Random Thoughts and Musings

It's been pretty busy today. Busy enough I couldn't write a proper blog post. I did write some stuff. What I'm going to post is a collection of thoughts ranging in subject from Star Trek and Brent to Alexander and work. This is bound to be boring.

To be completely honest.


Over the last couple of weeks, I have been thinking and testing how I really feel about my latest interest. I have come to a conclusion.

It’s Data I love, it’s Brent’s work I admire and Brent who fascinates me and I haven’t let go of Alexander yet.
This said, I prefer to watch Brent playing Data, though a Franz or Dennis is acceptable too, and I really need to revisit ‘Wij Alexander’ and ‘De Troon’.


Last week I was watching Star Trek the Next Generation which from now on will shorten to STTNG. Surprise, surprise. To be precize, I watched one episode from the seventh season and then some of the extra’s. One, which I really liked, was the Captain’s tribute, in which Patrick Stewart talked about his time on the show and about his cast mates. About Brent he said it took him longer to get to know Brent. That sparked a little theory in me. I must admit, it wasn’t really sparked, but rekindled. The idea had already sparked after my two lenghty reactions on Bravura I blogged about yesterday. The idea was also rekindled, because some people confirmed it.

Brent is a very privat person, which is fair. It does mean he doesn’t really talk about his private life and there is not much known about his life outside his work; people don’t even seem to be sure he and Lori are married.
To protect his private life he tends to give bullshit answers to questions and the man we get to see is a very public persona and has, presumably, not that much to do with the real Brent Spiner. Ironic choice of words since his website is therealbrentspiner.com.
He’s playing the persona so often and so thoroughly, it did make me hope he could unwind propperly when home. To me it seemed to be a very exhausting way of living your life.

Sure, everybody probably uses the public persona when outside, but I think most of us stay very close to ourselves. Not that I expect Brent to be completely different, but I do expect him to be more peaceful at home. He seems well balanced, mentally. He doesn’t look like he necessarily needs all the fanfare and hussle. He doesn’t need all the noise. Maybe he really is as silly and sarcastic. I don’t know. The feeling remains, his public persona is a very tight and fan proof screen (as opposed to waterproof). It makes trying to get to know ‘the Real’ Brent Spiner more of a interesting challenge and it makes the real person more of a mystery. Exactly what the Doctor ordered.


Sometimes I really feel they put too much faith in me. Other times I can’t believe the praise, because I felt the job was really simple. In any case, I don’t take praise well.

In my job the colleague I work most with now let’s me do stuff I feel he does much better. I suppose, since I’m the only other person knowing the process and ins and outs, I’m the most suitable person to take over. Still, his faith in my abilities I often find misplaced, or at least exagerated. Sure, I’m not stupid, I can understand simple to medium complex processes. However, I am not as smart as some people might think, neither am I functioning as well as I think I should, or they think I am. Sure, I get my things done, but I feel I could be much more efficient and effective.


For a few years I’m more wondering why I’m attracted to certain people than actually enjoying the new interest. Mainly because I was caught off guard a few times. It started with Jake. Throughout my whole Jake period all I could think was: “What-the-hell!?!?!?” Same with Brent now: “What-the-hell!?!?!?”

I can’t see my interest in Brent going for very long. I’m expecting it to last as long as my interest in Jake. I am still loyal though, I will try to keep up with what they’re doing, but I won’t follow frantically.

To Be Different, or Not To Be Different - That's Also Not the Question

Another of my allergies.


When I was traveling to work this morning, I saw a poster telling us not to look for the differences, but build bridges. Sounds like a lovely suggestion, doesn’t it. However, as usual, the world is not quite as simple and black & white like this.

Here is what I would say:

“Look for the differences. Don’t judge, but use the differences to each other’s advantage. Build bridges with those differences. Believe me, it will create fanciful, fascinating and innovative new bridges.”

That’s a crap, really too long mission. Let me try again:

“Build new innovative bridges with the differences to each other’s advantage.”

What I’m doing here, right now, is practizing my mission statements skills. When I was still a student there was one course dedicated to formulating missions. It was a warm summer day like today, and it was dark and cool in the classroom.

I made that last one up. Seemed dramatically appropriate.

Yesterday, my colleague and I kicked off our department’s new era. We already secretly started, but yesterday we officially started. The first assignment is thinking up a good mission statement which we can put on a flyer and spread throughout the whole company. The next step will be rewriting the “Product Diensten Catalogus” (Translation: “Product Services Catalogue”). That’s quite fun to do; it adds some variety to my work diet.

The start of this post was also partly inspired by the post about the gay question.

YouTube link: Jake's Changing Looks

Just like with the “gay” issue, it’s not being gay that is the issue, it’s the way people treat gays, that’s the issue. It’s not people being different that’s the issue, it’s people judging each other based on those differences. Of course everybody is always right and their differences is what should be the mould for all other life. In some cases, yes, the other is wrong, or maybe you are wrong. In a lot of cases however, nobody is completely right or wrong. Sometimes you just have to agree to disagree.


The last time I said that online, someone told me I was the biggest loser. I replied with a *shrug*. Worst thing (for that person, cause his/her comments don’t colour nicely on him/her), it was about something trivial; Jake’s looks. Oh, no, wait, That Is important.

Here's a game for you: Spot the difference!


Jake (twice) in the new film "An Enemy"



Jake Update

Last Monday I incidentally checked Jake on YouTube. He appeared at the Tony awards. The same feeling I had when I saw him present two awards. It’s something Becky once said and it’s something I agree on; Jake doesn’t seem to enjoy what he does anymore. When I watched him presenting the nominees all I could think was: “Get out! Go do something else.” Such a shame, because Jake’s got a marvelous smile.

A bit playful, but not as enthusiastic as in the past

Maybe he’s taking himself and his job a bit too serious at the moment? That’s another thought I had. Or maybe his private life isn’t fullfilling at the moment? I think he’s still single, isn’t he? Or are the rumours right this time? Well, anyway…if he’s got a girlfriend now, he doesn’t come across as over the moon in love.

Wow! A post about the Gyllenhaal. Something I haven’t done for a while, and someone I haven’t been paying much attention to lately. Even though Jake is quite different compared to Alexander, they both got something tragic about them. Jake as well, more and more. What’s the matter with that man? Why doesn’t he smile that often anymore? What happened to his playful and cheerful nature? Has someone been telling him the truth? Or did he finally catch up on the truth himself?

Whatever the case, there’s nothing I can do about it. But, Jake, if you want to talk…

My Purple Dream - Obsessions and Love

2006

A lot happened in 2006. In that year my JM/JM fandom was reaching its peak. I started on my new job. I met my ex. I finished studying and I nearly moved out of my mum's house. Not at all in that order though. Also Brokeback Mountain, the film, happened at the end of that year and I started smoking again after one year being sober.

I think I got a bit stuck there. I check in with myself on a regular basis, just to see how I'm doing, career wise and personally. I always have. Lately, I found my mind got somewhat stuck in 2006. This means that I still believe both JM's are only 28 years of age (incidental miscalculation), Brokeback Mountain has only just been released and the Oscar loss hasn't happened yet, which also means, Jake is still 24 years of age, as am I. Also "24" with Kiefer Sutherland is still on TV in its second season and Tristan Prettyman is 23 years old. It's been only yesterday Jason Mraz played Lestat's on a regular basis, or Schubas for that matter and Denise and I spent walking through Cheltenham one week in summer listening to Jason Mraz. Me various songs, Denise an Elton John cover; "Rocket Man".

None of that is true. Well, it was once. Thing is, looking back, I don't know where the years went. It's one thing celebrating your quarter life crisis, it's another getting stuck in it.

All those years before and after happened right up till now. I remember some of them well, others not so well. It took ages growing up, in my experience. Now time seems to slip away and yet, I'm not quite old yet. I just got started and I know when: Back in 2006.

This is all garbage and a distraction from moving on which I should really be doing. I am moving on, but nothing seems to matter as much as 2006. Nothing significant that affects my life is happening. It can't be that I'm already getting stuck in a rythm, or a job, or my life. Somehow my standard of living got stuck on survive.

Jewel also happened in 2006 to me, though she was around much longer before that.

All the friends from "Friends" are no longer 20-somethings and I'm not a teenager watching them, or a 20-something myself rewatching them. Not too long ago I realized they now all are 40-somethings and I'm no longer myself a 20-something.

Unlike some, I never dreaded the big 30. What I don't like is the fact that I'm now slowly, but surely moving towards the big 40. Definately an age where behaving like a child is frowned upon. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to be a grownup, even though I'm doing all the grownup things. To be honest, I'm not even sure what a grownup is. I'm now finding out that a lot of grownups are childish in some way or another.

It's funny how you can't wait to be grownup when you're a child and then when you are one, you want nothing more than being a child again. Or is that just me?

What About Naomi?

Source: Is she a man?

*camera pans in on silent boy*

Dramatic narrative: "the Boy is silent!" (What is he doing? ... You know who!)

*cue sting*

"...but....What about Naomi?"




Yeah, what about Naomi? Is she tall? Is she fat?

Is she steering the good ship Gyllenhaal to calmer waters? Is she trying really hard to hide her family from public in public? Is she babysitting her granddaughters? Is she climbing trees to retrieve balloons and shoes? Is she eating icecream in a bleedin' blizzard? Is she stabbing holes in an empty shoebox. For the answers for these and other questions....

I tell you what about Naomi: She's Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal's mummy. She's the driving force behind the image of the Gyllenhaals, these days sans Stephen, the dad.
Naomi does things too. She's a screenwriter and director, so she screenwrites and directs.

Does she have wavy hair?

 But what about Naomi? Is she nice? Is she manipulative? Or does she just care about her family?

Is she strict or just a perfectionist? Is she defensive or just loving? Is she scary or just not very good at social contacts? Or does she just not care how we think about her family? Who knows?

And what is her name? Is het Gyllenhaal? Is it Foner? Or is it back to Achs?

Is she on MySpace (No, she's not!?) or maybe on Facebook (Nope!) or Twitter (Nope!)? Is she computer illiterate or just too busy to post on forums like us simple plebs?

Does she still tell her children what to say in public or doesn't she need to anymore? Does she still eye Stephen fearing he might say something stupidly private?

Do you think she tries hard to be mysterious or is it just a talent? What about living up to all the fairytales? She seems to be trying so hard. Watch Maggie saying something and cue narrative (papparazzi obviously) aaaand cue sting: "What about Naomi?" Watch Jake cross a street and cue narrative (more paps) aaaaaaaand cue Sting: "What about Naomi!?" Watch some woman flirt with Stephen and cue narrative (of course the paps get this massively wrong) aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand cue STING: "WHAT about Naomi!?!?" Watch Jake getting upset and cue paps (narritive gets wildly exciting..see what I did there?) aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand CUE STING: "WHAT ABOUT NAOMI!?!?!??!?!?"

For the answers for these and other questions....refer to your regular paper, glossy, internet page or other celebrity roasting vehicle.

Does she always sit with her shoes on seats?

So please sing along:

What about Naomi? What about Naomi? We shall never know.

Inspiration: Wiki "Love of Chair"

Mraz vs Mayer - Hair Compare

So I now updated the JM/JM comparison twice. I pretty much ran out of steam, because I didn’t change my mind and the JM’s didn’t swap personalities nor talents. They are who they are and I am who I am. However, it’s fun, the comparison. So let’s get a little less serious.

Here’s a Hair Compare

I divided the periods up in five. This completely to my convenience and memory of severe shock. The periods are:

1. Cuddly-Wuddly-Fresh-Faced-Pop-Crooners
2. Up-and-Coming-even-Further
3. Somewhere-Inbetweeners
4. Somewhere-Down-the-Liners
5. Hipper-than-Hipster

Let’s start with the last one, since that’s the one freshest in my memory: Hipper-than-Hipster back in 2012. It was the sheer volume of the haircut + occurrence. I knew Jason was growing his hair, I didn’t know John was too.

The judgement

Volume
Both got a nice head of hair with good volume. In both cases the hair frames the face nicely and give the gentelemen a nice full, if what hairy, look. They can both carry it of quite well.

Since they both have about the same volume, I’m going to give both 1 point.

Jason 1 <> John 1.

Style
Both have a bit of curls, which I quite like. In Jason’s case his curls can become quite wild. In this picture however, his curls seem to be a bit absent. Shame, because it makes for a very interesting appearance.

Another point to touch on, freshness in the style. It is commonly known Jason is not into hair products and hair caring all that much. This means, his hairdo doesn’t always look as fresh and clean. John I never saw with a greasy, unbrushed do.

The point has to go to John for taking the best care.

John 2 <> Jason 1.

Accessories
I choose an uncharacteristic picture for Jason. Jason is a hat man, part because of his neglect in hair care sometimes. Jason sported, fedora’s, bandana’s, beanies, etc. John, sporting an interesting hat in this picture, usually goes for the bare hair look.

This point must go to Jason for the sheer variation of accessories worn on locks.

Jason 2 <> John 2.

So, who wins? I don’t know.

This also happened in 2012.

It was a hairy year.



About Taylor Swift

I'm sorry, I don't mean to be mean to be mean to....anyway...but this is funny:

"Jake Gyllenhaal, Bradley Cooper, John Mayer, and Vince Vaughn.


What do all these men have in common?

She must be the hardest working beard in Hollywood."

Found here.

That forum is out of control:

"If i was Jake Gyllenhaal and could do any chick in the world, i'd choose Maggie Gyllenhaal"

And a last one.

This was the title of the thread: "Jake Gyllenhaal is eager to step into the void vacated by Bradley Cooper, John Mayer, and Vince Vaughn. Don't kid yourself; you'd give your right arm for a chance at it too"


And this is a reaction to it:

"He's going to step into it? Like with his foot? If he can pull that off, I guess we can stop wondering why the other ones left her."

And to brighten things up:

Well - seeing her checked man past he should wear some protection:

 

Smart Blogging Skills

Blogger has this beautiful functionality where you can see stats of your blog. You can see how many page views you've got, how the surfers ended up on your blog and they're from, etc. Beautiful and useful. So I now know you are very interested in my reasoning why Brokeback Mountain is not just another love story and who's better, John or Jason, or Jason or John? I will also suggest you download "A Poet From Hollywood" by Cantara Christopher, since you were very willing to read my take on the book and there was actually nothing in that post about the book. Go here if you're really interested.

However, I'm still just a small, lone blogger and it remains decidedly quiet in this corner of the Internet.

Love & Other Drugs - Comments

The movie does have some redeeming features and scenes. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to redeem it completely or even justify the convoluted end result.

Most of the nudity happens on the poster

I do like the ideas behind the movie, but there are too many. None of the ideas and subjects get enough space and time to make an impact.

I do like a few scenes, especially the ones where Jamie takes Maggie to the convention and Maggie ends up in the unconvention. It’s the banter of those people, those other people with Parkinsons. I recognized their attitude and the way they handeled their situation. I remembered my dad and the days we hung around with other families with a MS patient. I remember the understanding you encounter during those days. All that comes across in Love & Other Drugs, and then as quickly as it came it’s over. Those scenes take up about 10 minutes, and then I return to boredom, annoyance and indifference. Such a shame.


While in bath, he keeps on his clothes

Why was the movie promoted as having a lot of nude in it? Because of that promotion I was expecting something something more and what we get is some nudity in a movie about a boy selling legal drugs, or about a girl having Parkinsons, or what? It seems the marketing department wasn’t entirely sure what the movie was about either. Oh look, I can see some skin. Let’s promote it as having a lot of nudity in it. I don’t know. The filmmakers seem to want to have an opinion on everything, but doesn’t have it.

It also has Oliver Platt and Hank Azaria in it. Wahey!

Brokeback Mountain is NOT Just Another Love Story

Worst Oscar winners seems to be an hot subject.


Remember the year Brokeback Mountain won the Oscars? Yeah, nobody does, because it never happened.

On YouTube I was reading the comments. I don’t know why, I do know I should stay away from there. On the other hand, it inspired me to write this blog.
Some people claimed Brokeback Mountain is better than Crash, but wasn’t as good as some people say. In the end, according to those not preferring Brokeback Mountain but one of the other contenders except Crash, Brokeback Mountain, outside it being about gay love, was only a weak love story and therefore should not be the Oscars’ favourite.

I just love this picture.

What makes Brokeback Mountain is the love between two men. Brokeback Mountain is about that love and about how society, people, can react to that kind of love. It is about the consequences, about the feelings and emotions that living such a love in that way brings. That is what Brokeback mountain sets apart from every other love story. That story is told well, even though the concept of a love story and the way the love is played out is not inventive.

It’s a shame crew and cast alike keep saying it’s just another love story. If it is just another love story, it’s not deserving of an Oscar. But it’s not just another love story, nor was it ever intended as just another love story. It was a statement about something that shouldn’t be that way but is. A statement that had not yet been made in such a way. That is what Brokeback Mountain got over Crash. If the gay factor had not been the subject, the movie wouldn’t have been made.

I don’t know for sure if Brokeback Mountain would have been the deserved winner, I haven’t seen the other movies. I just wanted to defend it against the argument that underneath it’s only an average love story. Underneath a lot of layers of what makes this movie matter, yes, possibly. However, with the subject as it is, I don’t see how BBM could ever have been just another love story.

Tomorrow “Love & Other Drugs”.

ETA: Article: Huh, in which universe did Brokeback Mountain win the Oscars?

Jake Gyllenhaal about Heath Ledger

Can anybody explain to me what Jake meant to say here?

"I don’t really like talking about it. That period of time was…it was difficult. He was very sensitive. He didn’t always have a sense of performance in his everyday life. He knew who he was. I think actors very often, they know how to present something, and that’s part of their job. I think he was just really sensitive. We often used to do a lot of things together, because people were very interested in him and I think we felt safe together. Even when we did Brokeback and stuff, it was like my work was the only thing that mattered to me. It was like I could only understand or define myself through doing that. Life, I didn’t totally understand. And I think I was afraid of life. And I had success in my work, enough success that you could keep going back there. But after that happened…I think I recognized that it was work. And I recognized that this is for real."

Source: GQ magazine.

Can I point out that Jake used to hang out with Heath because people were very interested in Heath? Uhmmm... Was that just an unfortunate way of phrasing? Let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

Since yesterday's post I felt the need to collect the other moments where Jake pretended to talk about Heath. I have to admit this is more for my own collection and convenience, but for anyone who stumbles across this blog and post to enjoy.

Here's Jake referencing Heath.

These were two very recent examples. I remember seing an interviewer cornering Jake on the red carpet. He politely replied a very general reply. I've been searching for that video, but can't seem to find it anymore, neither do I remember from which award show it was, possibly the 2008 Oscars.

This was what I was looking for:

" "I do miss him," Jake tells Live magazine."

Source: www.nowmagazine.com

Thanks, Jake.

About "A Poet From Hollywood"

The Gyllenhaals. Even their name sounds mythical. I could easily picture an ancient wood in which the family lives, in sync with nature while they chop away the squirrel’s tree to extend the already big treehouse. All the animals in the wood look up to them, eventhough the family are stealing their food and ruining their habitat. Then everything comes crashing down when the son makes it big and the truth comes out. The other squirrels learned to write and they wrote books.

Yesterday I finished reading Cantara Christopher’s book “A Poet From Hollywood”. I find it hard to say much about it; I just feel like a spectator to that part of her life. Sure, I have my own opinion on some things. Strangely, Stephen Gyllenhaal’s behaviour doesn’t mean anything at all to me, it’s Cantara’s behaviour that annoys me. For me it’s easier to relate to Becky Heineke than to Cantara and Stephen? Well, I feel we know so little about him and I have not been offended by him in any way, I don’t know how to feel or what to think about him. He’s definitely disconnected with the rest of the world, but not even slightly as weird as some of my own friends. Maybe that didn’t come across in the book. Stephen feels unreal to me. Pretty much like Jake, as a matter of fact.

Cantara’s book is a very one-sided retelling of events. In the end I’m not even sure what the book is about. Is it about Stephen Gyllenhaal trying to become a poet? Is it about Stephen Gyllenhaal in general? Or is it about someone’s view on Stephen Gyllenhaal? In this paragraph I’ve written his full name so often, I lost any appetite in him I had left, if I had any in the first place.

What did stand out to me is the same thing that stood out in Becky’s book. That might have to do with it being about Jake, or maybe not at about Jake at all. It’s in every way a strange insight into someone or maybe rather not an insight in him at all. What does it say about him? Nothing much, except that he gets upset easily, or maybe not at all.

I’m talking about this:

From ‘I’m Stalking Jake’ at the height of Babygate said by Ally, former IHJ writer:

“…Jake was mad.” If you want to know why Jake was mad, read “I’m Stalking Jake”.

From ‘A Poet From Hollywood’ about Stephen’s poetry bundle that was about to be published:

“Jake-doesn’t-like-the-cover.”

 What is it about both phrases that made them stick in my mind? Not because it seems out of character for Jake. I would even say it’s very much in character. What I think is funny about it is that in both cases it doesn’t concern Jake directly. In Babygate it concerned the Gyllengaards and in the poetry case it concerned Stephen the poet. It’s nice to see Jake cares, but every time he seems to be the one feeling the strongest about everything, or people are always exaggerating about his feelings. Fact remains, we never get to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth, which gives the message “Jake is really upset” a strange ironic undertone, because he never seems upset enough to say so in person. I know in both cases the situation isn’t such in which we can hear Jake say the words. That however, brings us to the next weird thing.

Neither of the books are actually about Jake and yet it’s Jake who started it all by playing a gay Cowboy. On top of that, both books tell about an era in the Hollywood Gyllenhaal’s history that was probably a turning point for the family in many ways. Two books suddenly shed, in a second hand view, a light on the family’s private matters which they had always managed to keep under wraps. Suddenly the perception of a noble, down-to-earth, perfect and close Hollywood family is shattered. Not just because of the books.

That brings me to the following phrase in Cantara’s book:

“Or was Team Gyllenhaal merely a shrewdly manufactured image of that glamur?”

It looks like it, Cantara.

That remark reminded me of what was said during the commentary on Moonlight Mile. It had the writer, Dustin Hoffman and Jake talking about a scene were Joe (the main character in the movie) walks in on his “parents-in-law” fighting. Jake tells how familiar that was to him, because his own parents were constantly fighting when he was young. What struck me was Dustin Hoffman’s reaction: “Becareful, because your parents might watch this.” I thought it was strange for him to say that. I would have told him to becareful to put something like that in public, but Hoffman was specifically worried about what his parents might say about Jake revealing that. It suggests it was a Hollywood public secret that the Gyllenhaals were keeping up appearances.

What I always did and what I also tried to do with Jake is trying to get an idea of who he is in person. Not ever before did I have so much trouble getting a sense of someone. First you’ve got the Gyllenbabble which even I can’t understand. Then you’ve got him hiding as much as possible and not reacting to rumors and gossips. Of course he’s entitled to his privacy, and he isn’t obliged to react to rumors and gossips. Problem with Jake is, he doesn’t give anything.

Case in point, Heath Ledger’s death. I appreciate the fact that his relationship to Heath was very personal and private. I don’t need to hear if and how he grieved. However, a small word would have been nice, but we got nothing. Not really. It makes him look like a cold person who doesn’t really care about his lost “friend”. I’m sure he did, and I’m sure he still does, but he leaves it all to others. It fed some rumors he was closer to Heath than he probably was, it also fed some rumors that suggested their friendship was a total farce, which I don’t believe either. My impression is he doesn’t know how to talk about it.

Here’s one specific answer from Jake on the question: “Are you uncomfortable remembering him in public?”

"Yes," he said, pausing. "Brokeback Mountainwas painful. Any time you go into pain, I don't think you necessarily want to go back. But the results of that film, and how the public responded to it so hugely, were worth it. Walking through any kind of pain is usually worth it. As close as we all became making that movie, for all those other people, it didn't extend much farther than [the movie itself], so that experience of work could be easily talked about for publications. The experience Heath and I had was also shared publicly with all the press and publicity we did. But what we shared as friends, though I respect the interest that so many people have in the mourning and grieving process and how it feels to other people, I feel like -- and I don't mean this in an unkind way -- but I don't think it's anybody's business but his and mine. So in that sense, to really respect him -- and also the way he felt about his life and his private life and what he cared about, because he was a deeply caring and loving human being -- every time anybody asks me any question about him, it would be like he was sitting next to me, and I know he would roll his eyes, because that's the way he was. It was between us."

It’s remarkable how he talks around his own feelings not giving anything away. I can understand what he’s saying (for a change), but just saying: “Yes, I miss him” or something would have made it a bit more personal, but wouldn’t have given anything away. Is that really a problem, saying he misses Heath? Or doesn’t he? See my point? He does this every time.

I really believe he can handle this side of his job much better than he does. Maybe he should go talking about Jason (Mraz). The only rumor about him is that he’s gay, to which Jake can relate. Jason can tell him how to give something without really giving anything, yet everybody seems pretty happy with the little he’s given while Jake is still massively hunted to get anything out of him.

It’s all broken, nothing really quite works. No control over the paps, no control over his fandom, not enough control over his talent and hardly any control over his friends and family (it still sounds like Naomi dictates all life).

Anyway, the book. To me it confirmed in a way how I already thought of them; there’s more than meets the eye, which is a given since hardly anything meets the “public” eye. Even after having read “A Poet from Hollywood” I didn’t learn much about them. That the word private for the family is written with a capital Private is now confirmed. That Stephen can be weird is also confirmed. That Stephen is unreliable is something we learned and chances are that Jake is too, which means that Taylor Swift was right all the time. That was not the conclusion I was aiming for.

 I must say, those Gyllenhaals inspire people to write. At least two books have been written and I’m writing blog after blog about those critters. What amuses me about this blog, and slightly scares me, is that I’ve been writing about the Gyllenhaals in a rather intimate way, eventhough I know nothing about them. Apparently, they regard every word uttered about them online as an insult. So this turns out to be one massive insult.




I would like to close this rant with the following:
"Although the mother of two and grandmother of one is understandably protective of her family’s privacy, her voice changes when she mentions the Gyllenhaal clan."

“My family is my greatest joy,” she said.

Source: School of Cinematic Arts News

Fun note: Originally I wanted to put a picture of Naomi in the bottom accompanying her quote, but she was a pain in the ass. (image jumping up and down the page) So here's Maggie instead with mums higher up.

My Problems With Authority

It’s been a while since I’ve seen “End of Watch” and it’s been even longer since it was first in cinemas across the world. I haven’t said anything about it, because everybody else was already. I don’t really have anything to add. That’s a lie. If I didn’t have anything to add I wouldn’t be writing this blog. I’m not going to write a review, because in that case, I really don’t have anything to add. Instead, I want to tell you about my authority issues.

My criminal offences are limited to crossing streets while the lights are red and the occasional free trip on train or metro. Other then that, I’m a good girl. I never even offended an officer while he/she was doing his/her job. I acted annoyed, yes, never uttered an offense in hearshot. As a matter of fact, there have only been two ocassions in which I came in contact with police, both had to do with me crashing my car.

Let me explain the source of my annoyance. Police officers tend to approach people with a certain attitude. On one hand I understand, on the other, it pisses me off. I don’t like to belittled. I don’t like to manipulated into offensive behaviour. I don’t like to be approached as something I’m not. I used to have a leasecar, I don’t anymore so that solved several problems nicely. When you’re stopped for whatever, alcohol test or speed etc, and you roll down your window, the first thing you see is a police officer bending down and looking at you as if you’re a little child. “Well well, young lady, and how fast were we driving?” Fuck off!!! Just tell me straight that I was speeding, give me the fucking ticket and let me go.

I’m not a criminal and I certainly don’t look like one so I have no personal experience, but I’ve seen in movies (possibly acted to make it all look more dramatic) and reality cop shows (possibly because a camera is aimed at them) too often how alleged criminals are manipulated into bad behaviour. The police officers, more often than not, seem to be starting the fight (fights usually don’t start with hitting and kicking, but with words). Like I said before, I’m not a criminal and I certainly don’t look like one, so I don’t know if this also happens for real when there are no cameras aimed at them. Suspicion is that it is exactly how things go, based on how often I’m being talked down to by people in uniforms.


Officers Zavala and Taylor after the fight....or before...who cares....?


That’s my problem with authority. And that’s also my problem with “End of Watch”. There’s one scene where one of the officers we’re following, Mike Zavala, is daring(?) an alleged criminal. I don’t remember why they were visiting him at his home or what he had done, neither did it matter. What that scene was about was officer Zavala showing the criminal who was boss, or something. I don’t know, I was irritating my tits off when I saw that scene. Police officers are supposed to be the law. Then why do they act like arrogant twats who beat up people they don’t like and treat other people like they’re lesser inhabitants of this earth? Aren’t they supposed to be an example of good?


 Yes, I do agree, they have a tough and potentially dangerous job. And yes, there are some weird and mad people out there. However, I’m not a criminal, neither do I behave like a criminal, nor am I a child who did something naughty. I like to be treated like a normal grownup with respect. Maybe I’ve done something illegal, but even then you can just approach me in a normal way. Only when I’m actually rude and offensive, then you can start treating me in a harsher way (still no need for abuse, however). Not that I would agree then.

Researching the J.G.

A couple of months back, not yesterday. Yes, this is another old entry I never posted. Here it is after all this time.


Yesterday I was reading on forums and discussion groups to see what the online world thinks of him. He was not as popular as I suspected he was. Mentions of his name actually more often got the reaction I had to him. He’s there, that’s fine, but not really that interesting. One girl even had exactly the same reaction as me; she thought he was cute, but sometimes really doesn’t understand what it is that attracted her about him. Several people didn’t find him handsome, someone even thought he looked like a monkey.


There’s one thing he can do; looking like different sort of people. I found a music video clip in which he plays the main role. He plays a killing machine. Especially the scenes in which he’s being shaved are quite chilling. He just lies there staring and suddenly he doesn’t look that cute at all. It is fascinating and scary. I quite like it.

Still attractive in some way, cause he does keep me captivated in that video. He used to play quite a few of these characters. These days he plays more the nice guys, which is fine. Yet, I would love to see him play another psychopath, because he’s really good at it. I suppose I should see if I can find Donnie Darko somewhere.

a Few More Thoughts About Jake and Then Some

Even working my new heroes into the stories doesn’t seem to go as easy anymore. I lost interest in Jake only a few weeks after I found that interest. Also, I don’t seem to have a grip on understanding who he is like I had on Jason and John. Not that I’m claiming to know those two, but I could quite accurately predict how they were going to react or what they were going to do next. Maybe they were just predictable, or maybe, or rather, I don’t care that much about Gyllenhaal.


It must be admitted; I find Jake Gyllenhaal incredibly cute…based on his looks. He seems down to earth enough from what I’ve seen of him in interviews and on talk shows. Of course I don’t know what he’s like on a more personal level or in private at all. And to be honest, I’m not that interested, I just want to dream about him, that way he remains perfect….Or not, we are still talking about my screwed up imagination….the poor thing.

For a while now I had the suspicion I’m turning into a shallow fangirl. I used to love some depth in characters and in stories. I still do, but I find myself more and more attracted to the looks of a person and I care less about the character. That’s why I don’t really care what JG is like in real life, I even don’t want to know. Like I wrote above, this way he remains (im)perfect completely to my wishes. Bliss.

Of course, in my own private life I still do care about someone’s character. Maybe even more than I used to. I don’t think I’m the easiest person to be in a love relationship with. I also started to say that I don’t need a boyfriend/husband, but rather a babysitter. Sad really, when you think about it. That’s one of the reasons why I’m still single after 2 years. That and the fact that I haven’t felt that one click with anyone anymore. Though I met a really cute boy last year in Berlin. I think he was a bit too young for my liking though.

Someone mentioned Jake Gyllenhaal could be a contender for the Christian Grey role. I read up about who Christian Grey is and since I feel like man hunting Jake Gyllenhaal. I feel that’s a bit a screwed up way of going about things. No fears, Jake Gyllenhaal is not within reach so I very probably won’t actually go man hunting him.


I just thought up a brilliant shot for my non-existing movie. I think I grew my hair to hide in it.


More and more I’m losing the ability and the will to fantasize. When I was young I was constantly making up stories, being somewhere else, being different. These days I have trouble getting a story on paper and in bed I just roll around and eventually fall asleep with only a few sentences of fantasy having passed my mind. I suppose I’m growing up.

Yesterday I was watching some interviews and stuff on YouTube. Jake Gyllenhaal being Jake Gyllenhaal, the charming and joking movie star. I watched some stuff from the Berlin International Film Festival. My, did he look good there. That man has a winning smile.

Jake Gyllenhaal's Performances

This was a piece I started writing and now I can add to. First the bit I wrote before:


Lately I’ve been watching people of whom I expect a lot. Right now, only one name comes to mind; Jake Gyllenhaal. I believe he’s a very talented actor, but somehow, more often than not, it seems it doesn’t come quite out. Too many times I’ve watched him in some movie thinking he did all right but not brilliant. I come out of these movies thinking he can do much more than he showed. How does that work? Who’s fault is it?

And now what I think after having followed him for a little bit.

I think I figured why his performances often are ok but not brilliant, or in other words only just above average. It seems Jake needs someone to pull him into better performances. He needs a better actor playing opposite him who can drag him along, or who can inspire him to perform better. I suppose it has to do with Jake not being able to find the right form for a character himself. He's a reactionary actor, not the initiator. Shame really, because he's not always lucky enough to work opposite brilliant actors and it makes it even harder to have him be the lead.