Saturday, August 24, 2013

There Was and There Will Be

On this date last year, If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet opened in previews, marking Jake Gyllenhaal's New York stage debut. The performance received stellar reviews and allowed audiences to see Jake's range as an actor. This was truly a character unlike any Jake had ever played. Let's take a look back:












This fall, Jake's movie work again takes center stage, with the release of two films directed by Denis Villeneuve. You can tell from the play interviews how much Jake appreciates the collaborative process. He seems to have found a cinematic partner in his new director:

“One of my first desires after Incendies was to meet an actor and go deep,” explains Villeneuve. “I wanted to start meaningful work with the same person, to find a solid actor and create a long-term relationship with him. That’s why I got so excited about Enemy.”



“We immediately clicked. I knew he was my man. And it hasn’t changed,” says Villeneuve. “We adore each other and have so much fun working together.”

We'll get to see the fruits of this mutual admiration in September, when Prisoners opens, with Enemy to follow (one hopes).

57 comments:

FP said...

Wow UV, such a beautiful post!

Jake's pics on stage, are among my favorites of all the time
looking at them seem to see around him an almost supernatural atmosphere, like a Greek God or something like that!

Anonymous said...

Jake has his director (Christopher who) and Denis has his actor.

FP said...

Wilson Garrett ‏@wilsonthepigeon 9m

I'm about 800% certain that jake gyllenhaal was in that tuxedo shop..

is a bit early for awards... but;)

Twitter said...

I'm competitive, but I'm totally okay with Jake Gyllenhaal passing me on my run!! @ Pier 25 — Hudson… http://instagram.com/p/daEivOHdzg/

FP said...

Edwin Sosa ‏@edwinsosaa 1m

jake gyllenhaal just chilling on the wall next to me, love the fact that no one is freaking out.

Anonymous said...

I'm just counting the weeks until prisoners release

Lily

bobbyanna said...

I really like this post, UV! Jake's got a beautiful smile. Such nice memories, too. I can't believe it was a year ago that the play opened in previews. I'm happy Denis and Jake have such a good relationship. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of their collaboration.

UltraViolet said...

Jake appears in this 2008 video tribute to Larry McMurtry. He's about seven minutes in and then he comes back again around 8:30.

Spoilery summary/maybe review of Prisoners.

UltraViolet said...

It's wonderful to look back at the play. It was a very special time, FP. And we got so many wonderful stage door photos.

I was so lucky to be able to see it several times. I don't think I ever said how the last performance went. Here's what I wrote to a friend at the time:

I was really happy to be at the last performance. There was nothing said or commented on, no reference to the fact that it was the last performance.

The only thing I noticed was that Jake had his camera when he came out for bows, taking photos of the audience. The audience gave a standing ovation, for which I was glad. And there were some "Woo hoos" as well. (Jake also snapped a photo of Enid as they left the stage.)

The best part of this performance was that my friend loved the play and all the performers, especially Jake. She really doesn't know much about Jake - in fact, she asked what country he's from as we were leaving. So that was a validation of his accent!

I was wistful going in, as I imagine Jake was, although even more so. But I am so grateful I got to see him in stage and got to go more than once. What an experience.


I remember thinking how funny it would be that Jake was taking a photo or video of us instead of the usual reverse.

Anonymous said...

How I wish I could go back in time and see the play again. Such wonderful memories. Thanks UV *winks* (and you know why)

Anonymous said...

Spoilery summary/maybe review of Prisoners.

Definitely NOT a review of the movie, more like a review of the trailer with wishful Wolverine fans thinking. The blogger saw the trailer and made a pretend review.
So much more happens in the story with Jake's detective ending up doing the heroic things that Jackman fans expect from their hero. Jake's character isn't supporting, he's as much a lead as Jackman. Jake's fans will be content with the turn of events, Jackman's fans not so much, they may not like the ending.

Chica said...

Has it been a year already? Jake was incredible in this and I hope he decides to do more plays since he has now made N.Y. his home:)

FP said...

Is it me or Jake is getting very popular on Netflix?

UltraViolet said...

Zodiac seems to be very popular on Netflix especially, FP.

Yes, Chica, more plays. Then we can all see Jake onstage again.

I do know why, GC:) I really wish we could go back to see it again. Oh how I wish it had been filmed in full and offered to the public somehow.

Did anyone watch the Larry McMurtry video? Jake looks really good in it.

Cathy said...

Wow, that's great about Denis Villenueve and Enemy. I love the cariacature drawing of Jake too.

FP said...

UV, the same thing happened with EOW! :)
I do not know if it's already been done, but they should put Jarhead also

Just saying heads of Netflix;)

mermon said...

Did anyone watch the Larry McMurtry video?
I did. Jake is very cute in it.
Oh how I wish it had been filmed in full and offered to the public somehow.
You have no idea how I wish it to be filmed! Not having a chance to see it at all! But I had a chance, thanks to my Gyllenfriend, to read the text of ITIIHFIY and I like it so much.

Mary said...

I watched the video UV thanks for the trip down memory lane love it when Jake talks about BBM. Also good memories about the play hard to believe it's been a year already since he did the play.

Monica said...

I hope it will be a successful partnership! Thanks, UV.
Thanks for the video about Larry McMurtry!

UltraViolet said...

Glad folks enjoyed the video:)

Mermon, I hope someday that the Roundabout will reveal a tape. Either way, you'll have to make it to NY (or London?) for Jake's next play.

I cannot wait for the day when Jake's name is not connected to Taylor Swift's at every music awards ceremony. We still have the Grammys to go through next year, so I know it won't happen soon.

Anonymous said...

"We still have the Grammys to go through next year, so I know it won't happen soon."


No one remembers who taylor sings about on which song. People can't keep up with ber bitterness, Twitter was talking more about Harry Styles than Jake G. She hinted that her song was about Harry Styles since he was in the audience, its all about PR with her. As long as Harry Styles is as popular as he is, Taylor will keep her references toward him to keep promoting her music and to keep people talking about her.

But folks are catching on to her, she's a joke.

UltraViolet said...

I'm not saying the song was about Jake. I'm saying I'm tired of going through twitter on VMA/Grammy/You Name It night and seeing tweets about Taylor calling out Jake.

People are idiots and just assume songs are about Jake or Harry Styles or John Mayer and repeat the inanity ad nauseam.

Yes, a lot of people are tired of her. But she has more fans than haters, sadly, and at least one major awards season to go through with Red.

UltraViolet said...

Also, pick a fucking name.

I'm even more tired of people coming on here and lecturing us about the Ways of the Industry.

Jesus. How hard is it to choose a name and stick with it.

bobbyanna said...

Ugh, UV, it's a pain to wade thru all her B.S. to do a twitter search for Jake.

Except for the Grammys, I don't watch the music awards shows any more.

Twitter said...

Yes, I had lunch at the table next to Jake Gyllenhaal. Yes, I was drunk. Yes, he's even better looking in person. #cityliving
Collapse Reply Retweet Favorite More
12:07 AM - 26 Aug 13 · Details

FP said...

Erica Fieldman ‏@EJFieldman 2m

Yes, I had lunch at the table next to Jake Gyllenhaal. Yes, I was drunk. Yes, he's even better looking in person. #cityliving


What have we done wrong to deserve Taylor Swift and her music?

there are already enough problems nelmondo

Anonymous said...

Out For A Stroll With Alyssa In NYC

http://www.iheartjakemedia.com/thumbnails.php?album=2432

Monica said...

he lost weight?

Tweety said...

Love the McMurtry video, BBM is such a iconic movie. I'm so sorry I missed Jake on stage I do hope thst he decides to do another one

Jake does look thin, he must be getting ready for filming his next movie.

I ignore all the Taylor crap on Twitter, I could care less.

Mary said...

Finally saw a TV ad for Prisoners today.
Jake does look a little thinner maybe for Nightcrawlers?

Hagen said...

Apparently "Enemy" has found distributors in China, Poland, Belgium and Luxembourg (lineup of Pathé International at TIFF).

UltraViolet said...

Thanks, Hagen. Still no US deal, I guess.

Mary, a bunch of folks have tweeted about seeing the Prisoners ad. I guess that's a good sign for promotion.

UltraViolet said...

I know Pathe isn't handling the US deal, btw. Just wish we'd hear some news on it.

Anonymous said...

looks like Alyssa cut her hair. I like this new look. I didn't notice that Jake dropped weight.

maybe I should take a closer look (wink)

Lily

suvee said...

I just realized that I have yet to see a trailer for Prisoners at a theater...... and I've gone to the movies for the last 4 weekends. Isn't it opening very soon?

On the other hand, I've seen the trailer for Captain Phillips for what feels like about 20 times :)

UltraViolet said...

Hi, suvee! I saw the trailer before The Butler this weekend. Seemed like a good reaction from the crowd; a few gasps and rapt attention. (It comes out on 9/20.)

I like Alyssa's haircut, as well, Lily.

Anonymous said...

Brandon Osorio ‏@_brandonosorio 12m
Throwback to when jake gyllenhaal just walked by my dorm two minutes ago

FP said...

Brandon Osorio ‏@_brandonosorio 20m
New York University

Throwback to when jake gyllenhaal just walked by my dorm two minutes ago

I have seen on twitter several references to Prisoner and Jake that focused primarily on how hot Jake looked with that hairstyle and neck tattoo, I wanted to be intellectual moviegoer and pretend to be interested in the plot of the film, the performances of all the actors, to the superb direction, etc., but I, when I saw the trailer, I was all about sexy as hell hair and tattoo too,so....lol ;)

UltraViolet said...

Some things are too hard to resist, FP :)

I just saw a Prisoners ad during SportsCenter on ESPN. Good placement. Nice to see them advertising it more than a month out. I don't think I've seen this version of the ad before, either. I hope they have a bunch of different versions so people don't get tired of it.

UltraViolet said...

According to this press release, Jake will be on David Letterman on Tuesday, September 3. A bit early, but it's right before TIFF.

I would like to see Jake do some LA promo, as well. He hasn't been on Leno or Ellen in years.

Office of Nancy Pelosi said...

Hi Suvee! I saw the trailer for Prisoners over the weekend when I saw The Butler too UV. Good buzz from the audience , very intense.

That is a bit early for Letterman, I assume that he will be doing the NY talk show circuit.

I'm so sorry I didn't get to see Jake make his NY stage debut. Hope he got the bug and will decide to do another one soon!

bobbyanna said...

I wish I'd seen it. I saw The Butler, but they just showed a Wolf of Wall Street trailer and one for a Nelson Mandela biopic with Idris Elba.

I hope we get some good feedback from the screenings of both movies at TIFF.

UltraViolet said...

LOL:

http://www.starsightings.com/photo/view/198210/2013/26/08/Alyssa-Milano,-Jake-Gyllenhaal-New-York,-New-York-SoHo.html

FP said...

DJ SUPA MEGA ‏@RealSupaMega 6m

Jake Gyllenhaal Lays Down The Law In Exclusive 'Prisoners' Clip http://nblo.gs/OveDH


FP said...

UV LOL at starsightings, it went well, I guess, could be a Tobey Maguire / Alyssa Milano sighting!:)

bobbyanna said...

Now that I think about it,
I've recently seen trailers for Gravity, Don Jon, the Idris Elba Mandela movie, August: Osage County, and Wolf of Wall Street but not Prisoners. : (

Thanks for the heads up on Letterman. BTW: That's a great clip from the movie.

Alyssa Milano??? Really? LOL!

UltraViolet said...

LOL, FP. That would have been perfect!

Thanks for the clip link. I hope we see a little more of Jake in the movie than just him yelling at suspects and comforting parents. What that would be, I don't know.

Will be interesting to see how it plays in TO.

UltraViolet said...

Bobbyanna, guess you need to keep going to the movies :)

FP said...

Tess ‏@TessTheGreatt 2m
ny51

Just saw Jake Gyllenhaal & got so excited I literally screamed. I actually think I just had my 1st heart attack. So. Attractive.

Anonymous said...

Are YOU Jake Gyllenhaal’s Biggest Fan?

http://iheartjake.com/2013/08/looking-for-jake-gyllenhaal-fans-in-los-angeles/

Monica said...

Prisoners TV Spot 1

bobbyanna said...

Hey, if you want me to be from the Los Angeles area I can be! LOL!

This sounds strange, a little scary, and exciting. : )

Translator said...

Jake's interview for Inside the Actors Studio will air Thursday, Sept. 19 at 8/7c on Bravo: Jake Gyllenhaal to Appear on Bravo's 'Inside the Actor's Studio'
"His first time on the series, the actor discussed his films "Brokeback Mountain," "October Sky," "Donnie Darko," "End of Watch," and the upcoming "Prisoners". In addition, he discussed his famous Hollywood family and revisited his relationship with late friend and "Brokeback Mountain" co-star Heath Ledger."

I'm excited and so proud, I said it before but it bears repeating.

"If there is I haven't found it" memento and the scans from Villeneuve's article were nostalgic and hopeful. Reading Villeneuve's words about Jake, the feeling of warmth and true friendship I had before is enhanced in this new interview.

Mary said...

Thanks translator

bobbyanna said...

Wow. Everything is converging. Jake's movie opens September 20th, and he will go to Spain for the San Sebastian Film Festival for the 22nd? I wonder if he'll make any appearances for Prisoners in Europe since he will be "in the neighborhood." : )

I am looking forward to ITAS so much.

FP said...

Tori Woodward ‏@ToriWoodward 1m

On a date with jake gyllenhaal. Well he's at the table next to me. So only kind of 😙

WOW! Translator Thanks!: )

UltraViolet said...

Thanks for the great news, Translator. Looking forward to 9/19!

I confess to wishing Fincher or Scorcese had found their muse in Jake. But it is heartening to read Villeneuve's words and I am hopeful for their collaborations.

That biggest fan thing is a little odd, lol.

New post.