Almost Christmas

If it's almost October then it's time for Christmas ornaments in your local Hallmark store. First look at Dastan ($19.99) hanging around waiting for someone to give him a good home.

Looks like he's in good company on that display wall; Indiana Jones is right next to him. The shoulders look impressive. The crease between his eyes seems about right. The oddly colored stubble on his face? Not so much.

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There's an interesting story in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette today about the Pittsburgh region's busy filming schedule, including this fun bit:

Later, she was an extra in a scene in a North Side cafe, and she spent the entire day sitting near Mr. Gyllenhaal and Ms. Hathaway. That was exciting, but the highlight, she said, was splitting a piece of cheesecake with Mr. Gyllenhaal at a meal that day for the cast and crew.

Mmm...Cheesecake with Jake.

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And just in case you haven't seen it yet, the photo from W magazine with Jake, Anne and Ed Zwick - now with no crease.


Includes pics from the internet

Memorable Cover Boy

Entertainment Weekly, celebrating their 20th year of publication this year, looks back at 5 of their most memorable covers and the stories behind them.

The cover from 2004

And the photoshoot proof

Capture from the 1925 film, Strike, and inspiration
for Jake's EW photoshoot

Maybe one day we'll know the idea behind this photoshoot!

Includes pics from IHJ

In bed with Ed

I'm reminded of the Freudian adage that when two people go to bed, there are six people in the room - their parents included. In this case, when two actors go to bed, it's the director who's there too. ~ Ed Zwick on Love & Other Drugs ...Proving that old filmmaking adage that there's never any intimacy in filming love scenes.

With a little more than two months to opening it looks like we're starting to get some print publicity for LaOD. So yay for that!

And those lucky enough to grab tickets will be able to see Jake and Ed Zwick sit down with David Denby on October 2nd as part of The New Yorker Festival. More info can be found here.

Scans courtesy of IHJ

Spring is in the air!

Okay, really, it's fall that's almost upon us. But with the imminent release of Prince of Persia on DVD, the Disney promotion is gearing up again. It's almost like those May days, when there seemed to be a new Jake Gyllenhaal or PoP video/interview/photo every time you turned on the computer.

[video removed]

The clip's been out for a few days. I'm just slow in posting it. There are some nice shots of shirtless Jake, as well as long-haired Jake. It's a shame he covered up that mane with all those hats during those months of prep and filming!





Here are a couple of PoP interviews I hadn't seen before. Part of the same set and in Spanish, but you can hear Jake speaking - in English. Most of the articles are retreads, as well. But it's kind of fun to revisit those heady days.

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Moving back to fall, here's the HQ version of the L&OD poster.



Click to embiggen.

This Was Jake's Youth

In the spring of 2002, Jake Gyllenhaal made his West End debut in Kenneth Lonergan's "This Is Our Youth," along with Anna Paquin and Hayden Christensen. A video of Jake and Anna presenting at the Evening Standard Film Awards has shown up on youtube:



It's funny to see Ben Kingsley in the audience. Of course, Jake would later win the Evening Standard Award for Best Newcomer for his TIOY role.


Look who's next to Jake - continuing the six degrees of separation theme.

Jake has said many times since then that he'd love to do more theater, but he hasn't appeared on stage again. While we wait for news of a new project (play, film or world record for facial hair), let's take a look back at Jake's award-winning turn on the boards:



I prefer Jake in this chair.

I don't think Pilot would approve of this technique.




It looks like Jake is making Reagan talk!

This is sort of an RDJ look to me.


That's more like Jake!

So young.


Some reviews of Jake's performance:

A classic of times past
Laurence Boswell directs this marvellous trio of actors with both confidence and an illuminating attention to detail. Gyllenhaal seizes all his chances as Warren, a beautiful and befuddled loser. But he also movingly suggests a lovable, vulnerable character just beginning to grow into maturity.

Guardian:
As a result, the focus in Laurence Boswell's production is very much on the performances. Hayden Christensen, looking like a taller Martin Amis, exhibits a fine rangy sulkiness as Dennis. Jake Gyllenhaal as Warren is naturally comic and engagingly defenceless. And Anna Paquin as Jessica combines prim formality of speech with an argumentative sexual ardour. All three are highly talented, instantly beguiling young actors even if Lonergan's study of subsidised social rebels leaves you wanting more.

Take a bow, Mr. Gyllenhaal!




Curtain Up:
For one, Jake Gyllenhaal (Warren), this is his stage debut, all the more hard to believe as he gives such an accomplished and secure performance. ...

Tousled haired Jake Gyllenhaal is immensely likeable as he conveys Warren's tendency for a rather naïve honesty. He can only tell the truth in response to Jessica's question, "Do you want to mess around or do you want to have a serious discussion?" Gyllenhaal gives Warren all the fidgetting mannerisms of gauche youth. It is Warren who becomes more assured in the course of the play, when he is able to bite back at Dennis' put downs.

Theatre Guide London:
But it is Jake Gyllenhaal who really serves as the play's emotional spine, letting us watch Warren grow through his love for Jessica and gradually making us realise that this hapless shnook is actually the most nearly-balanced and potentially successful adult of the three.

The scenes in which his bumbling sincerity worms its way through Jessica's defences, or in which, silently listening to Dennis insult him, he lets his face show a half-understood awareness that he is outgrowing his buddy, are marvels of sensitive underplaying.

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Moving to the present - lt's end with the L&OD poster - a cleaner version though we still don't have HQ:



(Some photos courtesy of IHJ.)

Poster ChildMan

Because Jake Gyllenhaal is no boy in this poster for Love & Other Drugs!

Thanks to Prophecy Girl and I'm Stalking Jake poster Mel for the scoop. We'll have to wait to see how long it is before Fox releases the poster online. In the meantime, enjoy :)

In case you haven't heard, L&OD has been given an R rating for "strong sexual content, nudity, pervasive language, and some drug material."

Sounds good to me! Need another glimpse?

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Let's take a look back at a sampling of Jake's movie posters through the years:











I didn't include any that didn't really feature Jake (TDAT) or ones that make me wince. Okay, I switched the link to the English Rendition poster, but did have to include this, from Zodiac:



How on earth could they have chosen any of those photos for the poster?

So what's your favorite? And where would you rank L&OD on the list?

(All movie posters courtesy of IHJ except for L&OD, which is courtesy of I'm Stalking Jake.)