine now and while more snow should not be ruled out it has meant that I've been escaping the four walls of work and home for the glorious, hay fevery countryside. Time for an interlude...

The Rollright Stones

The Roman villa hidden in the woods of Gloucestershire

Spring at the Cotswold Wildlife Park

 

May Day in Oxford

Spring in Avebury

Now you see me...

And now you don't.

UPDATE: Nightcrawler! Jake Gyllenhaal seeing double: First image from An Enemy, plus poetry, basketball and a Drama League Award Nomination

Update! NIGHTCRAWLER!

According to Variety, Jake will be co-producing and starring in (probably) Nightcrawler alongside Rene Russo.

'Jake Gyllenhaal is continuing to focus on edgy, adult thrillers as he is set to star along with Rene Russo in the indie “Nightcrawler” that Tony Gilroy will produce. Dan Gilroy is helming from a script he penned. Story follows the story of a driven young man who discovers the nocturnal world of L.A. freelance crime journalism. Gilroy will produce along with Gyllenhaal and Jennifer Fox along with Michel Litvak and David Lancaster who are producing and financing via their Bold Films banner. Sierra/Affinity will kick off international sales in Cannes. CAA packaged the film and co-represents the film’s North American distribution rights with WME. The film marks the directorial debut for Dan Gilroy, who co-wrote “The Bourne Legacy” with his brother Tony Gilroy.'

So, another 'driven young man' role.... What do you think?

On with the post...

It's been another busy week for Jake Gyllenhaal. It's been so hectic, surely one could be forgiven for seeing double.

Yes, this week we've had the first image of Jake and Jake from An Enemy or Enemy Within. Whatever the title, it's certain that you'll get twice the Jake for the price of a cinema ticket. With the film due this autumn, it can't be too long before we have a trailer. Thanks to IHJ for this! And hot on the heels of the Nailed images too... (see last post - there are more Nailed images featuring Jessica Biel at Jessica.biel.com).

Jake has also been spotted over the last few days in the company of some very familiar faces. On 17 April, Jake attended the Poetry and the Creative Mind event hosted by the Academy of American Poets at the Lincoln Center, NYC. The resulting official pic is a bit of a who's who. Seeing Jake sitting next to one of my favourites, Kathleen Turner, is a cause for celebration.

Jake read Wild Geese by Mary Oliver and Ave Maria by Frank O'Hara. There are more details and images here. This is one of those events I would have loved to have attended.

On 23 April, Jake and Marcus Mumford joined Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor and Spike Lee to watch the Boston Celtics play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Gardens. I must admit that one's eyes are rather distracted in the photo below...

Marcus Mumford, Jake Gyllenhaal, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller and Spike Lee gave a standing ovation as the Boston Celtics played the New York Knicks during a playoff game at NYC's Madison Square Garden April 23. One has to wonder at Jake's allegiance that night - maybe he cheered for both teams. Whether he liked it or not, Boston Celtics were defeated 87-71. I once umpired a game of basketball in 1985 despite having no knowledge of the rules - so I feel qualified to comment. Thanks to IHJ for the pics!

Also on 23 April, Jake was nominated for a Drama League Award - a Distinguished Performance Award no less - for his performance in If There Is! The awards will be held on 17 May - so much luck to you Jake!

It's not everyday Jake Gyllenhaal's in Taunton... In Somerset for the wedding of Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford - and an Interlude

Jake Gyllenhaal is back in England! As we'd suspected, Jake didn't attend the LA Conservation Corps awards on Friday after all, due to its clash with the wedding of his good friends Marcus Mumford and Carey Mulligan. It's not often you spot a Hollywood movie star walking down the street in the West Country but this weekend Jake has been spotted in Boots chemist in the lovely town of Taunton, Somerset, and in the local pub. Mind you, after I saw Kate Winslett in one of my local country pubs the other week, I now kind of expect it.

According to US Weekly, Jake is not the only star to attend the glittery but lowkey event at a farm. Colin Firth and Sienna Miller were also there to throw confetti. Somerset is a beautiful and very historic part of England and I hope Jake enjoys it. Many congratulations to Marcus and Carey! Very sorry about the weather...

In the absence of wedding pics, I thought I'd use the opportunity to repost a couple of pictures I took of Carey when I saw her (and Peter) filming An Education in Oxford back in April 2008. Of course, in those days, very few people knew the name of Carey Mulligan.

WDW Interlude

Today, we went out on the motorbike to dodge the hail and the torrential rain to venture into the countryside. We took a peek at the windmill used in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and went inside the church in the beautiful village of Ewelme where the granddaughter of Chaucer is buried in an unusual alabaster tomb. Other highlights included a lot of goats.

My review of Battleship is now up on MovieBrit!

Jake Gyllenhaal talks about why growing food and why he loves London so much (something to do with sprouts)

This Friday, Jake Gyllenhaal is presenting some of the scholarships at the LA Conservation Corps ceremony in LA. This weekend, though, an event takes place which may well influence what Jake is up to for the few days after that.Obviously I am purely speculating but I don't think it's beyond the realms of all possibility that Jake may attend this weekend's nuptials of good friends Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford in the English countryside.

As is my wont, this is the perfect excuse to go off tangent and post links to a couple of audio interviews Jake did for Edible Schoolyard a year ago which relate to the conservation and food growing theme and, in the second audio clip, to Jake's love of Britain and London:

'Consciously, or unconsciously, I love that country, and particularly love London itself. I just find it to be - now the food is extraordinary to be there - and I just love the people there. Most of my friends are British strangely too and I find them to be loyal, intelligent and caring people, not unlike most people around the world, but in particular I just love that town. And I love I think most of all their idea of supporting potential. Particularly in the arts. They see somebody that they see in the spirit of growing. When they see a sprout that they think might be a nice plant, they fertilise it and they support it... it doesn't have to be a full-grown plant, amazing from the outset, it's all about supporting potential and I really respect that about that culture and them and I felt greatly supported by them in so many ways. London was the first city that really supported Donnie Darko, a movie that I did. I feel a great love for them.'

Remember this video of Mumford and Sons performing in a small room of people including Jake and Carey?



This post includes a new picture from IHJ from 5 April of Jake and Maggie in NYC. Of course, Peter may well have been the one to introduce Jake and Carey following their appearance together in An Education and then on stage in NYC in the Seagull. Thanks to BBMISwear for the link.

Jake Gyllenhaal undercover in NYC, Maggie and Peter shine at the MET and new pics from New Eyes

Jake Gyllenhaal is back in NYC and not only that he's posing with shrubbery. There is a reason for this. Clearly Jake is trying to distract us from TrouserGate by attempting to blend in with the local flora. While this ploy nearly succeeded, it is nevertheless clear that, if these are the same trousers that have been put through the wars during the Mumford and Jake Train Tour, they have now been put to the needle. Either that or, as some suspected, Jake is one of those men who buys countless versions of the same matching outfit, not realising that one or two will do thanks to the invention of other people to do the laundry for you.


So, enough of the trousers, what about that bag?! It reminds me of the bottomless pit of a bag that Hermione lugged around during HP 7.1. With a bag of that size and depth, I would like to pass on to Jake one of my biggest tips - colour code your possessions. Don't have a black cover for phone, iPod, Kindle, iPad, camera. You'll never find them. Here is the link to the lucky tweeter who took this picture.


Before Jake headed off to NYC, he paid a last minute visit to the Pinkberry in New Orleans with Marcus Mumford. Fortunately, we have a picture. It may not contribute to TrouserGate but any association of Jake with ice cream is fine by me. The picture originated here.


Le Smoking

While Jake was blending in in NYC yesterday, Maggie and Peter attended the MET Costume Institute Gala Benefit and both looked stunning. Maggie is wearing a Stella McCartney dress here while Peter is smoking in a 'Le Smoking' by Yves Saint Laurent. Good job Jake was back in time to babysit.


Moulin Rouge

During the publicity for Brokeback Mountain, we grew accustomed to hearing Jake talk about how he and Heath Ledger had met during the auditions for Moulin Rouge - although most of the time each had been hidden away behind locked doors. The role of Christian, as we know, went to Ewan McGregegor and it is very likely, as Jake has suggested, that Heath and Jake were too young then for the role. Today, director Baz Luhrmann has been talking about those auditions:


'Dear Heath Ledger, (he had) incredible scenes with Nicole. Because at one stage, Christian was very young, he was a younger guy, and then I was aware of Ewan but I didn't know if he could sing. Jake should do a musical. He's a wonderful actor, but (he has a) great voice, tremendous voice. He sang some (Stephen) Sondheim for me, complicated singing, great voice. When is he going to guest on Glee?' Now there's a thought...


And finally...

New Eyes for the Needy has posted pictures from its Silent Auction at the end of March this year. These pictures herald from the time when there was a little bit more hair on Jake's head than there might be now.




Includes pictures from IHJ and links. Many thanks to BBMISwear for help with bits of the post :-)

Jake Gyllenhaal spends his weekend with Mumford & Sons, the London premiere special (in all its parts) and a WDW Interlude

Jake Gyllenhaal is taking his duties as Mumford and Sons Mascot very seriously indeed. Yesterday Jake not only attended another M&S gig in LA, where at one point he was the only fan bopping in the balcony, he also took M&S singer Marcus Mumford out for breakfast. Either that or this is Jake's new Give LA Tourism a Boost initiative of giving visiting Brits a tour of his hometown. In which case, where do I sign up? On the schedule yesterday was Lamill Coffee Shop in Silver Lake and the tour may have finished up at Teddy's bar in the Roosevelt where Jake was tweeted. Many thanks to IHJ for the pics.


There is a pic of Jake watching the gig here (the girl looks like Laura Marling to me).




Mumford and Sons:


The Prince of Persia London Premiere - the whole lot

Today I got chance to finish editing the full half hour Sky special of the Prince of Persia London premiere with interviews (and Top Gun impressions). So here is a repost of the first two chunks followed by the final four. I implore you, please do not watch the beginning of part 4.








An exhausting WDW interlude

I'm exhausted this evening after a triathlon in Blenheim Palace, home to Winston Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough and the longest queues for ice cream in the West. It was, and is, a very hot and muggy day and I'm sure you can imagine how knackering it's been to see people upon people swimming, cycling and running, hour after hour, relentlessly. It was all I could do to sit on that picnic blanket and hold my pint of cold, refreshing lager. When I see Jake leave the gym, as we do so often, I will know his pain.