There's a fascinating interview with Jake Gyllenhaal in the June issue of American Way. Allotted only a short amount of time, the AW interviewer managed to cover a variety of different topics, profound to prosaic.
“A year ago, Entertainment Weekly spoke to a lot of people for a piece about Heath Ledger. The screenwriter, producer and cinematographer of Brokeback Mountain all talked. You were conspicuously absent. Are you uncomfortable remembering him in public?”
“Yes,” he said, pausing. “Brokeback was painful. Any time you go into pain, I don’t think you necessarily want to go back. But the results of that film, and how the public responded to it so hugely, were worth it. Walking through any kind of pain is usually worth it. As close as we all became making that movie, for all those other people, it didn’t extend much farther than [the movie itself], so that experience of work could be easily talked about for publications. The experience Heath and I had was also shared publicly with all the press and publicity we did.
But what we shared as friends, though I respect the interest that so many people have in the mourning and grieving process and how it feels to other people, I feel like — and I don’t mean this in an unkind way — but I don’t think it’s anybody’s business but his and mine. So in that sense, to really respect him — and also the way he felt about his life and his private life and what he cared about, because he was a deeply caring and loving human being — every time anybody asks me any question about him, it would be like he was sitting next to me, and I know he would roll his eyes, because that’s the way he was. It was between us.”
Jake also deflects a question about Kirsten Dunst and discusses his competition with and admiration for fellow actors, his charity work and the one sports moment of glory he'd like to experience:
“Winning a mountain time trial in the Tour de France,” Jake said without hesitation. “I do love to climb. There’s something physical about it, there’s a consistency and an internal rhythm where you just put your head down and feel the pain.”
Jake's response to the reporter's semi-whine about not having enough time:
“I would accept the situation for what it was, and then I would hope that the opportunity — if I was interested in the person I was talking to — would come again in a more natural environment. I learned accepting what you have as what you have.”
We'll try to remember that over the next few months after the surfeit of Jake we've gotten recently!
Continuing on the "Twenty minutes" theme, the folks at Sequence Magazine have gathered "all the material on Prince of Persia: Sands of Time that is th" into a "nice, structured" 20-minute "Making of" video. I haven't watched it yet, but I do want to revisit all of those behind-the-scenes videos, now that I've watched the movie.
Guess we know why Jake wasn't at the Celtics game. From twitter:
Spotted: jake gyllenhaal at the mumford and sons show.
Guess the band can't get away from the Hollywood scene:
JO: Well I know that apparently you’ve got one huge fan. I read in GQ that Jake Gyllenhaal mentioned that he was really into you guys.
BL: Yeah, he came down for the last show and he’s a really nice guy. Obviously it’s great that he’s a fan and it’s great that my mom’s neighbor’s best friend is a fan. It’s like, if people like the music it’s good and we’re happy with that. … I guess for the most part I find celebrity culture a little bit strange. And I think that’s partly being British and that’s partly being just ourselves as well. We’re not too into hype and we’re not into “celebrity-ness.” I think at the end of the day it detracts from, certainly, musicians, what they should be doing—writing songs and playing gigs.
Some things are just irresistible, Mumford keyboardist:
I spy with my little eye Marcus Mumford hugging Jake Gyllenhall. Squee.
(Photos courtesy of IHJ.)
21 comments:
Sorry I haven't been around lately. Been high on life and enjoying the English sunshine because we don't if this is IT for our summer:DD I joke you not.
I adore this post. A total gem UV. 2 minutes with Jake is like a lifetime. So much has come out of such a short and sweet interview.
I feel like — and I don’t mean this in an unkind way — but I don’t think it’s anybody’s business but his and mine.
Bravo Jake, Bravo. There, now he's actually said it, I hope he doesn't get asked again. My heart skipped a beat when I heard those words, very similar to Jack Twist "ain't nobody's business but ours". I still feel that deep sadness that Heath's no longer in the world but watching A Knight's Tale with my son was very joyful - no tears this time. Heath changed his stars and I feel Jake is doing the same thing (Dastan: We make our own Destiny, Princess).
This whole Prince of Persia experience has been so cathardic, healing and exciting and I hope it continues to stoke the spirit of adventure that I find myself in nowadays and extends to you all.
Ok, so it's my 7th viewing last night with another friend and when the lights went up, the look on the audience's faces was like incredulous (you know, open mouth, goofy smile, some wows). It's like they're just discovering this wonderful actor and falling for the film. My friend (who definitely was NOT a Jake fan) was blown away. We then hit a pub to discuss the movie and had a long discussion about destiny. She thought I was crazy to go to the premier but she says she knows now why I did it. I think I have a convert.
This comment of his I adore: "
“I would accept the situation for what it was, and then I would hope that the opportunity — if I was interested in the person I was talking to — would come again in a more natural environment. I learned accepting what you have as what you have.”
Then, I will accept that meeting Jake in London for what it was, brief, sweet and fleeting. I also accept that it was not for the last time because I'm interested in his work and that somewhere, someday, we'll meet again (Karen feels the same way too) :D
great post uv and yea bravo for jake for saying its nobodys business but his about how he feels about heath as we know he still gets very emotional when heath is mentioned fingers crossed that pop will do well this weekend i plan on seeing pop again on sunday glad its still doing well overseas
As we know some people were angry at Jake for not talking about Heath. And they put that anger out there. Fans esp. should know Jake cared more than most because he was true to how he thought Heath would feel about it.
I just listened to Jake singing in that video in the previous post, he has a wonderful voice. It sounds different than when he sang on SNL.
I love this post and this interview. You're right UV, the interiview is short but he says so much.
I'm glad that he finally said what I and others have been saying regarding Heath: It's nobody's business. It has to be so painful for him, I do hope that he doesn't get asked about it again too Sheba.
How great that Pop has been such an incredible and healing process for you. Seven times! I will be seeing it again this weekend, it is an amzing adventure and I loved this film, I hope WOM will = a good BO this weekend.
Looks like Jake hanging in the VIP booth at the Mumford & sons concert:
jdharrison: Jake Gyllenhall just walked right past me and @theycallmemikky on the way to his VIP booth. Crazy.
about 8 hours ago from twidroid · Reply · View Tweet
every time anybody asks me any question about him, it would be like he was sitting next to me, and I know he would roll his eyes, because that’s the way he was. It was between us.
Aww. I agree with Jake, because from what I've read and seen as a fan, Heath would have absolutely hated too much attention about his person.
I will be seeing it again this weekend, it is an amzing adventure and I loved this film, I hope WOM will = a good BO this weekend.
I hope for good B.O. results too. I've seen the movie 2 times and enjoyed it both times.
"I feel like — and I don’t mean this in an unkind way — but I don’t think it’s anybody’s business but his and mine. "
What more needs to be said! (((Jake))).
I have two of Lawrence Grobel's books, "Conversations with Capote" is fascinating. "The Art of the Interview" has wonderful anecdotes and really lets you in to his process.
He got raves for his work on Brando and Al Pacino. I'm glad for the interview with Jake. Grobel is a highly repsected, seasoned veteran who really knows his craft. He does not play around. Jake more than held his own.
Great post, UV.
Talking fast. I'm going to see POP.
Soon I'll return!
Grobel may had only 20 minutes with Jake, but that was one of the most interesting interview Jake has done. I like that Jake called him back for a follow-up from the set of SC.
The BO this weekend will be interesting:
S4 vs Marmeduke?
SATC2 vs the Killers?
and Pop Vs Get him the Greek/Spice?
S4 and Marmeduke are going for the same audience, and I hate the term "chick flick" but The Killers has Heigel as the lead and that means that they are going to take away some of the SATC2 audience.
Greek is R rated as is Splice, Pop PG-13, all three has a fanboy audience but Pop brings in families and women as well.
It looks crowded but I hope Pop at least stays in the top 5.
Have fun Monica, i had a blast!
Oh, Monica - hope you're having fun at the movies :)
The Heath answer from Jake was so blunt and so painful. I hope someday, when he decides, he can talk about their relationship. But I'm glad he finally just said, flat out, "It's none of your business."
I'm sure he'll be excoriated by the haters and the delusional and the alleged insiders. But no one but Jake knows what they meant to each other.
And very interesting comments about accepting situations for what they are. I hope Jake can do that with PoP and savor what was wonderful about the experience even if the box office continues to disappoint.
It's a pretty hard thing to do to accept things for what they are, if you can't do anything positive to change them.
I just loved the way the interview unfolded. Thanks for the background on the reporter, Bobbyanna. I wondered about the "no matter who you are" in the title of the piece. I guess the guy thought he was too big for a mere 20-minute interview but did it anyway, to good result.
I'll be going to PoP again this weekend, too, sheba! I love the way you describe the experience and I think it does mirror Jake's.
Tweety
..."sounds different than when he sang on SNL"... because he sang in “falsete”... a wonderful “falsete”!
Jake helps Kimmel draw ratings. Of course, that whole Dancing thing probably was a factor, too :)
Here's a video I don't remember seeing. But maybe we have seen it? It's hard to differentiate at this point!
Love this observation:
And I’ve got to tell you that Jake Gyllenhaal has reached that mystical place where you could watch him on the big screen without the sound. Prince of Persia is a keeper.
Updated the post with new pics of Jake from LA today.
I think LA Mill is Jake's new CZ::))
My heart breaks a little everytime Jake talks about Heath.I think this is the 3rd time he has talked about him during Pop promotion.
He grieved privately, and he's absolutrly right, it's nobody's business.
Thanks for posting this interview UV.
What beautiful comments Sheba, It's great that Jake is gaining more fans from Pop. I will be seeing it again on Sunday.
Can't wait th hear your review Monica!
That Jake, he sure knows how to cover a city in 24 hours - Studio City, Hollywood, Silver Lake.
Jake helps Kimmel draw ratings. Of course, that whole Dancing thing probably was a factor, too :)
Did he dance on Kimmel? Did I miss that?
Yes he did FL! He danced and sang to something called the hedgehog doing karate complete with a fug yellow running suit and a ninja headband! I think it was suppose to be a throw-back to the 80's/breakdance wear, I think!
UV posted it the day after he was on, you need to watch it, it's funny as hell!!
My bad, it was Fallon he did that on, not Kimmel!
Yeah, he danced on Fallon. But it was hilarious. I need to watch that again!
I meant that the Dancing with the Stars guests and the fact that the show was on the night of the DwtS finale might probably helped the ratings, too.
Catching up from being at the beach the past few days....
Jake singing that lullaby was so totally lovely. He needs to do a more singing asap!!
And I agree, Sheba, bravo, Jake, bravo to his comments about Heath and how their relationship was private. I had a lump in my throat reading that too. :/
Have a great weekend everyone!
The L. Grobel interview was a good one.... some actual substance. Wonder if he was surprised that Jake called him later to continue the interview? Thanks, UV!
I have noticed that in Jake's few comments about Heath this year, at least once in every Heath related answer, he refers to him in the present tense. It's so poignant and telling IMO.
but I don’t think it’s anybody’s business but his and mine.
There are other examples...... I can't quote them now off the top of my head, but they just jump out when I read them. It's lovely and heartbreaking at the same time.
Sorry, I'm in a rather somber mood tonight!
I watched the movie, but I'll leave to talk about it tomorrow. I'm very tired.
I can only say it was a great satisfaction to see Jake on the big screen and the cinema was full. Children, adolescents and adults, everyone was there.
UV, my dog is better. She had food poisoning. It was crazy, I was very scared, but thankfully she's okay.
I'm in love with this interview. She deserved more than 20 minutes!
But I will also comment on this interview tomorrow.
Hi get real. Hope you and everyone enjoy the weekend.
Monica, glad to hear your dog is okay. That does sound scary. And so happy you were satisfied by PoP, and the audience was happy, too.
No need to apologize, suvee. It's hard to read Jake's words and not be moved. It's a somber, sobering reality, one Jake lives with and clearly doesn't want to share.
Lovely and heartbreaking about sums it up :(
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