Punch Back

A little more Punch to Southpaw.

Page Six is reporting that 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) will play a promoter who’s part of the entourage of the cocky, aggressive, volatile boxing champion Billy Hope.

 Jake and 50 at the premiere of End of Watch.

Billy fully expects to ride out his career with his massive winnings, adoring fans, beloved wife, Maureen, and their 10-year-old daughter but when his temper triggers a fight and shootout that leaves his wife dead, Billy’s life spirals out of control. After he loses his house, money and daughter, he begins to find his way back to some kind of balance with the help of an amateur trainer (Forrest Whitaker).

Southpaw is still filming in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and will soon shift to Pittsburgh for the remainder of their summer filming.

and some Throwback (shirts optional)

Director's Cut

Prisoners broke it's award nominee shut-out with a Critics Choice nominee for Best Cinematography for Roger Deakins while it looks like one of Jake's previous director is finding another full award season. David O. Russell has been on an award roll since Nailed with The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook, and now American Hustle.  It make you want to watch Nailed as least the version Russell created just to see what kind of performance he capture with Jake. 

Early in his career Jake seemed to pick movies even more by the director than the screenplay.  It looked like he was creating his own film school working with some of the best directors in the business.  Each brought a difference to the screen,  then seem to be change - an evolution perhaps? Jake started working with "young" directors - those with only a few movie under their belt or those directors who had success outside of mainstream Hollywood, with a sprinkle here and there of a bigger name.

So here's the question:  Which director do you think had

Had best Director/Actor relationship with him?

Seem to have the best off screen rapport?

 Captured the best performance from Jake?

Who influenced Jake the most?

Who was the most challenging?

Who do you think Jake respected the most?

Didn't work as an actor director?


October Sky - Joe Johnston

Donnie Darko - Richard Kelly

Bubble Boy -  Blaire Hayes

Lovely & Amazing - Nicole Holofcener

The Good Girl - Miguel Arteta

Highway - James Cox

Moonlight Mile - Brad Silberling

The Day After Tomorrow - Roland Emmerich

Proof - John Madden

Jarhead - Sam Mendes

Brokeback Mountain  - Ang Lee

Zodiac - David Fincher

Rendition -  Gavin Hood

Brothers - Jim Sheridan

Prince of Persia - Mike Newell 

Love & Other Drugs - Ed Zwick

Source Code - Duncan Jones

End of Watch - David Ayer

Prisoners - Denis Villeneuve

And including two not seen on screen but based on off screen:

Nailed - David O. Russell

An Enemy - Denis Villeneuve

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?

Government Approved

Yeah I know. But sometimes Twitter can be inspiring.

Like this one:

Two hours into the conference and one thing is clear, people working for the US government love Jake Gyllenhaal- Funkier

Reasons the US Government Loves Jake Gyllenhaal

Made Santa a hot Marine. Hooah!
Al Gore might have brought the Powerpoint but Jake brought the sexy back to global warming.
He's the pin up boy in the CIA analyst offices
He's the face of the new "Protect Yourself against H1N1" campaign.
We all wanted to make out with Jen Aniston too.
He's the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad we can reason with.
Getting a little more governmental:

And it looks like other countries' government might get a chance to fall for him too. The G20 Summit is meeting in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh? G20? What the heck? Well President Obama said Pittsburgh because it has transformed itself from the city of steel to a center for high-tech innovation – including green technology, education and training, and research and development. But still thinking it's "the government just love Jake."

Having that many world leaders in one place means security. And in a city that has 3 rivers, 59 river bridges (of the 2000 bridges in Allegheny Co) and 6 major tunnels that cut through surrounding mountains, it means no one is getting anywhere anytime soon, and that's even before the protesters. There was mention that production of LaOD was moving 3o miles out of Pittsburgh to shoot the next couple of days.

It may also mean that Jake finds a bike or puts on the kicks and takes transportation matters into his own hands. Talk about a work out. Although looking like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on a bike might not be the best idea.

Rendition Release

"There is a certain point in Rendition when a haunting image will strike you. As the good battles despair, the bad seeks glory and the ugly raises its hydra-heads, Douglas stands and watches. He turns, as shadows on his face coagulate; and suddenly the light balances the dark. You notice the sadness within the blue, and the rest just turns into mundane."

OMG's Exclusive review of Rendition from the premiere at TIFF, by Rattler

Rendition comes out today on DVD and while many equate this movie now more for what this means in terms of Jake's personal life at the moment, we can not lose important message of this film. This was a message movie dealing with the question when are actions justifiable? When is what seems wrong right? Is it ever? When is it okay for Rendition? When is it okay to use less than humane means to get information? Is there a time that the suspension of human rights is justified for the good of others, and how many others does it take that makes it count?

Gavin Hood's film deserves a second , third , and fourth look to understand the complexities of the story. Rendition is filled with great performances in addition to it messages. From the Washington players, the earnest of Peter Sarsgaard in contrast to Meryl Streep's icy realism with Alan Arkin's almost indifference unless it came to effecting his tenure that struck a chord. And in a world away the intensity of the twisted triangle of Omar Metwally, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Yigal Naor.

We can not forget that there are still individuals who have been imprisoned under Extraordinary Rendition. Whose families and friends are still working for their release. That rendition is not just a news blurb, a script, or a movie, it is real life. Like Sabri Ben Kahla, who still sits in a maximum security prison in Ohio in solitary confinement, despite judges orders for Sabri to be placed in a minimum security prison close to home (VA).

Less is More

"Knowing when to do nothing is one of the least appreciated of an actor's skill, here's one who learned it early."

Many may scratch their head when they read that Jake was included in Esquire's Performances of the Year for his role in Rendition. "What the heck did he do? He just sat there for most of the movie." Precisely. But sometimes less is more. But how is that a performance? The performance is the subtly of restraint. To convey something from nothing. Many actors can go all out and go over the top to make their characters larger than life, but it is true talent to resonate in the quietness of a character.

Jake has been seen crafting this in his last three films, Brokeback, Zodiac, and Rendition. For all of the bravado of Jack Twist, it was the restraint and quietness of Jack that spoke much more. Heath received praised for his role at Ennis, and rightfully so, but many missed how Jake brought Jack Twist to the screen. Many thought that his performance was less than Heath's but if you look back you can see that Jake is doing much more with the character than just what you see on your first look at Jack.

Zodiac found him using restraint and introspective quietness to portray Robert Graysmith. Again first looking at Zodiac you are drawn to watching Robert Downey Jr.'s performance. Jake's performance at first passing doesn't seem like how you should play a lead, but a secondary part. Then watching interviews with Graysmith you realize wow, Jake found his Graysmith, he captured the essence of this cartoonist. The power of his restraint comes through again.

In Rendition you find him spending most of the movie in a darken room observing. You see Douglass Freeman almost detracted from the rest of the characters, and see Jake's performance an antithesis to his fellow actors. He doesn't want to be there, not wanting to participate, both as Douglas and as Jake. But that is exactly what the audience is supposed to be feeling. While you are busy watching the torture of Anwar, done so well by Omar Metwally, you become frustrated because you want Jake to do something, anything. What has he done? And right there he has caught you - he made you react to character out of doing nothing. You have been brought into the story in another way. And then you see Douglas reach his breaking point and finally doing something to save Anwar. Time, patience and restraint to create the performance.

Jake is creating performances that lend themselves to second and third looks to get the true sense of them. They are so layered that are to be watched over again to be peeled back and discovered.

It is easier to go broad, you can hide more your of weaknesses as an actor, but it is when you hold back and give just enough that you leave the door open for everyone to see the true essence both the performance and the actor. The audience just have to stop and take the time to look.

'Cause I can play the part so well

Weekend Box Office Summary
1 30 Days of Night (2007) $16M
2 Why Did I Get Married? (2007) $12.1M
3 The Game Plan (2007) $8.12M
4 Michael Clayton (2007) $7.1M
5 Gone Baby Gone (2007) $6M
6 The Comebacks (2007) $5.85M
7 We Own the Night (2007) $5.5M
8 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) $5.14M
9 Rendition (2007) $4.17M
10 The Heartbreak Kid (2007) $3.9M

The beard doesn't look so good.


But here it works.


"One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,"

Gooberballs - Jake at Letterman 10-15

Jake was far from awkward, his favorite word from the last time, this visit and brought a new word to share. Gooberballs.

To find out the origin of Gooberballs, check out Jake's visit with Dave.
You Tube - Jake & Dave 10/15
Senduit - Jake & Dave 10/15 (download)
Sendspace - Jake & Dave 10/15 (download)
Thanks IHJ!

On the way out something strange happened it appears that Jake is shrinking. Are his legs getting shorter or did he just grab the wrong pair of black jeans? Perhaps a pair with a longer inseam than he normally wears? Oh they look all the same when you are throwing stuff in the bag.


UPDATE: Today Show

First things First - Congratulations Destiny! on meeting Jake outside the Today Show.

"Just got back from standing outside the Today Show. Before the interview he came outside and walked around and I actually got to shake his hand! My gf is already teasing me that I'll never wash it again."...see more from Destiny in the comments.

To see Jake on the Today Show:
YouTube Jake Today Show 10/16
Senduit - Jake Today Show 10/16(download)
Sendspace - Jake Today Show 10/16 (download)

UPDATE: Regis & Kelly
To see Jake on Regis & Kelly:
YouTube - Jake Regis & Kelly 10/16
Senduit - Jake Regis & Kelly 10/16(download)
Sendspace - Jake Regis & Kelly 10/16 (download)

Big Thanks to IHJ!!!

NEW: Promo for The Ellen Degeneres Show
Jake on Ellen Thursday

Rendition: Media Rounds

Where to see Jake:

Here's the schedule of Jake's Upcoming TV Appearances & Specials (Courtesy of IHJ)


October 15th, 2007 - Late Show With David Letterman (CBS) 11:35 pm Eastern

October 16th, 2007 - The Today Show (NBC) 7:00am Eastern

October 16th, 2007 - Live With Regis & Kelly 9:00am Eastern(Check Local Listing)

October 16th, 2007 - Late Night With Conan O'Brien (NBC)12:35am Eastern

October 16th, 2007 - Film 2007(with Jonathan Ross)(UK)(BBC1)11:05pm BST

October 17th, 2007 - The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)11:00pm Eastern

October 18th, 2007 - The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3:00pm(Check Local Listing)

October 27th, 2007 - The Culture Show (UK)(BBC2) 7:10pm BST

Note for some syndicated shows times may vary

Thanks to IHJ and WDW, for all the great leads on interviews and their links.

Afraid you missed an interview? Check here:

HBO First Look: Rendition (download)
HBO First Look: Rendition (download)(alt download site)

Jonathan Ross Show Part 1
Jonathan Ross Show Part 2
Jonathan Ross - Jake in Green Room
and of course you knew this was coming
Swimming

BBC News Interview

Sky News(UK)- Interview

Cinemax Final Cut(uncensored)Part 1
Cinemax Final Cut(uncensored)Part 2

Entertainment Studios Interview

WISN (Milwaukee)Gino Salomone Interview

Fox 6 San Diego

Gyllenvision

Harry Smith of CBS Morning Show shows his dismay of not being on the schedule for this round of interviews for Rendition. We will have to wait and see if Jake stops by CBS or not.

Where to see Jake:

Here's a schedule of Jake's Upcoming TV Appearances & Specials (Courtesy of IHJ)

October 10th, 2007 - HBO First Look: Rendition (HBO) 8:45pm

October 12th, 2007 - Friday Night With Jonathan Ross 10:35pm(UK)

October 15th, 2007 - Late Show With David Letterman (CBS) 11:35 pm Eastern

October 16th, 2007 - The Today Show (NBC) 7:00am Eastern

October 16th, 2007 - Live With Regis & Kelly 9:00am Eastern(Check Local Listing)

October 16th, 2007 - Late Night With Conan O'Brien (NBC)12:35am Eastern

October 17th, 2007 - The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)11:00pm Eastern

October 18th, 2007 - The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3:00pm(Check Local Listing)

Note for some syndicated shows times may vary


Rendition is a serious topic but can Jake be serious through a whole interview? Especially Conan. And will Paul Schaffer (Letterman) try to put him back in the 'Bu?

Rendition: Review of the Facts

Sometimes to understand a movie you need to do a little homework. You may read the book, others you read the reviews, and almost always watch the trailer. But Rendition deals with a topic that many know little about but hopefully more will come to know. This is something that has happened and continues to happen today.

Wicked wrote a post regarding the real life rendition of Sabri Ben Kahla. (see OMG's sidebar) Rereading it makes you stop and think, not can this happen? but why are we doing this? Another case you may know of is the case of Khaled El-Masri, an entirely innocent victim of the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" program who was released without ever being charged. As Hollywood as these cases sound, unfortunately they are not, but are real life cases.

Gavin Hood asks the same question in Rendition. What are we gaining from extraordinary rendition? Is it worth it? Are there pros and cons? What are they? What outweighs the other?

The goal of Rendition is not just to entertain but inform. At Rendition's official site under Film Info and then World View there is a great multimedia resource list regarding the practice of extraordinary rendition. Check it out.

I do add this one thing from the American Civil Liberties Union's website regarding rendition:

"Since 1990 the U. S. has utilized an intelligence-gathering program involving the transfer of foreign nationals suspected of involvement in terrorism to detention and interrogation in countries where -- in the CIA's view -- federal and international legal safeguards do not apply. Suspects are detained and interrogated either by U.S. personnel at U.S.-run detention facilities outside U.S. sovereign territory or, alternatively, are handed over to the custody of foreign agents for interrogation.In both instances, interrogation methods are employed that do not comport with federal and internationally recognized standards."

"...some experts estimating that 150 foreign nationals have been victims of rendition in the last few years alone. Foreign nationals suspected of terrorism have been transported to detention and interrogation facilities in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Diego Garcia, Afghanistan, Guantánamo, and elsewhere. In the words of former CIA agent Robert Baer: "If you want a serious interrogation, you send a prisoner to Jordan. If you want them to be tortured, you send them to Syria. If you want someone to disappear -- never to see them again -- you send them to Egypt."

ACLU - Fact Sheet:Extraordinary Rendition

ACLU - El Marisi vs. Tenet Case

OMG - Real Life Rendition - Sabri Ben Kahla

Rendition Official Site

Rendition Premiere - Toronto International Film Festival

RENDITION

World premiere at Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto

6:30 pm, 7/11 TIFF 2007


Rattler’s Thoughts


There is a certain point in Rendition when a haunting image will strike you. As the good battles despair, the bad seeks glory and the ugly raises its hydra-heads, Douglas stands and watches. He turns, as shadows on his face coagulate; and suddenly the light balances the dark. You notice the sadness within the blue, and the rest just turns into mundane. It is this simple sense of grief that will permeate through the rest of the film, linger while the note on the flute turns into whisper, gradually seeping into your heart. You realize that this sadness is meant to be universal; for the derivative emotions invoked will just depend on who is watching the film. A rapid chill will run through every immigrant’s heart, some will polarize into red and blue, some may just shake their heads, while quite a few will be glad that Arar received a settlement.


“This is my first torture”, you will hear Douglas say. You will laugh at the wordplay, and will be sad again. And this, indeed, is Gavin Hood’s coup the grace. He has done his homework well, and uses Morocco and Washington deftly, like an artist mingling two colors on her palette. Two cities and two cultures contradict and contrast each other, but in the end turn into shades of gray. He develops characters with both naiveté and brilliance. Some are stereotypes – Meryl Streep scorches, Alan Arkin slithers, while Peter Sarsgaard’s empathy soothes Reese Witherspoon’s despair. But it is the brilliance of Omar Metwally, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Yigal Naor that will mesmerize you. Three sets of eyes will cut your attention into three equal parts.


The plot is well-known, so there is no point going there. The plot twist is not novel; you have seen time wrapping up into one, and space splitting into two. Wong Kar-wai, Alejandro Iñárritu, and Chris Nolan have been there, done that. But what Gavin Hood offers is a poignant point of inflexion. Moral polarities neutralize amidst blood and gore. It is also at this point that the broken pieces of Douglas simply glue up. There is just one thing that irks you in the end – every sub-plot has a conclusion except one. Is there a hidden message after all? Perhaps hope is not supposed to end.


Rendition, like any other film that deals with moral issues, treads on thin ice. You always wonder – what is right and what is wrong? The answer could be simple – embedded within a name. While Metwally scintillates, that name belongs to Jake Gyllenhaal.


If Rendition does not win an Oscar, you will hear Rattler’s sigh for sure.

Sharp Dressed Man

Jake once again did not disappoint in Toronto. Mixing and matching looks for his interviews, press conference and premiere effortlessly.

Sealing the deal as the best dressed man of the evening.




His red carpet look is the epitome of men's fashion for Fall 2007. Monochromatic classic style with a twist of casualness. The subtle tone on tone striping of the suit with the patterned tie. The formality of a French cuffed shirt with a black cashmere sweater stepping in as a non traditional turn for a vest. Jake once again is keeping on fashion point and making every one notice.

And it is not only what he wears but how he wears it. Impeccably tailored, perfectly appointed, and layered with ease. He is the picture of the confidence, style and sophistication.

More Toronto Pictures:

Rendition Press Conference Pictures at IHJ

Rendition Premiere Pictures at IHJ

Rendition Portraits

Premiere Just Jared

Press Conference Just Jared

Earning his Wings

Arriving in Toronto, Jake looks like he is ready for TIFF. Cool, confident and casual, he will be making Air Canada wings the hottest new accessory by the weekend.

The big question is the red carpet. Will he or won't he?

Wear the wings I mean.

Just Jared

More Pictures at IHJ

photo- IHJ

UPDATE: Rendition Reviews
Globe and Mail

The Star

Rendition Press Conference
Just Jared

Toronto

All eyes maybe on Venice, but don't count out Toronto!

Toronto International Film Festival has become one of most important film festivals and seen an ideal venue to premiere films. It is the considered the premiere film festival in North America. And has been described as "the most important film festival in the world – the largest, the most influential, the most inclusive."*

Rendition has a lot of company at this year's festival. 349 films from 55 countries, including 275 feature and mid-length films, 85 per cent of which are world, international or North American premieres, and 71 of which are feature directorial debuts. Who will be on that guest list with Jake? Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Lou Reed, Jonathan Demme, Peter Bogdanovich, Sidney Lumet, Lord Richard Attenborough, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, and Mira Nair are just some of those attending.

Does Toronto have the touch at picking Oscar contenders and fan favorites? Yes the do. Do any of these ring a bell? Chariots of Fire,The Big Chill, The Princess Bride, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Roger and Me, Strictly Ballroom, Life is Beautiful, American Beauty, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, AMÉLIE, Hotel Rwanda, Brokeback Mountain and Gavin Hood's Tsotsi.

But really what is going to be the toughest competition of Toronto? It has to be who really has the bluest eyes. Christopher Plummer, Ed Harris or Jake? All of whom have movies at TIFF.

A big thank you to Rattler who has agreed to cover TIFF for OMG. We can't wait to hear what you have to say about Rendition and maybe who really does have the bluest eyes.

Toronto International Film Fest
TIFF's page for Rendition

Gotta give some Austin love today too.
Two polls about best summer shows. Go vote and show them that JFC and Austin were the best part of summer.

HBO's Viewer's Choice

E! Online's Best of the Summer


*Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail, September 3, 2005.

Natural Selection

Pushing past all the spin and buzz and smoke and mirrors, Rendition premieres in Toronto and brings with it an important and topical message. Not about co-stars, billing or Oscar contention, or the social political dialog about the War on Terror, but a message about the gray area of left and right and right and wrong. And more importantly, how there are no easy answers.

This seems to be a pattern in Jake's movie career. If we look at Jake's past few movies, we see this in the characters and stories he's chosen. From Jarhead to Brokeback to Rendition, and even in Zodiac, no easy answers or in some cases no answers at all. Movies that show that there is no right answer or no perfect ending that wraps up all the lose ends. Movies that are more like real life than escapism of Hollywood fantasy. Movies that you have more questions when leaving the theater than you did when you came in. Kind of the way Jake is to many of his fans right now.

Are Jake's movie choices showing us a reflection of him? Or is he a reflection of his movie choices?