11/14/2005
Jake Gyllenhaal Talks Brokeback
Expect to be reading and seeing much more about Brokeback Mountain in the coming weeks as the media seizes on this groundbreaking movie. I have a feeling we'll probably be hearing from some of the conservative wingnuts as well about how gays are destroying the American cowboy tradition, blah, blah, blah...
But anyway, Jake Gyllenhaal recently talked to the Calgary Sun about what it was like preparing to shoot Brokeback in the cold, windy mountain country of Alberta, Canada.
"Heath and I came to Calgary early to rehearse with Ang. The first place he took us was a campground (near Fort Macleod). There was a trailer for me, one for Heath, another for Ang and a fourth for (producer) Michael Houseman. We were living in the trailers and it was spectacularly beautiful country, but it was also really lonely. It really began to affect Heath and I, but that’s exactly what Ang wanted. He wanted us to experience the loneliness our characters felt. Just looking at the Alberta landscapes as Ang filmed them, you get a real sense that it’s being so lonely that brings them together. Straight or gay, everyone understands the concept of loneliness and how it makes you search out someone to help fill that void for you."
Jake also recently brushed off notions that it took courage to play an intimate gay character: "What I think is really more courageous is people who are trying to be more intimate in their real life who are up against real things. Intimacy is an incredibly hard thing for all of us no matter what the political things going on around it are. For everybody loving somebody and being close to somebody is filled with just as much anger and resentment and jealousy as much as there is love and happiness when we're playing characters. I think it's a time where more people are open to this than it might seem. This is an interesting idea and I think audiences want to see that."
And here are some screencaps from Jake's recent appearance on Ellen, in case you missed it.
Jake Gyllenhaal's Naked Butt [tr]
Not Your Typical Cowboy [tr]
Posted 9:04 AM EST by Andy Towle in Film & TV | Permalink
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We attended the IGRA Finals Rodeo this weekend, in Dallas, and also got to attend a screening of Brokeback Mountain. The studio (Focus Features) was there, several major critics (including Roger Ebert and Gary Cahill) were there also and they were shooting reaction interviews after the screening. I cried like a little girl, and had no idea the film would affect me so much. It's beautifully shot, perfectly acted and just about one of the most amazing things I've ever seen in a theater. One of the best things about watching this was the "group" reaction...wouldn't be the same watching at home on DVD, although it would still be a pleasure. Jake and Heath deserve some major recognition for the detail they put into these roles. Get out and see this movie!
Posted by: Wayne | Nov 14, 2005 10:48:51 AM
I love this post Andy. Jake's comments lead me to believe that he got in touch with a side of himself that he never explored during the production of Brokeback Mountain. And his comfort level in expressing his new found feelings are bold and refreshing. Certainly he now has an understanding of what most of us experience in our lives. His ability to communicate the total message that Brokeback Mountain conveys transcends the sexual aspects of the movie. Certainly these words were not scripted, but spoken from his heart. Every reader should take special note of this. Following Jake's lead, I believe that this is the message each of us should endeavor to convey to the straight community through every means possible. I have high expectations for this movie to break through barriers of hate and create new levels of understanding between the gay and straight communities. And, I predict that this movie will command record box office receipts for its genre if the embodiment of Jake's reflections become the focus of its message.
Posted by: Johnny Lane | Nov 14, 2005 1:43:05 PM
I planned on saying something intelligent here, but those pics of Jake just made me all moist.
Sigh...never mind.
Posted by: chad | Nov 14, 2005 2:06:03 PM
From what I've been reading the some of the straight press, Brokeback Mountain may become a cultural thunderbolt as well as a "great Film". As such, it's just making me more and more afraid to go see it.....it's very undignified for a man my age to be crying unconsolably in a darkened movie theater.
I admit it, I'm afraid.
Posted by: Ted B. | Nov 14, 2005 2:47:46 PM
Ted, don't be afraid. You'll cry, but not uncosolably...promise. I was crying, but besides sadness it was also out of pride. I'm so glad this film has been made, and so well at that. Not that I needed any other reason to love Jake, but he has now become the icon to which all of my other celebrity crushes will be measured. Heath Ledger has also risen in my ranks...I only knew him from the horrible flick about the rock and roll jousters (can't remember the name, and for good reason), but he is the definitive cowboy in this film, quiet, pensive, internally emotional, and just about as hot and sexy as you can be.
Don't be afraid! Run to see it as soon as you can, and then go back and take some friends!
Posted by: Wayne | Nov 14, 2005 3:17:07 PM
I can't stop watching the film's trailer! Must've seen it half a dozen times already today.
Posted by: gabe | Nov 14, 2005 3:27:32 PM
Everyone always acts like it's so brave for an actor to play a homo. Remember William Hurt's hi-camp hissy fit of a performance in Kiss of the Spider Woman? He basically neutered the role so that when he kissed Raul Julia, it was totally sexless. In Manuel Puig's great novel, it doesn't come across as sexless, but that would have been unpalatable for Hollywood
Posted by: beautifulatrocities | Nov 14, 2005 6:51:42 PM
Does anyone have the video of Jake's appearance on Ellen? I'd love to see it.
Posted by: Terry | Nov 14, 2005 8:23:19 PM
WAYNE - was there any buzz floating around about Ebert's reaction to the film? I hope that he loved it... he's one of the few critics out there with the power to make or break a film's Oscar chances.
Posted by: Bithysith | Nov 14, 2005 8:40:58 PM
Roger Ebert has that much clout with the Academy members?? Really??!!
Posted by: chris | Nov 14, 2005 9:52:41 PM
Roger Ebert has that much clout with the Academy members?? Really??!!
Posted by: chris | Nov 14, 2005 9:53:13 PM
Terry go to iheartjake.com they have all of his interviews.
Posted by: shan | Nov 15, 2005 1:09:50 AM
Thanks, Shan. Great video, and Jake is just too damn cute for his own good.
Posted by: Terry | Nov 15, 2005 2:41:22 AM
Hi to all from Germany, imagine that we have to wait until next February to watch this movie.....can't wait! I'll just read the short story again and again...haven't read something more moving before than this last sentence...
Posted by: Markus | Nov 15, 2005 6:02:49 AM
Anybody else notice the grammar error?
I totally just lost some respect for jakie. hahaha
"It really began to affect Heath and I"
should be
"It really began to affect Health and me"
(direct object)
Posted by: Buko | Nov 15, 2005 1:10:30 PM
Thought it was once again some kind of slang I don't understand. And who is Health?
Posted by: markus | Nov 15, 2005 2:38:15 PM
I just saw the film last night and have not been able to get it off of my mind all day today. I'm actually thinking of heading back to see it again tomorrow. It's a wonderful movie and, speaking from experience, it's dead-on in so many areas. To me, Brokeback has several layers. One of the most interesting is that Ennis was never overtly attracted to men in general, but he was quite capable of falling deeply in love with THAT particlar man (Jack). Obviously, no one was more surprised by this than Ennis himself! Brokeback was the very best choice for a New Year's Eve. As I embark on another year, the film reminded me very clearly that I need to be true to my heart and live my life accordingly.
Posted by: Robert | Jan 1, 2006 10:59:17 PM
que chico mas sexy! esta buenorro y tope cañon!
Posted by: Roger | Jul 4, 2006 9:48:49 AM