Tuesday
Jan102012
Save Jake
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 2:53PM 
JA from MNPP here. perhaps you've heard that Jake Gyllenhaal just left CAA, his agency of fifteen years? He's not homeless or anything, he's taking up residence inside WME, but coming as this does only a couple of months after leaving his longtime manager we Gylenhaalics are definitely left to wonder what's gone wrong. .
Looking at his IMDb page it's pretty clear something's been up for awhile. Once End of Watch comes out - directed by Training Day's David Ayer, Jake shaved his head for his role in the supposedly gritty LA cop drama - he has absolutely zero projects lined up. Oh sure there's David O. Russell's Nailed off in limbo-land but I imagine we'd have to shoot somebody in the head with a nail to get a look at that (we're willing!). He's been rumored for many a project - a Jake Namath bio-pic, a Damn Yankees musical - but they've come and gone and all we've gotten instead is the Prince of Persia.
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He has always tried to work with interesting directors - even Persia was helmed by Mike Newell. And Duncan Jones' Source Code was a bit of a disappointment, but I think it's also undervalued at this point.
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So my question for y'all is this: working under the assumption that you like Jake as much as I do, or Nat does for that matter, what would your advice be for Jake if you could bend his ear for a moment? What type of projects should he seek out? Should he sing and dance? Should he go make teensy tiny art movies again? How about Donnie Darko 2: Let's Forget That S. Darko Nonsense Ever Happened? Or maybe he should put explicit pup-tent rendezvous back on the front burner?
tagged Gyllenhaalic
Gyllenhaalic
Reader Comments (38)
If he finds another brokeback i am in otherwise anything where is hairy chest is on show.
It is strange/bizarre that Channing Tatum is working twice as much as Jake, but he seemed to be weird about picking parts the last five years or so. He's missing his moment. It's weird too, that he's losing his mojo just as Kirsten Dunst is getting hers back. And when she dumped him, it was her worst period. Maybe they're mirror twins. When one is up, the other is down.
Please, Hollywood:
Can you stop writing shitty sequels and reboots and build a movie around a true charismatic movie star in the making like Jake Gylenhaal, Kirsten Dunst, Ewan McGregor, Keira Knightley or James McAvoy.
Tell Leo and Fassy and Gosling to stop hogging all the roles for leading men in their 30s! And while you're at it, please do tell Carey Mulligan that she's not right for EVERY part her age. Poor Kiki and Keira need to work too, you know?
You even made poor Claire Danes run away to television again, for God's sake (although I kind of love you for it because Homeland rocks!).
Sincerely,
Jorge
He should go dark and sexy - something like SHAME - and he should push the acting envelope - he could do it. Note that Leo, Fassy and Gosling all have better street cred as actors. They've also been willing to be sexy and dark. Walk away from the rom-coms and the weird sci-fi (although Source Code was a super movie) and make a stand as a man who can act and fuck up a storm.
He should go dark and sexy - something like SHAME - and he should push the acting envelope - he could do it. Note that Leo, Fassy and Gosling all have better street cred as actors. They've also been willing to be sexy and dark. Walk away from the rom-coms and the weird sci-fi (although Source Code was a super movie) and make a stand as a man who can act and fuck up a storm.
He's going to be on the Berlinale jury in February, maybe he can work something out with one of his fellow jurors, there are quite a few directors among them:
Asghar Farhadi, Anton Corbijn, François Ozon and jury president Mike Leigh. Quite an interesting bunch, aren't they?
While they're at it, maybe they can ask Charlotte Gainsbourg along, too.
ANNA: You've left me with a vision of Gylenhaal in Jérémie Renier's role in Potiche. I can't stop laughing at that image.
Uh, how about starring in Weekend 2 with Tom Cullen?
Jokes aside, Jake should go the comedy/family film route for a little bit, I think. I don't think he has the personality for something dark like Fassbender or Gosling-- they're more brooding, he's more cute. Thinking about roles from this year that he should try to emulate, I'm thinking Matt Damon/We Bought a Zoo or Bobby Cannavale/Win Win (a younger version obviously) would have been better suited to his talents. Anything with Amy Adams would also be appreciated.
Two words: Bubble Man
Source Code and Prince of Persia were fantastic! So far I liked all of his movie choices. He could play in Prince of Persia sequel and some good musical, for a change. He wanted to star in Moulin Rouge. He's always good in indie films. Some sexy love story would be great as well.
I think Jake can play dark. In fact, I'd love to see him in a bad guy role. Someone vicious like a serial killer who is smart and cunning. Maybe they should remake The Eyes of Laura Mars.
He would've been spectacular in Drive, or in Ides of March, or in Crazy Stupid Love. He never seems to generate a lot of product. He needs to work more not take breaks. If he had more product then the ones that weren't so great wouldn't matter so much.
Gosling is a good actor, but he isn't a great actor. He doesn't have a lot of range. There is something similar about his character in all his movies. Murder by Numbers and Drive for example.
He needs to emulate Matt Damon and find a Bourne type franchise to keep him 'bankable' and mix it up with arty films and interesting directors. Von Trier or Mcqueen
I don't see him as a superb villain quite yet. I am thinking a Civil War epic of sorts. He would do well within that sort of familiar drama, and would look good in uniform.
"It's weird too, that he's losing his mojo just as Kirsten Dunst is getting hers back. And when she dumped him, it was her worst period."
1. Public: Kirsten who?
2. Jake Gylenhaal dumped Kirsten Dunst for a man he was dating.
I agree about the scary absence of pre-production/post-production projects on his IMDB page... He better get cracking this year.
But having said that: some of you really need a history lesson, I'm afraid. :)
Gyllenhaal is "in the making"? Tell that to his Oscar and Golden Globe nominations and his many, many years of flm making before he even turned 30.
You "think" he can play dark? Someone has yet to see Donnie Darko, Rendition and Brothers, clearly.
Don't get me wrong, I share the concern about Jake's filming future. But at least give him the credit he deserves for the wonderful variety of films he's made and characters he's embodied so far.
"Jake Gylenhaal dumped Kirsten Dunst for a man he was dating." Matt, please, how many years we have to read those tales? It's boring.
Ekster - I'm sure he can act dark roles, as he did. But I don't see Jake as a black character or maybe I don't want him to be the one.
My understanding is that his difficulties working on Zodiac got him pegged - fairly or not - as a lightweight, and that his decision to star in movies like Prince of Persia and Love & Other Drugs reinforced that. Lightweight rep combined with zero box office power = inevitable sharp career decline. If I were advising him, I'd try to get him to reboot, stop chasing the lame leading man parts (because he's obviously not being offered the good ones anymore), and get work for him that will remind people of why he was such a rising star from 2002-2007.
Also, I'd tell him to drop some of the muscle bulk. Far prefer the smaller Jake of yesteryear over the roided out, beardo jock that exists today.
I thought Source Code was one of Jake's best movies in a while. Thoroughly engaging and he had great chemistry with the leading lady. But for an actor of his calibre and looks, he should be getting better scripts.
Something with something in common with Donnie Darko!! One of my favs. Whether it be dark, psychological, or indie.
His next movie is directed by David Ayer. Yeah. He went from a string of really well chosen directors and projects to a movie by the guy who did Street Kings.
Nothing can save his career because you need acting talent for that .
i agree with Kristen Dunst's similitary career
Look at Gosling’s films this year, I can imagine Jake playing those roles. He got what it takes to be dramatic, romantic, and dark. But working in a indie film mostly gives you more challenging roles. And get an agent like Brad Pitt’s where you get to work with Miller, Malick, and God know who else.
Since someone brought up Claire Danes and I watched Homeland too, I don’t understand an actress with an acting capability like Danes only won Golden Globes and in TV categories. Her performance in Homeland deserves all the awards. The moment when she asks for a green pen: No darling, what you need is an Oscar!
Director: Aronofsky.
Premise: Adam born without Eve. Chasing the Devil for answers across a newly formed Earth.
There ya go.
Perfect opportunity to return to form.
Apparently everyone has forgotten about the one film that features his best performance to date: Jarhead. Movie wasn't anything special but his work in it showed he has definite range. What's darker than the murderous "This is my rifle" scene?
Beau -- did u just pitch a movie?
Tony -- that's the problem with Jake. People are always forgetting the diversity of his work already. I admit that I'm completely and totally hot for him which surely colors my reaction but i think he's a better actor than he gets credit for being though i too wish he would take a few more risks.
freelance writer
Source Code was a disappointment? It got great reviews and did pretty well at the B.O.
Anyway, sad times are ahead when Channing Tatum is getting more juicy roles than Jake G. I think he should try to work with more independent directors. Take Gosling for instance, the man is not afraid to work with more unknowns or in the case of Refn, foreign masters who have yet to break into mainstream cinema. He takes chances and they generally pay off (All Good Things never happened... All Good Things never happened... All Good Things never happened). Maybe he should work with McQueen or perhaps even Jones again. He needs to sign up for some Oscar-bait roles (the man needs a second nomination... Brokeback was like eons ago) and not date Taylor Swift (oops... irrelevant, you say?). Anyway, lets hope he reads this blog and follows suit.
I agree with the Ramification. Jake needs his own Bourne franchise. That did wonders for Matt Damon's career. That's the best case scenario for Jake-y.
Jake's biggest problem is that he doesn't know how to pick the right film project to star in. He's clearly talented. I mean he's never given a bad performance but the majority of his films since Brokeback Mountain are pretty damn forgettable. There was Zodiac of course. That was an excellent movie but as good as Jake was in that film Robert Downey, Jr. and Mark Ruffalo easily took that film away from him thanks to their performances. When he tries to do those so-called "genre" films that supposed to mean box-office sucess, Jake often falls flat on his face even if the film does manage to make some money. Love and Other Drugs was a nice film but it certainly wasn't a memorable romantic comedy which was a pity. Jake and Anne Hathaway had wonderful chemistry but the film surrounding them couldn't support it. Look at Crazy, Stupid, Love. Watching that movie, and Ryan Gosling's terrific performance, I couldn't help but think, "This was the romantic comedy script Jake should have fought to get and star in!" That film is much, much better then LAOD and it's not surprising it did better box-office and was more critically praised. Source Code was the first film Jake has made in a long, LONG time in which it was generally an all-around excellent movie both with critics and at the box office. For the first time I actually saw Jake as a believable LEADING MAN who actually carried a movie successfully on his own shoulders! We need to see more of that. End of Watch sounds promising. Apparently it's pretty gritty, edgy and have an indie feel to it. It may turn out to be the exact type of film Jake needs to push him out of this safe haven he's currently in in terms of his career. Jake is a talented actor but his film career isn't all that exciting to watch. Too often after seeing one of his films in the theater I think to myself, "nice movie but I could have easily waited until that movie come on DVADor Blue-Ray to see it. It would be much cheaper." That's not the type of thought I'm sure most film actors wishes for their audience to think.
I liked him in Source Code and thought that movie was good. Michelle Monaghan gets the best out of her co-stars. More leads for her, please! But generally I'm uninterested in Jake. My attention usually wanders when he's onscreen (although I think he is a creditable actor).
So yes, I'd agree that he needs to pursue smaller projects that appeal to him specifically. He seems to have a diverse enough range of interests, but he seems to often do projects that appeal more to the person who convinces him to do them, than to himself.
Nat:
Sounds more interesting than that other Creationist drama he's doing with Fassy.
If you're going to do a revisionist biblical epic, Adam solo as opposed to Noah sounds like a much more interesting story IMHO.
yes, i agree a dark and gritty film would do wonders for Jake. a cold-blooded villain role would be even better...
and a stint at Corbin Fisher won't hurt either ;)
Am I the only one who doesn't care if he comes back or not? The guy isn't talentless, but he's an incredibly dull actor.
James: "Look at Crazy, Stupid, Love. Watching that movie, and Ryan Gosling's terrific performance, I couldn't help but think, "This was the romantic comedy script Jake should have Tfought to get and star in!" " - That's so true! I had the same feeling. I had it also watching
In Time, Mr Nobody, No Strings Attached. He would be great in all those films.
I don't agree that Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo easily took Zodiac away from Jake. IMO Jake was shining like a diamond in it. His role was evolving from a quiet cartoonist to a dedicated investigator. And he portrayed that very well.
Love and other Drugs with great Jake and Anne' performances, was nice, but could be better directed.
I think he's incredible talented, very natural and very handsome. I don't think he's buffed too much. He is in such a shape as a role demands from him. Buffed he was for Prince of Persia, but unfortunately we didn't see too much of it. And in Jarhead of course. As a soldier he had to be.
And what would you say about him being Tommy in Brothers? Excellent performance.
I think he has too many nice roles, he needs to amp it up a bit. He needs to get rid of the beard, it makes him look sad and dreary and way to old! It seems like maybe he is not fighting for any roles. Maybe this move to WME will bring the change that he needs. Please don't say he is gay cuz im gonna marry jake someday, you watch and see!!!
I think Jake Gyllenhaal and his lover Austin should continue to focus on their new daughter, as they have been doing. He is extremely talented, and a year or two hiatus will not diminish him whatsoever. He is a respected actor for a reason (because he is exceptional, should anyone need reminding). I look forward to his acting choices in future. I would not dare giving him advice, especially in areas where I am not qualified.
Jake actually has five children, and one on the way. You can read all about it at this website:
http://www.ohmygodot.blogspot.com