Coop'd up

Jake has spoken about his former co-star Chris Cooper before and the advice he gave him when Jake was just starting out as in actor,

Chris Cooper once told me to never have any regrets. After Chris said that to me, I walk into every scene thinking, 'exhaust every possibility.' Once you get to a certain place, it's like you just deliver everything you've got. Don't have any regrets. It pops up in my mind over and over and over again.

Even this year at TIFF Jake mentioned the advice the man who once played his father gave him.

Most thought Jake was just reminiscing but actually it might have been a little hint about his new movie.

Deadline has exclusively confirmed that Chris Cooper has now joined the cast of Demolition. No word on who Cooper's character is or his relationship to Jake's character. The Jean-Marc Vallee movie begins film in New York next week.

Demolition will be the third time Jake and Chris have worked together.  Most remember Cooper as Jake's dad in October Sky,  while some may have forgotten that Cooper played Lt. Col. Kazinski in Jarhead. 

Will "Jake" tweet about his new co-star?  Well someone might, but not Jake.  Here's Jake at TIFF talking to Vanity Fair about how he doesn't have a clue who is tweeting as him.

Rocket Boys

Before October leaves and November rolls in,  have to have a flashback to October Sky.  What a incredible start to Jake's career.

Homer Hickman, who Jake played in the  movie, tweeted a never seen picture from the October Sky set last month.

 

I taught Jake #Gyllenhaal how to run on the day this pic was taken.  - @HomerHickam

 Looks like Jake didn't need any help with popping that hip. Even with the train coming.

Close enough for government work.....

As we celebrate President's Day here in the US, thought about all the ways Jake's government connections and patriotism on screen.

October Sky - National Science Winner and future NASA employee

Moonlight Mile - Lending a helping hand at the Post Office

TDAT - Inspirational story for Presidential speech

Jarhead - Marine

Brokeback - Sheepherder - Forestry Service



Rendition - CIA Analyst

Source Code - Soldier/Experimental Government Program



And of course Bubble Boy.

Bubble Boy?!?!?!? How?

.... like it's 1999

Back in 1999 two actors did had their first big roles in a movie.



























Wonder what they've been up to ?




















Don't forget OMG's Movie Club is this Friday, October 23 and Saturday October 24th, starting Friday at 5:00PM EST.

This month's movie is My Beautiful Launderette.

Rocket Boys

October Sky is based on the book Rocket Boys,the autobiographical story of Homer Hickam and the pursuit of his dream of building rockets and working for NASA. Hickam was growing in up in the small coal town of Coalwood, West Virginia with a future of working in the mines like his father until the launch of the Soviet rocket Sputnik in October 1957. That moment changed his life and his dreams, inspiring to pursue a future of building rockets and seeking the stars.


Homer and his friends begin building rockets and pursuing their dreams of something more than a future in the mines of Coalwood like their fathers and their father's fathers. Their early attempts go awry but soon with diligence determination and the support of their science teacher Miss Riley they soon find success . And for Homer not following his father's expectations for him, but finding his own dream. As time goes on, the whole town of Coalwood soon comes to support their pursuit and help the Rocket Boys as the continue work toward their dreams. From the machinists who helped turned the rocket nozzles, to using the coal company's material to build them, and even using the slak dump for launches. Rockets are not their only challenges and they find themselves having to overcome much more as they move from boys to men. (October Sky is just too good to spoil here in the post for those who haven't seen it -- GO FIND IT AND WATCH IT)

It may look like this is a movie just about one boy's dream, but October Sky is much more. It is not just about rockets but really about a boy seeking the approval of his father and reaching for more and not settling for less. It is about finding your dreams, pursuing them, persevering and succeeding. It is about community, family, honor and perseverance. And most importantly how education changes lives.

This was the first lead role for Jake and from this you could see the star he is today. He was 18 when he played Homer, and had just few roles (City Slickers, Homegrown) before playing a lead to award winning actors Chris Cooper and Laura Dern. Jake not only stepped up to the challenge but exceeded and in October Sky you get the first glimpse of a future star. Looking back now you see the openness and honesty of Jake's performance. You see Jake. You see the innocence and a refreshing naivety untouched by Hollywood. A young man, a star on the rise pursuing his dreams like the real Homer Hickam.

October Sky is amazing true story that can be shared with everyone and everyone will be moved. It is a true family movie, and one that teaches something new to each and everyone who sees it.

I am breaking my own rule of never making a post personal - this is an expection. For some it was Donnie Darko, for others was Brokeback, I love both of those movies, but it was October Sky that made me a fan of Jake's. Eight years ago, I saw this movie, and Jake went on my list of actors to watch. There are not many stars that make you sit up and take notice right out of the gate but Jake did. October Sky is one of my favorite movies and one that never fails to make me cry. Such a small story with such a big message.


Some trivia:

October Sky is an anagram of Rocket Boys. - Universal thought Rocket Boys would not appeal to women so they changed the name.

O. Winston Link a photographer of many the most classic photographs of steam locomotives appears as a locomotive engineer in the film.Link Musuem

IMDB.com - October Sky

October Sky Trailer

Homer Hickman Official Web Site - Rocket Boys/October Sky



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