Monday, March 14, 2011

Yet More SXSW

Update - major spoiler warning. The first five minutes of Source Code:





Jake Gyllenhaal is apparently back in Los Angeles, but his Texas presents keep coming. First up, an interview with a Welsh channel:



Then Fandango:



Next, a bit of Duncan, Michelle and Jake on the red carpet, followed by some footage of the post-premiere Q&A. Spoiler warning, I think. Also, Jake says he's working on a movie!






There's also a new non-video interview, where Jake reveals he'd been trying to get Source Code made for two years prior to Duncan's involvement. There's also a slightly different version of how that all came about. And he compares Duncan to Ang Lee:

In the last decade you’ve become a movie star, yet your choices all seem like smaller indie films that are received on a large scale. What’s the difference between the larger scale films and the smaller ones?

There are a lot of more wonderful aspects of working on a smaller film. Each film is a journey and a lesson. I take away a lot from each film, particularly working with the extraordinary directors I’ve worked with. Ang Lee, David Fincher, Sam Mendes…the thing you take away is what you very clearly know you need when you’re telling a story, which is somebody who knows why they’re telling a story. Surprisingly we lose track of that. To know that you have somebody who knows why they’re making something is important.

And then patience, which is, to me, one of the most amazing qualities I saw from all of the people I’ve worked with. I find a lot of similarities between Ang Lee and Duncan Jones. In personality, in interpretation of scenes, in the ability to let actors really encompass a world and feel empowered but at the same time have total control over the story that they’re telling. It’s almost like a magician. You feel like you’re creating the thing that’s happening, and in some ways you’re helping it be created, but ultimately there is a true wizard there. Personality-wise, Duncan is very quiet and sort of soft spoken, very introverted, very similar to Ang. When I met him, it was strange, my instinct connected to a similar thing when I met Ang.




You have a very youthful appearance, which leads to roles that are very innocent and inquisitive. You’re taking on more action roles now, but is your youth a hurdle?

... What’s interesting about growing up making movies and having the opportunity to be an adolescent and then grow up is it becomes a journey of figuring out what you want to do, what stories you’re interested in. Sometimes the footing is solid and sometimes it’s not, but you always hope you have an opportunity to keep doing it. I explore all different things. I have a pretty eclectic taste in things. I have no intention to…

To punch people?

No, I have no intention to do that, but it is very fun to do action.



Pee-wee Herman was interviewed by The Playlist, and he had some very nice things to say about Jake and Jessica Biel and the whole Nailed process:

It’s a high wire bit of material, with a hard tone to nail (pardon the pun), but to hear it from Reubens, the toplining actors hit the ball right out of the park. “I would go home every single night in awe of both leads in the movie, I just could not believe what they were doing. As an actor, what they’re doing is very, very complicated and complex. It’s really hard to pull off what they did. You have to be effortless, but it’s really hard to do,” Reubens said. “And I’ve never seen anybody be so successful with something that complicated [as Gyllenhaal was]. And Jessica Biel is literally—I hate this word, but I can’t think of another word to use—is like a revelation. She’s so incredibly good in the movie, and again, no one’s ever seen her do anything like this… This is like an ingenue. It’s almost like Dorothy in ‘The Wizard Of Oz.’”

It's a good read.




27 comments:

Viv said...

Hello~~~I found this:
http://trueviewreviews2.blogspot.com/2011/03/laurie-here.html

I love his descriprion about Jake:)

So for now, I am just going to fill everyone in on the interview (roundtable) experience. Disappointingly, as noted, we were asked not to take pictures, and boy, I wanted pictures, especially of Jake Gyllenhaal (Capt. Steven Colton), who is a handsome in person as he is on the big or little screening, having seen him with Anne Hathaway in Love and Other Drugs, I could not help but imagine him nude (I know, I know, I am old compared to him, but he is beautiful! As in all of his roles, his eyes speak volumes and he, like Monaghan, is amazing candid, approachable and dynamic. He answered several questions regarding performing virtually alone for many scenes in the film and for having to repeat the same 8 minutes (with some variations) otherwise. He and Vera Farminga (Goodwin), who was also in attendance, both had scenes where there were basically talking to themselves rather than acting to or with other actors. He is in a pod of sorts and she is sitting at a control panel speaking into a computer camera. Again, I marvel at Gyllenhaal's ability to act so clearly with his eyes. Farminga, too, excels in her role, but in person she is far more quiet and demure than the others.

Office of Nancy Pelosi said...

Thanks Viv, that is a wonderful description of Jake!

The interviews and Q&A with Jake, Duncan, etc have been fascinating.

I'm so excited about the response at SXSW for SC. The Jake and Pee wee videos were do unexpected but funny!

I just hope the excitement and enthusiasm translate to a big BO on April 1st.

FL said...

So for now, I am just going to fill everyone in on the interview (roundtable) experience. Disappointingly, as noted, we were asked not to take pictures

Someone was able to take a pic from that roundtable at least. :-)

Thanks for that, Viv.

bobbyanna said...

The young woman from Wales was so cute! I love to watch how people react and respond to Jake:) It's fascinating the way he can connect with people, even in such a limiting environment.

I really enjoyed Pee Wee Herman's comments/observations about Jake. The interview was very interesting. I was glad to find out about the "Nailed" stuff too.

Forgive my meandering mind, but I remember back when Jessica Lange won an Oscar for "Blue Sky," she talked about this "little movie" that sat on a shelf for so long, they'd moved on, and given up hope that anyone would ever see it. I think the studio went bankrupt or something. So you never know. Sounds like "Nailed" has such potential...in the right hands. (sigh)It's is very discouraging.

Thanks, Viv, nice article.

bobbyanna said...

Not to spam, but I just discovered Susanne Bier was at SXSW to screen her Oscar-winning film,"In a Better World." At roughly the same time Jake was screening SC, she was doing Q&A next door. Susanne co-wrote and directed the original "Brothers." Hope they got a chance to visit.

UltraViolet said...

Great find, Viv. I love it. Jake really does impress these round table folks.

Did Suzanne Bier ever comment on the American version of Brothers? I wonder if she liked it.


IHJ has the Men's Running article. It's a pretty good read. But where on earth did the interviewer get the idea that Jake used to gush about his romances? Sure, he talked about Kirsten. But never to excess. And he sure never gushed over Reese's kids.

LOL @ the Audi thing. And the IKEA worker winning a bet. The last line was very funny.

I also enjoyed the little bits of Jake describing past movies. Would love to see more of that in depth.

mary said...

i forgot about that about him saying gushing abput reeses kids jake never talked about his relationships i did find that pretty strange well im off to vegas be back tomorrow with jake back in LA things should stay pretty quiet hope we get more info on jakes tv appearances we should be hearing soon april is getting closer see you guys when i get back

Chica said...

Thanks for posting the new videos and interviews UV!

Wow, he spent 2 years trying to get SC made! This would make this premiere a lot different, not only is he the star but he has to feel like he is almost like a producer.

I don't remember Jake gushing about Reese's kids either, weird.

UltraViolet said...

Updated the post with a video: the first five minutes of the movie.

I won't be watching, but enjoy if you do!

Morning radio show interview with Duncan. He talks about Jake a bit; all good stuff. Might be spoilers - I'm still listening. Slight ending spoilers, I guess.

Another interview.

He does seem almost like a producer, chica. And good luck in Vegas, Mary. Hope you win big!

UltraViolet said...

I've watched so many interviews, I don't remember which one had this info. But Jake mentioned that he's working on a movie but couldn't talk about it. I hope that's true. He seemed excited.

I want that info!

Anonymous said...

Thanks UV for all the wonderful vids.

So Jake has a movie he will be working on but he isn't going to reveal what is is yet. I am assuming there might still be some pre-production stuff going on that is why he can't talk about it.

can't wait to find out what it might be

UltraViolet said...

It's in the third video interview in the post, the one with Duncan, Michelle and the Q&A. He says "I'm making" not "going to make." Let that be true!

And hopefully not like he was "making" SC for years!

bobbyanna said...

I get too gushy about Jake.
But I really enjoy seeing him in action at press junkets.:)

UV, I'm gonna try to not watch the five minute segment of SC. I am.

Yes, Jake seemed excited about a new project. Maybe it's the Ayer movie. I hated when he said he "can't talk about it"... but he said it nicely :/

Jake never gushed about Reese's kids. he's been pretty consistent about not commenting on his personal life. I recall he confirmed he was "going thru a break up" when he talked about filming BBM, but no details. He was a little more open about Kristen, but he was also younger.

One thing made me feel sad in the magazine article. When he told his interviewer that guys will come up to him to tell him they didn't see BBM, "I didn't see it, but are you that guy?" Homophobia is alive & well.

Sag actor said...

I'll skip the new clip UV although it's tempting.

If Jake was trying to get this done for 2 years it sounds like he bought the script, he couldn't just approach Jones to direct if he didn't.

Anonymous said...

Jake didn't own the script. The project was put together by Management 360, Jake's management company. He was probably attached for a while.

Sag actor said...

Thanks anon.

bobbyanna said...

(yawn)BTW: Ryan Gosling continues to shoot a movie in Ann Arbor less than 30 miles from my house. With George Clooney.
It's "that" movie.:(
(based on Farragut North.)

FL said...

I took the plunge and watched the first 5 minutes.

This is going to be a THRILLING ride!

Shebab baby said...

Yawn??!! Clooney? Gosling? They would have to call security if I were there Bobbyanna!

I would have loved if Jake got that part, sigh.

The SC/SXSW PR express was short but sweet thanks to the steller coverage of GB, thanks UV!

I love Ruebens enthusiasm for Nailed and loved what he had to say about Jake but Russell sounds a bit nutty and I'm now wondering if it wasn't just the dodgy financing that jinked the production.

I was wondering if Jake was referring to the Ayer project too Bobbyanna, ot would certainly fit in to the type o movies Jake has been linked to.

Thanks for the link to the Men's Journal artical at IHJ UV. I always despised IKEA for the reasons Jake and the interviewer pointed out, LOL!

I agree Bobbyanna, homophobia is sadly still alive and well:(

Sheba baby said...

I couldn't FL but that may change!

Monica said...

I also watched. It was great!

Chica said...

Ok, I broke down and watched and all I can say is WOW!!!!

Viv said...

ugh.....I don't want to watch the first 5 min......I can't...but I don't know I can resist how longXD

bobbyanna said...

Damn!

I have no will power.

Monica said...

Chud.com: Review(4/5)
There are two things you should know about Source Code: it’s funny, and it’s not a twist film. The humor comes from the excellent performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, who delivers his most diverse and entertaining turn yet. This script calls for him to embody amnesic confusion, military discipline, and a wide-range of emotional stuffs inbetween, and the actor is up to the challenge. Impressively, he does all of this while still centering the character as a sharply humorous and generally charming guy- this tiniest hint of Cary Grant accentuates the strong wafts of Hitchcock that permeate the film itself.

Anonymous said...

I watched the first 5 mins, it was awesome. I hope Jake gets nominated for his performance.

I like traveling my train, of course I wouldn't want to be on THIS train (Jake could be on the Amtrak trains I've been on. 12 hours with Jake on a train, now that would have been thrilling :D

UltraViolet said...

I'm definitely not getting any awards expectations up, but I love hearing all the raves. That was another great one, Monica.

Still resisting the first five minutes but glad to hear they rock.

From reading the way some people talk about Jake, I know there are folks who will always view him only in that narrow light. And those people are bigots. It's amazing to me that they feel no compunction about saying it to his face.

A very sad commentary.