Tuesday, March 06, 2007

JAKE GYLLENHAAL ESQUIRE, FROM THE PRESS PIT POINT OF VIEW

So yeah, Jake Watch was getting a little tetchy that practically everyone in the world has now met Jake apart from us, the people who really matter. We thought about faking an encounter that involved a Jack Daniels induced evening at a $6 Motel and a plastic pink flamingo lawn ornament but no, we just couldn't...you'd want pictures. So, we did the next thing, we managed to persuade LA based journalist, Liane Bonin, who has met Jake on many an occasion to give us a little personal perspective on the man that is Tobey M...er, Jake Gyllenhaal! You may need turn up your squee-o-meter.

The first thing I noticed about Jake Gyllenhaal? He’s tall. Surprisingly so. In Hollywood, you get used to lowering your expectations. An actor who stands forty feet tall on the big screen is invariably 5 foot 6 in person, pumped up on celluloid by clever cinematography and co-stars with poor posture.

But Jake isn’t like those shrinking stars. When I first met him at the Sundance Film Festival, I was taken aback when he stood up, all six feet of him unfolding from a wooden chair in the crowded restaurant. He was wearing a white cotton shirt, looking like a neatly pressed college student (which, at the time, he was).

Most actors his age would have tried to play it cool, affecting an air of boredom while mumbling answers to the most basic questions. Jake was a child of Hollywood parents, but he had none of the usual snotty rich kid attitude. He was not only polite, but serious. Said excuse me, please, and thank you. As the din in the room escalated, he leaned forward to hear every question, those dark eyebrows furrowing in thought. He was smart, too. He knew a lot about directing, about writing, even said those were things he wanted to do himself someday. I had no doubt he could, too.

He was talking about the movie he had come to the festival to support, a little movie featuring a gigantic rabbit that sounded pretty bizarre (Donnie Darko, who knew?), but I couldn’t stop thinking about the earnest, idealistic kid in October Sky. There aren’t many actors who exude sincerity without a script, who you’d expect to help a little old lady across the street even when a photographer wasn’t around to memorialize it. But Jake seemed like he’d come to Grandma’s aid in a heartbeat.

“What a great guy,” I thought. “Hope he stays that way.”
The truth is, it’s hard to hold on to your better self when celebrity gets in the way. I’ve seen a lot of young actors change as their fame grew to overwhelming proportions, becoming conceited or jaded or so self-absorbed they seemed unaware of the world outside the Chateau Marmont. I had high hopes for Jake, though. He seemed too solid to fall prey to the teen actor cliché.

He didn’t disappoint. By the time The Day After Tomorrow was released, Jake was regular tabloid fodder (thanks to his relationship with Kirsten Dunst), and he’d won the role of heartthrob du jour in a big action movie. He could have developed a swagger in his step, that bored cool guy attitude. But he was, amazingly, still the normal guy with the slightly embarrassed smile. He was a little older, his face a little leaner, but there was still that endearing, boyish quality to him.

He still said please and thank you. He still furrowed his brows when he listened, leaning in, giving his full attention. He was still the same old Jake. And that was a very good thing
Our thanks to Liane for indulging us with the Gyllengoodness. Please visit Liane HERE and HERE for more info on her career, projects and first novel Celebrity Skin.

34 comments:

cina said...

I was taken aback when he stood up, all six feet of him unfolding from a wooden chair in the crowded restaurant.

I wish I could witness that myself some day. The fact that he's tall is one of the things I find so incredibly sexy about him.

Tall is something I'm not.

veeveevee said...

^^Oh Cina, wouldn't that be a sight to behold. I'd love to see it someday myself, especially when we keep hearing that he's better looking in real life.

Turn up the squee-o-meter? I think that info just broke it! :-)

One of the reasons I like him so much is that he is intelligent, articulate, likes to play around, but knows when to be serious, and continues - despite everything going on around him - to be a genuine, nice, polite guy.

(Who just happens to be the most beautiful man on the planet.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting that article. He's got to be so handsome in person. Tall, sexy, intelligent...omg I'm starting to melt.

Anonymous said...

"He was still the same old Jake..." AWWWWWWWW!!!!!This person is making me jealous. Not bcz she met Jake. But bcz she is DOING something! I mean. She wrote a book, maintains a website and still has time to do the manicure, pedicure, vacation in the south of France and go to lunch for a living. She is living my dreams!!!Her life is a hot fudge sundae and Jake is the cherry on top! Rats!!!

Anonymous said...

the problem is, he's still not tall enough to make me feel frail and tiny in his arms. DAMN! that's my secret dream. no such luck when a girl is 5'10 tall... :D

salailama said...

wow, what a cool piece—it this was any indication, liane's book seems like it would be a good read. thing is, i'm not sure i'm all that interested in learning about other celebrities besides jake =P. has anyone read her book?

Anonymous said...

Don't worry,I'm a tall girl myself, just like you, but, seriuosly, does it matter?:)I used to like very tall guys but the thing is that very tall guys like tiny girls, so gave up on them. Jake is just the right size:)

Anonymous said...

Jake is just the right size:)

yeah, i know, the problem is that i am not :P

still like them tall, only resigned myself to settling for some squirt who'd fit under my armpit *G*

Anonymous said...

I'm 5'6", so he's just the right height, even iif I were to wear heels! Too bad it'll all be in my mind only! LOL

cina said...

Well, I'm just under 5'3", so I guess I'd be a squirt who'd fit under his armpit. ;)

But I'd be doing quite nicely under there, thank you. :p

Anonymous said...

I admit to a desire to "squeeeeeeeeeeee" after reading that......

Sam said...

Yep.. that sounds like our Jake *nods*

Anonymous said...

I'm 5'3" in heels!I often tell people: I'm NOT overweight, I'm just too short. If I were 5'9", my weight would be perfect! Right now, I look like a Rrenaissance painting...but not in a good way. As soon as the temperature hits 40 degrees I intend to start walking two hours a day. Until then, I'll take one of those hot fudge sundaes! LOL!

Local Celebrity said...

He's just so... perfect.

Anonymous said...

SQUEEEE!!!

"...all six feet of him unfolding from a wooden chair in the crowded restaurant. He was wearing a white cotton shirt..."

Oh jeez, the mental images...

Thanks so much for posting that! It doesn't surprise me that Jake is still the sweet, unassuming guy he always was. Lovely article!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad he's still sweet, blah, blah, blah. I'm delighted he's so polite and accessible and humble, etc., etc., etc. But sheeesh! Sometimes I have these dreams where he backs me up against a wall in a dark corner and he doesn't say please! (Goes to fan self and pour another Grey Goose with a "twist.")

Bobbie said...

^^^ Anonymous 12:46, THANK YOU. For the greatest fantasy ever. Except I'm putting myself in your place, I hope that's okay. ;) Even though that article warmed my heart, I have to agree with your comment, completely.

Anonymous said...

But does he say "Thank you?" LOLOL!!!

cina said...

Oh boy... her comes that Jarhead fantasy again.

"Shut the fuck up! Shut the fuck up! SHUT THE FUCK UP!!"

Oh. *THUD*

Anonymous said...

Uh-oh Cina's gone again!

Seriously, Jake has become a rare one in hollywood. What's it called... Sky High?, hell no... stuck up?, No that's not it. I KNOW!

Down to Earth! The man is grounded and that's why I (oops, WE) love him so much. He's real because he's sincere. He's great because he has manners. We love him because Jake is Jake.
It's his style... (whispering) JakeG Style!

cina said...

In all seriousness I think he's a great role model for young men/boys. He's such a level headed and sweet guy.

KayDee said...

don't like my boys sweet! i'd rather he growl "Easy easy" in my ear.

THUD

Anonymous said...

It takes one hell of a guy to look good clean shaven and scruffy and still be classified as hot!

Oh! Down I go! *THUD*

KayDee said...

i5's a good thing we're all young and healthy, otherwise all that thudding could prove dangerous!

Anonymous said...

Good thing we're a bouncy lot too! Ha-ha!

Anonymous said...

This is OT, but it's important!!!! The Defamer article was more complete than others I've read and THEY say Jake ended up buying Calvin Klein "mesh" boxer briefs...I just want to know. Is "mesh" like spandex??? And if it is, why would Jake need to wear something with butt firming properties? He has a very fine, very firm ass...speaking of Jarhead.

Anonymous said...

2:06: I hope you realize that the Defamer crap was a joke, unless you are playing along with the joke.

veeveevee said...

Good thing we're a bouncy lot too!

LOL! It is a good thing, indeed!

I'm picturing a room full of agents:

*THUD*
*bounce*
*THUD*
*boing*
*THUD*

;-)

KayDee said...

in our agently uniforms (chaps, no underwear), of course. LOL

heddaparsons said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
heddaparsons said...

It's great to hear that he hasn't changed a bit since she first met him. Sigh....

Anonymous said...

The CK mesh things are just regular unders made of a material that breathes more. Sort of mesh-like. Here's a picture.

Here's a picture.

Anonymous said...

Love the comment from anonymous - I'd love to be in the south of France right now! By the way, my book is fiction -- only way I wouldn't get sued. You can play the "geez, is that who I think it is?" game while reading it, promise.

As for the Jarhead fantasy -- hey, I wouldn't rule it out. Just because he didn't rough up a reporter doesn't mean he can't get fired up behind closed doors :)

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