Monday, May 24, 2010

PoP Week: Day 2




Sunday was apparently a day of rest for Jake Gyllenhaal and the Prince of Persia promotion train. But Monday morning, it was back to work! Jake made an appearance on Good Morning America, where Elizabeth Vargas deviated from the predictable script and asked Jake funny. incisive, thoughtful questions.



Got ya! It was the usual pablum, but Jake was also his usual charming self. The crowd seemed happy to have him, and so did Elizabeth!





MSNBC has an interesting rundown of Jake's career. Instead of the shallow treatment given by the NY Post (I know - that was redundant!), they talk to a few movie types who confirm that Jake has made a career of eclectic choices:

“Gyllenhaal’s a real 21st century leading man — the guy who doesn’t play it safe,” said Mary Elizabeth Williams, film critic and contributor to Salon.com and other publications, as well as the author of “Gimme Shelter,” an amusing look at the home-buying process.

“In a lot of ways,” she added, “he’s like Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr., or to name one of his peers, Christian Bale. They’re all charismatic, handsome stars, and they can carry a big action movie whenever they want to — but they know the key to longevity is to keep challenging audience expectations of them. To look at the guy, he’s made to be on movie posters.”




David Kagen is one of the top acting teachers in Hollywood. He said Gyllenhaal possesses rare qualities for an actor, and as a result his career options are many.

“There are a lot of actors I’ve worked with where you talk to them and they open up and this wonderful personality comes out,” Kagen said. “All this stuff that’s particular to them that’s interesting. Then you hand them a script and a lot of that goes away. And that’s really bad. One of the things they need to learn is to use themselves, and then get out of the way.

“When I see Jake doing interviews, and then watch him in something like ‘Brothers,’ there’s no change. It’s like this wonderful seamless transition into whatever role he’s playing. Everything seems to be available to him, his sense of humor, his toughness. There is a sort of an ease. … There are just some people who have that.”




That was also apparent to cinematographer Steven Poster, who shot “Donnie Darko” in 2001, featuring a 20-year-old Gyllenhaal. “There was such intelligence with his characterization of Donnie,” Poster said. “You knew from the beginning he would be big. Plus, he was a gentleman. There wasn’t a moment of ego or narcissism.”



[Holofcener] said she chose Gyllenhaal for the part of Jordan in “Lovely” because “he had innocence and sexiness, a great sense of humor and an earnestness. And he was just so damn cute. That’s what it boiled down to. Everybody in the room during casting was blushing, so I figured that was a good sign.

“I’m thrilled for his career. I’m not surprised at all at where he’s at. When I cast him there was this feeling that he was going to be really big.”





Quick update with some photos from Jake going into the Letterman show:






(Photos courtesy of Splash and IHJ.)

20 comments:

FL said...

This week in appearances is going to be insane.

Here's a cool pic of Jake & Chris from the Celts the other night. Is that Mr. BG behind them? Wish it was embiggenable.

mary said...

jake looked great on GMA this morning he sure likes to wear the same outfits alot at least he gets his money worth out of them especially his boots:) and you can see MR BG with him too in the new pics outside the studio cant wait to see him on letterman tonight
wonder what suit he will wear

Bobbyanna said...

Yeah, FL, that's Mr. BG. That's a very cool picture.

I'm really looking forward to Letterman and Kimmel the most. Bummer that Jon Stewart won't be available.

I get a kick out of how "girly" and giggly Jake's female interviewers get when he's sitting there smiling at them, giving them his undivided attention. No such thing as "professional objectivity." :)

JF said...

The GMT interview was great. Jake was funny and charming.

I really liked PoP. Watched it already 2 times. Jake did a fine job with his British accent.

I hope PoP willl be a success. :)

UltraViolet said...

Oh, wow,, you've already seen it twice, JF? Sounds good :)

I hope it will be a great success. There's lots of box office worrying and prognostication at Box Office Mojo. I might have to stop going there - it's too hard on my heart!

Elizabeth Vargas was like a schoolgirl, Bobbyanna! And I'm still bummed about The Daily Show, too.

Mary, I love the boots. Love it when Jake works something from his CZ in there.

Love that shot with Chris, FL. Do you think that's a Celtics towel or a t-shirt?

And hi, Mr. B!

UltraViolet said...

Oops - forgot to say that I updated the post with some pics of Jake arriving at Letterman and then leaving, I guess. Nice to see the vest :)

FL said...

He wears a vest/waistcoat well. :) Nice suit, good looking man, win/win.

mary said...

i like jakes dark suit better then the light one looks like hes wearing the same shirt and i really like the vest but jake looks good in anything he wears

UltraViolet said...

I guess Jake is sobeautiful, no one read the post :) I thought there were some nice quotes about Jake in there. Especially given that NY Post inanity. I just find it so gratifying to hear people who worked with jake have such nice things to say about him.

I also thought the acting coach's assessment of Jake was interesting. Jake so often mentions using things within himself for a character.

mary said...

yea jake distracted us from all the nice quotes but yes i did read them:)

Get Real said...

What a great and thoughtful article from MSNBC. So much better than that inane NY Post article.

Jake sure is distracting...looking so suave in these pics. :p

Helpthisgoviral said...

Just had to share this as I know it would be appreciated here.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jiXcfA2hfA

bobbyanna said...

I just noticed the director for SATC2 will be on the Daily Show tonight. It's a repeat but what curious timing!

Jake's entirely distracting no matter what he wears.

Chica said...

I love the GMA interview, Vargas went all school girl on him and I don't blame her! I prefer Jake in the dark suit, the light grey suit reminds me of the Good Humor man, LOL!!

What a great article on Jake from MSNBC and a change of pace from the usual pap we get. I like that they interviewed people that worked with Jake from the beginning and hear how he has grown as an actor over the years.

You have seen Pop twice already JF, I'm jealous!! I will see it over the wekend,m I can't wait!!

I'm so used to seing BG in pics with Jake that when he isn't there, I wonder where the hell he is??

Shondra said...

Wow, Jake looks smokin hot, I love a man in a 3-piece suit! Jake was his usual charming self in that interview, Elizabeth Vargas didn't stand a chance:)

It's always great to hear the people that Jake works with praise him. I love this interview, lovely quotes and spot-on observations about the man and his acting techniques.

I think Jake will wear those boots until they fall apart, remember those jeans with the bleach stain and that postage t-shirt??

Don't forget to watch Jake on Letterman tonight! It's going to e a big week UV/FL, you have done such a great job on covering everything, thanks, thanks and more thanks!

Thta's great that you have seen Pop twice already JF!

UltraViolet said...

Not really crazy about three-piece suits, but Jake wears them well. And I love the pics with just the vest.

I like the light suit, too, though.

HelpThisGoViral, I think we posted that Jake/Gemma video when it first went up. It's lovely :)

Bobbyanna, the SatC overload is driving me bananas. I'm so sick of it! They are everywhere. I've lost whatever modicum of affection I ever had for the franchise.

Chica, after these long rounds of promotion, I wonder if Jake looks around for Mr. BG when he's off-duty!

Thanks, Shondra. This has been crazy but fun. We'll miss it during the dog days of summer!

We haven't seen the postage stamp t-shirt for a while. I wonder if it's gone for good.

UltraViolet said...

Jake was funny on Letterman, especially the bit with the photos.

I'm disappointed he wasn't on for more than one segment. When Dave has other actors on, they often get more than one, but not Jake :(

Still, always good to see him- he looked great.

Unknown said...

Jake held up very well, but I felt like Dave was just going through the motions.

Or is that just the way he always is? I don't usually watch him.

I thought it was cute how Jake reminded him in the middle that he was there to promote a movie.

Jake is a charmer and fast on his feet.

But I sure wish he was going to be on Jon Stewart.

UltraViolet said...

I think that's just how Dave is, Barbara. It's a fine line with him - he can take a joke but can also get prickly. I think he likes Jake, except that he never gives him a second segment.

Such a shame about Jon Stewart. Maybe for LaOD :)

UltraViolet said...

New post :)