Jake Gyllenhaal IS Leonard Bernstein

Will there be homosex?

Exactly the same question as R1.

The film's promotional team picked out the only 2 photos where the two men look even remotely similar.

Gyllenhaal's Jewish on his mother's side, but he doesn't resemble Bernstein at all. Bernstein had a more classical Jewish look and had the appearance of a sophisticated musician-intellectual, with a small frame. Gyllenhaal is as far from that as can be.

[quote]Will there be homosex?

I already BRAVELY played a fag ONCE(and a BOTTOM, no less)---I've risked my reputation and perception as a heterosexual ENOUGH, thank you.

Bernstein was way more handsome than Gyllenhaal.

Jake Gyllenhaal IS a Homo.

It’s fine. No one remembers what Leonard Bernstein looked like anyway.

This better be really interesting, otherwise I suspect a snoozefest.

[quote] No one remembers what Leonard Bernstein looked like anyway.

Almost everyone on DL remembers. We even remember when Kaiser Wilhelm was still in his breeches and when Queen Victoria was still thin.

Cary Fukunaga’s a great director. He did all of True Detective, Season 1.

I don't know about this. IMO there is no dramatic tension or narrative unless you factor in the sexual conflict. Of course I guess you could always frame it as something of a cultural narrative of the times. I've read biographies of Bernstein. I've watched You Tube videos. He was flashy and flamboyant and he did some innovative things during his stint at the NY Philharmonic, but really there is no dramatic arc to this.

It's going to be another bomb for Jakey. For all the manufactured hype about him, Gyllenhaal cannot put asses in movie theater seats. Please someone tell me when was the last time he made a hit movie after Brokeback Mountain???? I don't think the guy ever had a box office hit.

Jake was smart to go to NYC and do live theater. He's done a good job, earned some respect, and if he wants to do the occasional art house movie, to keep his name out there, fine. But he is no movie star. Hollywood lost interest in him a long time ago.

He’s really not that good an actor. I don’t think he has it in him.

[quote] IMO there is no dramatic tension or narrative unless you factor in the sexual conflict.

During his lifetime I recall a critic wrote that Bernstein’s most creative and fruitful times were when he engaged in primarily heterosexual activity. The critic was essentially saying that heteronormative domesticity was conducive to Bernstein as a composer rather than depraved homosexuality.

R11, Gyllenhaal is playing gay. Translation: he REALLY wants an Oscar.

The last (and only?) time he was nominated for an Oscar was - you guessed it, Brokeback Mountain. Back in 2006. So now, after more than a decade of trying every other trick in the book (playing a cripple, method acting, you name it) and failing each time (infamous Nightcrawler nomination snub) - he's finally returned to the tried-and-tested method - just play gay.

If he plays his cards right, he'll get another Oscar nomination at least. You read it here on DL first.

He only has one Oscar nomination because he can't act . He was able to hide that behind a certain cuteness when he was younger but now he just looks sloppy , unwashed and smelly .

Also, R11, I doubt his goal for this movie is to be a box-office hit. He (or more likely his team) know that this subject (Bernstein) is quite niche - similar to "I, Tonya" in a way. As a producer, he would obviously prefer this film makes money. But, as he's simultaneously also its main star, I bet he sees this project more as an Oscar-bait nomination-vehicle and is wiling to take the financial risk or even hit - as long as he gets that Oscar nod.

At some point even a modest amount of commercial success is required if a producer wants to attract investors and financing. I think Jake is a decent actor, but I think he makes poor choices and he is too damned precious, too special.He's not someone people relate to in his choices. I've read a couple interviews he's done and he has his head up his ass most of the time. Personally I think he handled his career ass backwards. He should have gone for the commercial success first then got all artistic. At least he could have built an audience. Jake is lucky. Now we have Netflix and Amazon and Hulu, he may have to opt for the small screen and maybe he'll have better luck.

He did try for commercial success

Remember Prince of Persia?

He would have been wise to get in on Marvel, and play Ant Man or something:

I bet if the Marvel people wanted him he would have, R19. Look at it this way. it could be worse. They could have tried to cast Jake as Bob Fosse.

I love him, loved Bernstein, and if I get to see Jake conducting Mahler (#6, #3, and #2, please), I can die happy.

And there had damned well better be some homosex. Now...who will play Michael Tilson-Tomashevsky?

Who is playing Aaron Copland?!

That is the question!

bernie was actually MORE handsome.

Exactly r14. He has tried everything else and been ignored, time to play gay again.

Jake is more than just the male equivalent of Gwynneth Paltrow or his sister (I had forgotten she was nominated for Crazy Heart). He's dismissed a lot, I think, as a Hollywood kid desperate for attention. But I think he's done interesting character work.

The problem is you look at his early stuff, even the horrible weather disaster movie (Day After Tomorrow?), he seemed genuine and open. Now it's like he's "performing" and a wall is up. And he seems a bit dead inside. Lethal stuff for an actor.

Because he has gotten too artsy/walled-off/insular/opaque as a person; in a word: unrelateble -- and at the same time too transparent in picking Oscar bait roles.

I'd never heard of Bernstein until the Tony's thread yesterday. I'd never even read a Tonys thread before yesterday either. Is Leonard Bernstein related to the Tonys?

Bernstein was to the ‘50s what Andrew Lloyd Webber was to the ‘80s, but not as prolific of a composer.

What are you, R27, the residue of your father's premature ejaculation that never quite made it into your would-have-been mother's vag?

Who's playing his sister?

[quote]Bernstein was to the ‘50s what Andrew Lloyd Webber was to the ‘80s, but not as prolific of a composer.

Did you prefer Webber's Mahler or his Beethoven, R28?

Does anyone know what in Bernstein's life would actually make for an interesting biopic?

he knew every single person of import at the time, musical and otherwise, maybe that's why

When was the last time a Hollywood biopic was a commercial and critical success? So many of them seem to flop.

Leonard Bernstein WAS classical music in America.

We still owe him that Oscar for "Nightcrawler". He's one of the best working today, seriously.

Wonder if they'll include my old buddy that used to hang around Times Square, Franklin, who was Leonard's cousin (or insisted so and I believe him). He actually died near the tickets booth where I first met him.

Speaking of Times Square, I would still blow Jake there after matinees any Saturday of his choosing.

R32 for the most part just him being in the closet until he finally let go in his last two decades. So there can be some family drama there...

Other stuff not so dramatic, its not like his tenure as NY Phil conductor was particularly fraught -- insofar as ANY conductor is trying to expand repetoire for and from Americans.

His Broadway stuff might be more naturally interesting, as long as you can take sides -- (fuck Robbins!)

otherwise this has the danger of becoming a parade of famous people through the 20th century.

My godfather worked for the Boston Symphony franchise for many decades and got to know and observe Bernstein well. He always had a young male "assistant" with him, either at Symphony Hall or Tanglewood. There's a new book, written by Lenny's last assistant, being released next Monday.

Did Bernstein bed any of his hot Broadway protégé stars or chorus boys? Will this movie be peppered with hot youths frolicking with the maestro?

To his credit, Sondheim seems to have fared better in the boytoy department.

R40, Yet, I happened to see Sondheim at two public events last summer and he was alone at both.

I saw him at a performance of the latest revival of Sunday in the Park with Jake, and Sondheim was with Lapine, no date and he was taking notes on the production. He's extremely short.

"I thought he'd be taller."

Bernstein was reportedly 'petite' as well - ca. 5'7.

Which is why broad-shouldered, more imposing Gyllenhaal playing him seems a bit odd.

Was Lenny's head the size of a garbage can?

This is pretty amazing.....

Jake's imdb says he's 6 feet tall.... extremely short or fake news?

I wonder how much of this interview is posing and how much is truth.

R48 I think he has a reputation for going overboard to prepare for his movies. So I believe that part. But then he seems like an asshole too, because I mean where's the harm in answering a question like "What did you have for breakfast?" He is too serious, and he obviously feels most comfortable talking shop about movies, but sometimes an actor sells a movie by being not necessarily too confessional, but by being personable and making small talk. I've seen him on TV and he seems like he enjoys talking where some actors seem like they are a nervous wreck on a talk show. Jake doesn't seem to be. But he acts like an ass IMO, doing these print interviews. At least that's the way he comes across.

He probably has good feets.

Jake shouldn't have any trouble playing the role.

SS still has the much younger partner (who's now heading into middle age himself--a tribute to the longevity of the relationship, I guess) but I don't think they feel compelled to go everywhere together. The (former) kid is kind of outdoorsy; I can't see Steve windsurfing.

Agreed r49, but I think there's also more manipulation going on.... the writer decides to slip in that he broke up with his model girlfriend last year even though Jake doesn't talk about his private life. What? It's (a) old news, and (b) what does it have to do with the rest of the article, which reads like a campaign to get him an Oscar, with Jake's well thought out "I just want to make good movies" answer all ready to go.

Then there's all his talk about his childhood, being a footballer because Dad wisely encouraged him to do it, he's an alpha-male... okay, so much for not talking about your private life.

He comes across as desperate to appear humble and macho at the same time.

He sounds exactly like DiCaprio bragging about how much he went through for The Revenant r48. Both of them are the same, were trying to do anything possible to finally get that Oscar.

Of course unlike DiCaprio, all of Jake's work won't even give him a nomination.

Did you SEE "Nightcrawler"? One of the best performances not just of that year but the decade.

I do like his performance in "Nightcrawler", it is the best performance has ever given and deserved a nomination. The other performances I don't think he was snubbed.

Jake is nothing like Turdpocket DeCaprio. Bite your tongue.

I saw Southpaw on cable one night. The problem with it is that while the acting was really excellent, and Jake was very authentic as the boxer, and it was a very gritty performance, it was also a cliche' as most boxing movies are. It was a made for TV, soap opera melodrama. And everyone did a very goo job of acting. In a way it was a shame that Jake did all that work to prepare and get in character and the material wasn't up to the performance. Same with his movie about the guy with no legs. Brilliant acting. Really brilliant. But it's not a movie I want to rush to see in the theater. I like him. I think he is a great actor. But he needs to chose better material.In that sense, Nightcrawler was excellent. It was different. Not just different for him, but it was a different kind of movie. Like I, Tonya. different. Southpaw and Stronger, about the guy with no legs, were not new stories. Especially Southpaw. I mean the cliches' were piling up in that one.

Jakie is just not good looking enough

Right, R59. That's what everybody says about him. He is just not good looking enough....

Will Jake and Cary hook up? Cary is bisexual and extremely hot.

Jake and Cary have been friends for many years. If there was ever going to be a hook up it would have already happen. But OMG, yes that would be hot. I know at one time I saw Cary with Michelle Williams who used to be with Heath Ledger. She stayed friends with Jake after Heath died.

So if they do make this movie they'll have to promote it and we'll get a chance to see Jake & Cary together.

Jake Gyllenhaal's obit will read: He was fucked in a tent by Oscar winner Heath Ledger.

This project is no longer happening.

Fuck you, BCoop.

With beans on his breath, R64.

Who's playing me?

The radical chic party at Lenny & Felicia's penthouse duplex could be a fun scene.

I would love to see both of these queens out each other in a Bernsteinesque bitch-fight.

Without Jake having access to the music, there's no point. Let's move on, r70.

And yet, you're posting on this thread, R71. Physician, heal thyself.

Jake having no access to the music means he can't make his film. They're both smug, overrated, Hollywood drones, with Cooper besting Jake in the recognition game.

But I still think it would be fun to see them have a go at each other, so fuck off.

[quote]Jake having no access to the music means he can't make his film.

Yes, that's my point. What "go at each other" is possible if Jake can't even make his movie? Are you this dumb IRL?

Agree that Jake isn't the best at acting. I just didn't believe he was really enjoying popstar pussy or maple lattes.

Jake is my favorite actor of the 21st century. Yes, I am partly influenced by how much I want to eat his cock.

r73, are YOU this dumb IRL? Or just a big bore? Or are you Bradley Cooper? Not that any of those questions are mutually exclusive.

I am NOT trying to make a "point" about the FILM. This is a site for "pointless" bitchery - including about a Jake v. Brad rivalry - but morons like you love to just suck the fun out of it.

These are two likely closeted bisexual or gay men who were gunning to make a film about a bisexual / gay man who stayed with his wife, etc., which sets up all sorts of interesting questions about why these two wanted to do play a bi or gay man (neither has played one in years). It also raises questions about what their angles will be on the film, how gay the film will be and so on. And ONE of these likely closeted men beat the other one to the punch and Jake's film is toast.

I made a quip that given that the film rivalry would be resolved, it's be fun to see what they really think about each other, specifically given the gay / bi subtext of the film about it, to "go there" when commenting on it.

You don't want to engage on that pointless bitchery? Take your own advice and move the fuck on.

R18 I remember Prince of Persia! He was hot in the role. With that long hair and those gladiator sandals, I had to take an extra beta blocker! I think he's handsome, and in many roles a very good actor. I don't agree with the detractors who claim he looks dirty or smelly either. I also find it troubling people actually argue whether or not he's "classically Jewish looking" enough to play Bernstein. As a Jew myself, I don't buy that argument for two reasons: 1. There is no one phenotype of a Jew. 2. Many actors play roles where they don't resemble the person IRL, and very often don't share their ethnicity.

Maybe this project will inspire Bradley to come out as bisexual.

Okay, r76. You have definitely convinced me of your pointlessness. But do write us when they "go at each other."

That, R75, and the fact that "Nightcrawler" may be my favorite male performance of the decade.