Happy Easter

(Courtesy of tumblr.)

"He's a star in the world."

Actress Beth Grant was the guest of honor this week at a Meet The Lady. In an interview preceding the event, she spoke about Jake Gyllenhaal:



You and Patrick Swayze had already been close well before Donnie Darko. Was this your last project together?

We saw each other afterward a few times on a personal level, but that was our last work together. That was so perfect. It was not just that Jake Gyllenhaal was doing the part, whom I'd been in love with since he was three years old. The first time I saw Jake he was running across my in-laws' back lawn to the pool, because he was best friends with my twin nieces, and I remember turning to my sister in law and asking, "Who is that beautiful child?" He just was magical, always, so generous and open. I remember the sixth grade show they had at the end of the year. There he was, this sixth grade boy, and he stood up and sang "The Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera. What a song for an eleven year old! I thought, this kid is a star. Whether or not he's going to be a movie star, who knows, but he's a star in the world, because he's luminous.



Don't you wish you had a video tape of that?

We do have it on video! My in-laws have it. It's just crazy, we looked at it one Thanksgiving, still before he became a star, and I thought it all over again. So, for me to be acting with him — and also with Buddy [Swayze], who in many ways was a hero of mine, because he'd been the first person from our acting class who'd really made it, and who'd been a big influence in teaching me to love and accept myself as a character actress — the role became kind of true to life. It was a magical experience doing that film, it really was.

Two words, Beth: YouTube. Or is that considered one word?



(That photo is in desperate need of a caption!)

I also ran across this old interview with Jolene Purdy, who played Cherita in DD. She also has nice words about Jake:



J-14: What has it been like to work with such costars, like Jake Gyllenhaal, Tony Oller, and Ryan Rottman?

Jolene: Jake Gyllenhaal is such a nice guy. When I wrapped [Donnie Darko], he said some really nice things to me like, "You should be happy with the work that you've done on this film. Think about the people that are bullied and how they're going to relate to you. A bully sitting in the movie theater watching will think, 'Gee, this is really how I make someone feel?'"

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Someone who attended the NYFF showing of The Descendants grabbed these shots of Jake and friend before the show:




She said they were "adorable."



(Donnie Darko poster courtesy of flickr/zachwood. Angel poster found on bangshoot.)

Time Flies

Just in time for The Time Traveler's Wife to be released, there's a poll naming the UK's favorite time traveling films. Back to the Future took the top spot, with Terminator in second place. But the third place time-traveling superhero is none other than Jake Gyllenhaal's Donnie Darko:



Over the past ten years, Jake has traveled through the last six decades to play a variety of characters. The Fifties:



Sixties:





1970s:



Eighties:



1990s:





00s:





Next year, Jake breaks away from modern times and goes back to the 6th century to play the Prince of Persia:



What's your favorite era for Jake? Any time period you'd like to see him try? Early 19th century, perhaps?



(Photos courtesy of IHJ, Cathy Kanavy, Disney and Worth1000/DutchPuh.)

Dastan and Donnie

You may have noticed EmpireOnline has released a couple new shots from Prince of Persia.

Let us take a moment to pore over these fine sepia-toned shots. In that first shot, is anyone else getting an 80s rocker vibe? The trousers that look like skin-tight leather, the shirt open down to his navel, the hairy chest, the wild hair? I think I like it!

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Speaking of Jake characters as action figures. You might think that LEGO was the first to immortalize a Jake Gyllenhaal film character in miniature, but you'd be wrong.

Not so long ago artist Wade Schin created a one of a kind Donnie Darko figurine which puts the LEGO Jake to shame. Sadly, it was a one-off piece of artwork that sold for $750.00.



What a great piece!

Pics courtesy of EmpireOnline and Gallery1988.

Cinema swan songs

Premiere has a story on Stars Who Die The Most in their movies. But there is a glaring omission: Jake Gyllenhaal.

Three of Jake's characters have met an untimely fate - more than both Will Smith and Harrison Ford who are at the bottom of the list. Jake's percentage of character deaths is higher than most people on the list.

More importantly, each character is unique and truly memorable, despite Premiere's amnesia. But we remember...



Donnie Darko



Holden Worther



Jack Twist


Let's hope Jake's next three characters have a happier fate.

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The Coachella tidbits continue. You had to wonder if Reese minded Jake looking at his old girlfriend so wistfully...



I guess not!



Reese is rocking! From an observer:

Jake Gyllenhaal (omg HOT) and Reese Witherspoon were side stage watching the whole time. Seriously, they were the most adorable freaking couple. They were both singing along to some of the songs. I got a June Carter Cash moment watching Reese rock out to Jack Killed Mom. And when Jenny slowed it down, she put her arms around his waist and they looked so happy it made me smile.

Thanks to the blogger and youtuber for the reports.

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Happy Earth Day!



(Photos, as always, courtesy of IHJ.)