Jake Gyllenhaal has proven he can play the leading man in very successful blockbuster films. He is out to continue that streak withSource Codeout this Friday, April 1.
We love us some cute Jake, so we thought we'd look at the top 10 Jake Gyllenhaal flicks in this week's"Top 10 Movies"
What's your favorite Jake Gyllenhaal flick? Take a look at our list for some inspiration.
Check out our list after the jump!
Our Jake stars as the less noble of two brothers in this war-thriller, co-starring Natalie Portman and Tobey Maguire. Sam Cahill (Maguire) sets off for war in early 2007, while Tommy Cahill (Gyllenhaal) stays behind. Tommy is the black sheep of the family, causing trouble and creating mischief. When Sam is missing and presumed dead, his wife Grace and their two children must deal with the grief. Tommy steps up to help in their time of need, but then Sam comes back with major PTSD, it threatens the relationship between these two brothers. The film received mostly positive reviews, with a 61 percent fresh on Rotten Tomato. Gyllenhaal was nominated, along with his co-stars, for a Saturn Award.
9.Zodiac(2007)
Zodiactells the true story of the notorious serial killer, known as the"Zodiac", who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late '60s and early '70s. Gyllenhaal stars as Robert Graysmith, a cartoonist from the San Francisco Chronicle, who can't let go of the case, even after others have let it be. The lead reporter on the case (Robert Downey Jr.) has long given up, but Graysmith continues to investigate. Gyllenhaal did a lot to prepare for this role. He met with the real Graysmith and videotaped him, so he could study his mannerism and behavior.
8.Love and Other Drugs(2010)
In his most recent film to date, Gyllenhaal stars as Jamie Randall, a pharmaceutical salesman who falls in love with Maggie Murdock (Anne Hathaway), a woman who suffers from early onset Parkinson's disease. This is the second time Gyllenhaal and Hathaway have starred together in a film -- the first one was Brokeback Mountain (also on this list). Although the end of the film is cliche a bit too sappy for the rest of the film, the beginning and middle make up for it. The two have undeniable chemistry and it helps that Gyllenhaal is naked for a lot of the film - he doesn't disappoint!
7.Rendition(2007)
Renditionexplores the controversial CIA practice of extraordinary rendition, where countries move suspects from one country to another where torture is allowed in order to interrogate them. Jake stars as Agent Freeman, a new agent who is assigned the task of observing the interrogation of chemical engineer Anwar El-Ibrahimi for his involvement with a known terrorist. Freeman believes he is innocent, but his boss (Meryl Streep) insists they continue to keep him prisoner and torture him to ensure the safety of other victims of terrorism. Gyllenhaal plays the role of a starry-eyed agent jaded by his involvement in the case with precision and just the right amount of emotion.
6.Jarhead(2005)
Based on the real-life story of Marine Anthony Swofford and adapted from his best-sellling 2003 book,Jarheadfollows his pre-Desert Storm experiences in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Gyllenhaal stars as the protagonist who endures some pain and suffering upon entering the marines, including nasty pranks at the hands of the senior Marines. After arduous training sessions, he becomes a sniper and is paired with Troy, who becomes Swofford's spotter. The film takes on a real-life look at life in the Marines, highlighting the boredom and sense of isolation the men felt, as opposed to glorifying the fighting.
5.The Day After Tomorrow(2004)
The Day After Tomorrowis a science-fiction film that looks at the effects of global warning in a series of extreme weather happenings that leads to global cooling and ultimately a new ice age. Gyllenhaal stars as Sam Hall, the son of Jake Hall (Dennis Quaid), a paleoclimatologist who goes on an expedition to Antarctica to find out global warming is a very near global threat. Sam is in New York City when the series of natural disasters hits and he must keep everyone alive with the little knowledge he has from his father.
4.Donnie Darko(2001)
This film cemented Gyllenhaal's role as a leading man in Hollywood. He stars as a trouble teen who sees vision of a doomsday-prophesizing rabbit, who manipulates him into committing a series of crimes. He is also plagued with sleepwalking, family drama, and trippy dreams. Gyllenhaal does an amazing job in this one and it might still be one of his best performances.
3.Moonlight Mile(2002)
This film isn't as well-known as some of the other Gyllenhaal blockbusters, but it an incredible drama about rebuilding after a death and the effects someone's death has on the people around them. Gyllenhaal plays Joe Nast, a man whose fiance, Diana Floss is murdered in a restaurant robbery. He decides to stay with her grieving parents (Susan Sarandon and Dustin Hoffman). He falls in love with Bertie Knox, which ends up causing him trouble with his deceased finance's parents. Matters are further complicated since Joe is a realtor in business with Ben Floss, Diana's father.
2.October Sky(1999)
Before Gyllenhaal made it big, he co-starred in the very popular filmOctober Sky. Gyllenhaal stars as Homer Hickam, a coal miners son, who studies rocketry against his father's wishes. He ends up becoming a NASA scientist. The film is based on the book written by Hickam. The film was critically acclaimed and has a 93 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Gyllenhaal proved his acting chops in this film and he does a great job as a young man destined for greatness.
1.Brokeback Mountain(2005)
Talk about performances of a lifetime -- this could be it for Jake Gyllenhaal. Playing opposite Heath Ledger as a married, but gay cowboy, who begins a love affair while The two men fall in love on a mountain in Wyoming in 1963. The film looks at the next 20 years of the pair trying to hide their relationship, but also trying to spend time together. The forbidden love between these two cowboys broke through many boundaries in Hollywood and director Ang Lee won an Academy Award for Best Director for the film. Both Heath Ledger and Gyllenhaal did an amazing job in their roles, both with their outward relationship and inward turmoil. Indisputably Gyllenhaal's best performance to date.
The Thingstars Kurt Russel as a scientist in the Antarctic who come face to face with a shape-shifting alien who takes on the appearance of the people it kills, making it hard to recognize it for what it is. During the night, the strange god mutates and attacks other dogs. The team investigates and soon realizes the horror they are confronted with. The dog mutation scene is just the beginning and provides an awesome start to the rest of the scary sci-fi flick.
The big screen adaptation of the H.G Wells novel read on the radio, scaring millions of people around the world, features all the suspense and excitement of the novel. Tom Cruise stars as Ray Ferrier, who has his children for the weekend after his estranged wife drops them off. Earth is invaded by aliens and he must get out of the city and get to Boston before they completely take over.
