Jake Gyllenhaal Passes On 'Suicide Squad' Role

As Warner Bros. looks to expand the scope of David Ayer's Suicide Squad film to possibly include an appearance by Batman himself, they still have to get the final cast in place. Tom Hardy recently dropped out of the film with reports suggesting he was unhappy with the size of his role as Rick Flag, and Jake Gyllenhaal was floated as a possibility to replace him. But the search will have to continue as Gyllenhaal has turned it down.

According to Variety, Gyllenhaal was offered the role but has decided against taking it, although no reasons are given for the decision. With Will Smith's Deadshot and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn looking like the central characters it may be that Gyllenhaal had the same thoughts as Hardy. He's a big star who has been taking on increasingly complex roles over the past year, and it may be that he wants to continue with that than playing a supporting character in a comic book movie.

So the search continues. Suicide Squad opens August 5th 2016.

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'Suicide Squad' Loses Tom Hardy; Jake Gyllenhaal Could Replace Him

Warner Bros. amassed quite a starry lineup for DC Comics adaptation Suicide Squad, arguably bigger than any of their other films. Will Smith, Tom Hardy, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, and Jared Leto were set to star in the antihero movie, but now one of them has been forced to drop out, and it's the one with previous experience as a DC Comics villain.

According to THR, Hardy has exited Suicide Squad, in which he would have taken the role of Rick Flag. While that's unfortunate news, The Wrap has word that Jake Gyllenhaal is being sought to replace him and that's not such a bad thing. The reasons for Hardy's departure are unclear but it may have to do with the extended shoot of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's The Revenant which is still going on.

With David Ayer planning to film Suicide Squad this April expect Hardy's replacement to be named soon.

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Trailer for 'Accidental Love', formerly David O. Russell's 'Nailed'

Filmed way back in 2008 and faced with more than a dozen production shutdowns, few thought David O. Russell's comedy Nailed would ever see the light of day. Well, now it will....sorta. The star-studded film has been given the bland title of Accidental Love, and is directed by some guy named Stephen Greene, which is clearly a pseudonym of the Alan Smithee variety. Clearly, Russell wants nothing to do with the project anymore, and given how bad this trailer is it's easy to see why.

Starring Jessica Biel, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Marsden, Catherine Keener, James Brolin, Tracy Morgan, and many more, Accidental Love is a political satire about a woman who is accidentally shot in the head with a nail gun, giving her fits of rage and sexual desire. Unable to afford health insurance to treat the ailment, she hooks up with a slimy politician and heads to Washington to champion for the rights of the bizarrely injured. This trailer is a complete mess and seems stitched together with spit and bailing wire, which is probably what Millennium Entertainment did in trying to salvage it.

If there's a positive to be taken from this it's that Accidental Love will finally open on February 10th, putting a nail in Nailed's coffin for good.

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'Selma' gets Shut Out of Surprising SAG Awards Nominations

The awards season is in full swing, and while much of the attention has surrounded Richard Linklater's Boyhood and the momentum it is building, there has been a growing buzz for Ava DuVernay's Martin Luther King Jr. biopic, Selma. Earning nominations at the Indie Spirits, Satellite Awards, and our own WAFCA Awards, the film seems like a sure-fire lock for the Oscars, if not for DuVernay than for star David Oyelowo. But one group apparently didn't take to it at all, as the Screen Actor's Guild completely snubbed it in their nominations announced today.

For the most part critics groups see the same movies. Selma was wrapped pretty late in the game and Paramount moved mountains to get screenings ready in time for most nominations. Maybe SAG couldn't gather enough folks to check it out on such short notice. Whatever the case, it's still a glaring omission for a film many see as a major Oscars favorite. The other nominees are pretty standard with a couple of notable exceptions. Jennifer Aniston entered the Best Actress race for her little-seen performance in Cake, in which she plays a woman scarred emotionally and physically. Jake Gyllenhaal was recognized for the nocturnal thriller, Nightcrawler, and so was Mark Ruffalo for Foxcatcher. Somehow, SAG decided Naomi Watts' performance in St. Vincent as a pregnant Russian stripper was Best Supporting Actress worthy. Selma no, pregnant Russian strippers yes.

The rest of the nominations are below.

Best Actor In A Motion Picture
Steve Carell - "Foxcatcher"
Benedict Cumberbatch - "The Imitation Game"
Jake Gyllenhaal - "Nightcrawler"
Michael Keaton - "Birdman"
Eddie Redmayne - "The Theory Of Everything"

Best Actress In A Motion Picture
Jennifer Aniston - "Cake"
Felicity Jones - "The Theory Of Everything"
Julianne Moore - "Still Alice"
Rosamund Pike - "Gone Girl"
Reese Witherspoon - "Wild"

Best Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture
Robert Duvall - "The Judge"
Ethan Hawke - "Boyhood"
Edward Norton - "Birdman"
Mark Ruffalo - "Foxcatcher" 
JK Simmons - "Whiplash"

Best Supporting Actress In A Motion Picture
Patricia Arquette - "Boyhood"
Keira Knightley - "The Imitation Game"
Meryl Streep - "Into The Woods"
Emma Stone - "Birdman"
Naomi Watts - "St. Vincent"

Best Cast In A Motion Picture
"Birdman"
"Boyhood"
"Grand Budapest Hotel"
"The Imitation Game"
"The Theory Of Everything"

Stunt Ensemble: Motion Picture
"Fury"
"Get On Up"
"The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies"
"Unbroken"
"X-Men: Days Of Future Past"

Television

Best Actor In A Drama
Steve Buscemi - "Boardwalk Empire"
Peter Dinklage - "Game Of Thrones"
Woody Harrelson - "True Detective"
Matthew McConaughey - "True Detective"
Kevin Spacey - "House Of Cards"

Best Actress In A Drama
Claire Danes - "Homeland"
Viola Davis - "How To Get Away With Murder"
Julianna Marguiles - "The Good Wife"
Tatiana Maslany - "Orphan Black"
Maggie Smith - "Downton Abbey"
Robin Wright - "House Of Cards"

Best Ensemble In A Drama
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Downton Abbey"
"Game Of Thrones"
"Homeland"
"House Of Cards"

Best Actor In A Comedy
Ty Burrell - "Modern Family"
Louis C.K. - "Louie"
William H. Macy - "Shameless"
Jim Parsons - "The Big Bang Theory"
Eric Stonestreet - "Modern Family"

Best Actress In A Comedy
Uzo Aduba - "Orange Is The New Black"
Julie Bowen - "Modern Family"
Edie Falco - "Nurse Jackie"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - "Veep"
Amy Poehler - "Parks & Recreation"

Best Comedy Ensemble
"Big Bang Theory"
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
"Modern Family"
"Orange Is The New Black"
"Veep"

Best Actor In A TV Movie/Miniseries
Adrien Brody - "Houdini"
Benedict Cumberbatch - "Sherlock: His Last Vow"
Richard Jenkins - "Olive Kitteridge"
Mark Ruffalo - "The Normal Heart"
Billy Bob Thornton - "Fargo"

Best Actress In A TV Movie/Miniseries
Ellen Burstyn - "Flowers In The Attic"
Maggie Gyllenhaal - "The Honorable Woman"
Frances McDormand - "Olive Kitteridge"
Julia Roberts - "The Normal Heart"
Cicely Tyson - "The Trip To Bountiful"

Stunt Ensemble: Comedy & Drama Series
"24: LIve Another Day"
'Boardwalk Empire"
"game Of Thrones"
"Homeland"
"Sons Of Anarchy"
"The Walking Dead"

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Jake Gyllenhaal is Totally Jacked in First 'Southpaw' Image

Actors undergoing physical transformations is nothing new anymore, and it seems to be a sure way to get the attention of awards voters. One need only look at how going frail worked in Matthew McConaughey's favor last year in Dallas Buyers Club. Another actor in the midst of a career resurgence is Jake Gyllenhaal, who has completely reinvented himself with End of Watch, Prisoners, Enemy, and this year's Nightcrawler which saw him drop a ton of weight until he looked sickly. But what may be more amazing is the complete 180 he's pulled since then, as he is completely ripped in this first image from Antoine Fuqua's boxing drama, Southpaw.

It's an amazing turnaround for Gyllenhaal, and Fuqua had nothing but high praise for the work he put into training his body. Fuqua tells Deadline...

"I asked this guy from day one, ‘I need you in the gym every day. I need you to train every day.’ And I said, ‘The word is sacrifice.’ Literally. I think he broke up with his girlfriend because he was just in the gym every day. He was training like a fighter. I had him sparring, really getting hit. I put him in situations where I wanted to see what he was made of. No one but fighters understand the sacrifice it takes to be a fighter.”

That's a Hell of a commitment but the results can't be disputed. After a troubled start, Southpaw seems to be shaping up just as nicely as Gyllenhaal's abs. Penned by Sons of Anarchy's Kurt Sutter with Rachel McAdams and Forest Whitaker co-starring, the film centers on a troubled lefty middleweight who loses everything in his personal and professional life, and must literally fight for redemption.

Southpaw is expected to open in 2015. 

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'Birdman' Tops Indie Spirit Awards Nominations with Six

Okay, so the term "independent feature" has lost a lot of its meaning lately as budgets for art house movies continue to expand, but the Independent Spirit Awards are still a big deal and the first major nominations of the season. Are you ready to open the flood gates? Here we go.

The Indie Spirit Awards announced their full list of contenders for their 2015 show, and leading the way with six nominations is Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's meta-comedy Birdman, including Best Feature, Best Actor for Michael Keaton, Best Supporting Male for Edward Norton, Best Cinematography, and Best Supporting Female for Emma Stone. In a major surprise considering nobody saw Kumiko the Treasure Hunter (I did, and loved it), Rinko Kikuchi earned a Best Female Lead nomination, along with Jenny Slate for Obvious Child, Marion Cotillard for The Immigrant, Tilda Swinton for Only Lovers Left Alive, and Julianne Moore for Still Alice. Picking up five nominations are Richard Linklater's Boyhood, Ava Duvernay's Selma, and Nightcrawler starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

In a move that has me utterly baffled and I suspect was done only so he might appear on stage, Andre Benjamin earned Best Male Lead nomination for his sleepy performance as Jimi Hendrix in Jimi: All is by My Side. He'll go up against David Oyelowo for Selma, Gyllenhaal for Nightcrawler, Keaton for Birdman, and John Lithgow for Love is Strange.

Today is a big day for debut writer/director Justin Simien whose race-based comedy Dear White People earned him a Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay nomination. Also performing well with four nods was Damien Chazelle's crowd-pleasing jazz drumming thriller Whiplash, including one for Best Director and another for J.K. Simmons as Best Supporting Male. Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice will be honored with the Robert Altman Award, while Bennett Miller's Foxcatcher will be presented with the Special Distinction Award.

Full list of nominees is below. The Indie Spirit Awards takes place on Saturday, February 21st.

BEST FEATURE
(Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole
Boyhood
Producers: Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, Cathleen Sutherland
Love is Strange
Producers: Lucas Joaquin, Lars Knudsen, Ira Sachs, Jayne Baron Sherman, Jay Van Hoy
Selma
Producers: Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey
Whiplash
Producers: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster, Michael Litvak

BEST DIRECTOR
Damien Chazelle
Whiplash
Ava DuVernay
Selma
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Richard Linklater
Boyhood
David Zellner
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter

BEST SCREENPLAY
Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
Big Eyes
J.C. Chandor
A Most Violent Year
Dan Gilroy
Nightcrawler
Jim Jarmusch
Only Lovers Left Alive
Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias
Love is Strange

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Director: Ana Lily Amirpour
Producers: Justin Begnaud, Sina Sayyah
Dear White People
Director/Producer: Justin Simien
Producers: Effie T. Brown, Ann Le, Julia Lebedev, Angel Lopez, Lena Waithe
Nightcrawler
Director: Dan Gilroy
Producers: Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Lancaster, Michel Litvak
Obvious Child
Director: Gillian Robespierre
Producer: Elisabeth Holm
She’s Lost Control
Director/Producer: Anja Marquardt
Producers: Mollye Asher, Kiara C. Jones

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Desiree Akhavan
Appropriate Behavior
Sara Colangelo
Little Accidents
Justin Lader
The One I Love
Anja Marquardt
She’s Lost Control
Justin Simien
Dear White People

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.
Blue Ruin
Writer/Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Producers: Richard Peete, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani
It Felt Like Love
Writer/Director/Producer: Eliza Hittman
Producers: Shrihari Sathe, Laura Wagner
Land Ho!
Writers/Directors: Aaron Katz & Martha Stephens
Producers: Christina Jennings, Mynette Louie, Sara Murphy
Man From Reno
Writer/Director: Dave Boyle
Writers: Joel Clark, Michael Lerman
Producer: Ko Mori
Test
Writer/Director/Producer: Chris Mason Johnson
Producer: Chris Martin

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Marion Cotillard
The Immigrant
Rinko Kikuchi
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
Julianne Moore
Still Alice
Jenny Slate
Obvious Child
Tilda Swinton
Only Lovers Left Alive

BEST MALE LEAD
André Benjamin
Jimi: All Is By My Side
Jake Gyllenhaal
Nightcrawler
Michael Keaton
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)John Lithgow
Love is Strange
David Oyelowo
Selma

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Patricia Arquette
Boyhood
Jessica Chastain
A Most Violent Year
Carmen Ejogo
Selma
Andrea Suarez Paz
Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Emma Stone
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Riz Ahmed
Nightcrawler
Ethan Hawke
Boyhood
Alfred Molina
Love is Strange
Edward Norton
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
J.K. Simmons
Whiplash

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Darius Khondji
The Immigrant
Emmanuel Lubezki
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Sean Porter
It Felt Like Love
Lyle Vincent
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Bradford Young
Selma

BEST EDITING
Sandra Adair
Boyhood
Tom Cross
Whiplash
John Gilroy
Nightcrawler
Ron Patane
A Most Violent Year
Adam Wingard
The Guest

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
20,000 Days on Earth
Directors: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard
Producers: Dan Bowen, James Wilson
CITIZENFOUR
Director/Producer: Laura Poitras
Producers: Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky
Stray Dog
Director: Debra Granik
Producer: Anne Rosellini
The Salt of the Earth
Directors: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and Wim Wenders
Producer: David Rosier
Virunga
Director/Producer: Orlando von Einsiedel
Producer: Joanna Natasegara

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)
Force Majeure
(Sweden)
Director: Ruben Östlund
Ida
(Poland)
Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
Leviathan
(Russia)
Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Mommy
(Canada)
Director: Xavier Dolan
Norte, the End of History
(Philippines)
Director: Lav Diaz
Under the Skin
(United Kingdom)
Director: Jonathan Glazer

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – (Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
Inherent Vice
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Casting Director: Cassandra Kulukundis
Ensemble Cast: Josh Brolin, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio Del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Michael Kenneth Williams, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon

SPECIAL DISTINCTION AWARD
Foxcatcher
Director/Producer: Bennett Miller
Producers: Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik
Writers: E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman
Actors: Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum

18th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 18th annual Producers Award, sponsored by Piaget, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget.
Chad Burris
Elisabeth Holm
Chris Ohlson

21st ANNUAL KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 21st annual Someone to Watch Award, sponsored by Kiehl’s Since 1851, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Kiehl’s Since 1851.
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Director: Ana Lily Amirpour
H.
Directors: Rania Attieh & Daniel Garcia
The Retrieval
Director: Chris Eska

20th ANNUAL LENSCRAFTERS TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 20th annual Truer Than Fiction Award, sponsored by LensCrafters is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by LensCrafters.
Approaching the Elephant
Director: Amanda Rose Wilder
Evolution of a Criminal
Director: Darius Clark Monroe
The Kill Team
Director: Dan Krauss
The Last Season
Director: Sara Dosa

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Jake Gyllenhaal is 'The Man Who Made It Snow' for Director Antoine Fuqua

Currently earning the best reviews of his career for Nightcrawler, Jake Gyllenhaal has his sights set on another project, and this one will see him reunited with Southpaw director Antoine Fuqua.THR reports that Gyllenhaal will star in The Man Who Made It Snow, a crime drama based on the true story of Medellin drug smuggler Max Mermelstein.

Based on Mermelstein's autobiography and adapted by Brett Tabor, the story follows "the only American who was in the inner circle of the Colombian cartels in the go-go 1980s." Mermelstein smuggled billions of dollars worth of cocaine in the United States but ultimately became a key informant against the crime organization. It's an interesting role for Gyllenhaal but Fuqua isn't the most inspiring of directors, so this one could go either way. The two recently wrapped on the long-developing boxing drama, Southpaw.

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Review: 'Nightcrawler' starring Jake Gyllenhaal

To have a goal, to really reach for something, is what most Hollywood movies celebrate. We praise the overachievers, those who are willing to sacrifice anything and everything to achieve greatness. But what happens when the need to become the best gets twisted? What happens when it lays within someone whose heart is cold as ice? Someone with such a singular focus that regard for others is a completely foreign concept? Look at our news today, where murders lead the local broadcasts and cable outlets cut in for hours of "Breaking News" at the first sign of tragedy, and all for the sake of ratings. "If it bleeds, it leads", is the mantra for Dan Gilroy's pulse-pounding, evocative thriller Nightcrawler, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal in the boldest performance of his career.

In a lot of ways, Nightcrawler is the culmination of everything Gyllenhaal has been building to since setting off on a different path, one that took him away from mainstream flicks like Prince of Persia, or feeble rom-coms like Love and Other Drugs. As he's taken on darker roles in films like Prisoners, Enemy, and End of Watch, Gyllenhaal has literally transformed into a completely different actor, and it's fascinating to watch. In Nightcrawler he plays Louis Bloom, an awkward, somewhat manic low-life criminal looking for work in nocturnal Los Angeles but finding none. Gaunt, sickly, yet energized, Bloom is like Norman Bates given the dangerous energy of a cornered animal. Tired of pawning off stolen goods (for which he's willing to hurt people to get), he happens upon a burning wreck on the freeway and, rather than offering a hand of help, Louis comes up with a completely self-serving idea. Noticing the throng of freelance journalists at the scene, nightcrawlers, Louis decides this is the career for him.

And of course, he's right. Nightcrawling rewards those who find and capture the most gruesome, violent footage in order to sell it off to the news stations for easy money. "If it bleeds, it leads". It's a profession tailored to the unscrupulous, the psychotic, and it's pretty clear that Louis fits the bill and probably has for a long time. But he's also a voracious learner, leeching off the other freelancers like seasoned videographer Joe Loder (Bill Paxton), who doesn't know quite what to make of this strange but tenacious newcomer. Hiring an equally desperate but innocent homeless man (Riz Ahmed), Louis begins to carve out his niche. It's a dog-eat-dog gig, and soon Louis is earning top dollar by selling his graphic footage to Nina (Rene Russo), an unscrupulous TV news producer desperate for higher ratings. Her enthusiasm for the death and violence he brings borders on the orgasmic. Why bother asking where he got it from? Part of the thrill of Nightcrawler is watching the power struggle between the two; their relationship going from professional to slightly erotic to totally creepy.

What starts out like a darkly comic look at one man's climb up the greasy ladder of trash journalism slowly unfolds into something more. It takes a little while for writer/director Dan Gilroy to get his footing, but once things are set into motion Nightcrawler is simply enthralling. As a twisted look at the corrosive state of modern journalism, the film stands on par with Network and Broadcast News, while offering Gyllenhaal the kind of iconic role people will be talking about for years. Gilroy's understanding of the newsroom atmosphere is a little suspect, and let's face it 90% of the stuff Louis gets on air would never make it through the door. But it works in the context of the thriller Gilroy is crafting, one that forces us to take at face value some rather extraordinary circumstances. And yet we're so engrossed by the ever-increasing stakes that we're willing to along for the ride, which turns out to be completely worth it.

It can't be understated just how good Gyllenhaal is here, clearly delivering the best work of his career. But it's not just him deserving of praise. Russo gets the kind of juicy role women of her age don't get often enough anymore, and even if it's only because her husband is the director she doesn't waste the opportunity. Watching the charismatic Ahmed tone it down to play Louis' indecisive and sappy partner takes a little getting used to, and every scene that features Paxton is a treat. Their performances are bolstered by the gorgeous cinematography by Robert Elswit, whose seedy Los Angeles we've seen previously in the works of Paul Thomas Anderson. Gilroy plunges us into a slimy, sleazy morass where someone like Louis Bloom can take root, and it's a place that should look eerily, scarily familiar. Much like its demented protagonist, Nightcrawler isn't afraid to cross the line to keep us in its grip.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Jake Gyllenhaal gets Graphic in Red Band Trailer for 'Nightcrawler'

So who do you have down as Best Actor for the Oscars? It's going to come down to the wire with a number of performances seeming like obvious choices: Steve Carell for Foxcatcher, Eddie Redmayne for The Theory of Everything, Michael Keaton for Birdman, and hopefully somewhere in there will be room for Jake Gyllenhaal, who is downright feral as a twisted journalist in Nightcrawler.

A new red band trailer for the Dan Gilroy-directed film has been released and it thrusts you head first into a seedy underworld of Los Angeles crime journalism. And at the heart of it is Jake Gyllenhaal's character, a "nightcrawler" whose desire for success and fame has no ethical or moral bounds. "If it bleeds, it leads". The media hasn't been skewered like this in a movie in a very long time, and it's a thrill ride from start to finish.

Also starring Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, and Riz Ahmed, Nightcrawler opens Oct. 31st.


Nightcrawler Official Red Band TRAILER 1 (2014) - Jake Gyllenhaal Movie HD by MovieTrailerz

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Win Passes to an Advance Screening of 'Nightcrawler' starring Jake Gyllenhaal

Enter the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles freelance journalism in the new thriller, Nightcrawler, starring Jake Gyllenhaal! We're offering our DC readers a chance to check out the film early by attending a free advance screening held on Tuesday, October 28th at 7pm at Regal Gallery Place.

To enter, simply follow the instructions in the Punchtab widget below. Winners will be contacted by email on Friday, October 24th. Good luck! Nightcrawler opens on October 31st!

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'Doctor Strange' Shortlist Includes Matthew McConaughey, Oscar Isaac, Jake Gyllenhaal and More

Marvel has a wealth of options any time they're looking to cast for another superhero flick, but finding someone to play Doctor Strange had proven difficult. When Kevin Feige said some time ago that he wanted the character to be his "next Iron Man" he wasn't joking around, and has been seeking out big names for the role. With Joaquin Phoenix dropping out and Ewan McGregor apparently in contention, Variety reports some old names are still in the mix, while some high-profile new ones have entered the picture.

For a time it looked like Jared Leto was the popular choice for Doctor Strange, but that seemed to die out when Phoenix entered negotiations. Leto is apparently still "aggressively pursuing" the role, especially now that Phoenix is out. But Marvel may have their eye on his Dallas Buyers Club co-star, Matthew McConaughey, thinking they can pretty much get anybody they want. It doesn't sound like McConaughey has been made any offers or anything like that, and given his busy schedule it's doubtful he could fit a long-term deal with Marvel in.

Given McGregor's ties to the Star Wars universe it's no surprise Marvel/Disney would be looking at him as a possibility, but one new name also has ties to the galaxy far far away. Oscar Isaac, who many think will play a Jedi in Star Wars: Episode VII, is also on their radar. Would the busy actor be willing to commit to another major franchise for Disney? He'd make for a great, outside-the-box pick for Doctor Strange, but so too would Jake Gyllenhaal and Ethan Hawke, also up for the role. Gyllenhaal, who has been spending time exploring his dark side in Prisoners, Enemy, and Nightcrawler, is said to be "interested" in playing a superhero. He hasn't had a tentpole gig since Prince of Persia, and that didn't tun out so well. As for Hawke, he may have the inside track after working with director Scott Derrickson on Sinister. This isn't the first time his name has come up for the role but he was written off as unlikely, but that was obviously premature.

I guess this means we can count Jack Huston and Edgar Ramirez out? So lots to choose from here, but my money is on McGregor or Gyllenhaal. McGregor has the name recognition and experience, plus he's reasonably young at 43. Gyllenhaal is younger, is also a household name, and has been trying to get into a superhero movie since he almost snagged the Spider-Man role for Sam Raimi years ago. Whoever they choose, Marvel should have Doctor Strange in theaters in 2016.

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Jake Gyllenhaal Covers the Action in New Trailer for 'Nightcrawler'

Is Jake Gyllenhaal the next actor on the verge of a McConaughey-esque career resurgence? Nope, because he's already neck deep into it with a string of remarkable performances in End of Watch, Enemy, and Prisoners. But unlike McConaughey, Gyllenhaal was never really considered a "joke"; he was just an actor who spent a lot of years flashing tremendous potential. With an awards season date set aside for his latest film, Nightcrawler, it looks like Gyllenhaal has finally turned the corner.

Written and directed by Dan Gilroy (The Bourne Legacy screenwriter), Nightcrawler has Gyllenhaal as Lou, a desperate man who delves into the seedy underworld of Los Angeles crime journalism. He becomes part of a group of reckless, adrenaline-seeking cameramen capturing the city's most violent crimes all in the sake of making some fast money. But when things start getting dangerous Lou becomes closer to the action than he was prepared for.

Also starring Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed, and Bill Paxton, Nightcrawler opens on October 31st after debuting in Toronto next month.


NIGHTCRAWLER - Official Trailer #2 (2014) Jake Gyllenhaal Movie HD by MovieTrailerz

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Jake Gyllenhaal Shines Brightest in New Trailer and Poster for 'Nightcrawler'

Over the weekend we saw a very frail, over eager Jake Gyllenhaal as Lou Bloom in a viral teaser for Nightcrawler. The footage was extremely well-received and along with the announcement it would be playing at TIFF, served as a good way to get the film some early attention before dropping into what may be an Oscar run later this fall. Now we get a fuller look at the film in a new trailer and to say it's riveting stuff is an understatement.

Marking the directorial debut of veteran writer Dan Gilroy, the brother of Tony and a co-writer on The Bourne Legacy, the film's early synopsis was deceptively simple, following a man who stumbles into the underground world of Los Angeles crime journalism. An expanded plot breakdown tells us much more:

"NIGHTCRAWLER is a pulse-pounding thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling -- where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou thrives. In the breakneck, ceaseless search for footage, he becomes the star of his own story."

The trailer builds and builds on Gyllenhaal's aggression before taking a seriously dark turn at the end, and this looks like it could be one of his most challenging roles yet. Also starring Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, and Riz Ahmed, Nightcrawler opens October 17th.

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Jake Gyllenhaal is Thin and Jobless in First 'Nightcrawler' Teaser

The fall season is typically where the heavyweight films and performances start rolling out, and last year Jake Gyllenhaal delivered one of his best in Prisoners. It was completely unlike anything he had done; dark and heavy and free of glamor, and there are some who feel he should have received more awards attention for it. Perhaps the Oscar buzz he missed out on last year will be attained this year with the release of Nightcrawler, because Gyllenhaal seems to be putting in another transformative turn.

The first Nightcrawler teaser has been released and right away it's clear Gyllenhaal has dropped a ton of weight for the lead role of Lou Bloom. Undergoing that kind of change has been an attention-grabber in the past, most recently for Best Actor winner Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club. Here, Gyllenhaal plays an L.A. man who dives into the seedy, nocturnal world of freelance crime journalism. This teaser would seem to take place before he undertakes his new career path, perhaps out of desperation after a number of bad job interviews. It's basically a video Craigslist ad and the Bloom character comes off as a little oily.

Nightcrawler is the directorial debut of The Bourne Legacy screenwriter Dan Gilroy (the brother of Tony Gilroy), and co-stars Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed, and Bill Paxton. Chances are the film will play in Toronto before hitting theaters October 17th.

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Jake Gyllenhaal to Star in 'Demolition' from 'Dallas Buyers Club' Director Jean-Marc Vallee

Now that he's helped Matthew McConaughey earn his first Oscar with Dallas Buyers Club, director Jean-Marc Vallee can pretty much do whatever he wants. And what he's chosen to do is continue his string of working with top flight leads. His breakout film featured Emily Blunt in period drama The Young Victoria, and his next film, Wild, will star Reese Witherspoon in what some are targeting as an awards contender. And after that, Vallee may work with another big name in Jake Gyllenhaal.

Gyllenhaal is in talks to star in Demolition, which Vallee will direct from a script by Bryan Sipe. If Gyllenhaal signs on he'll play an investment banker struggling after the death of his wife. Trying to understand his emotional disconnect from the tragic loss, he begins tearing his own life apart until he's saved by a chance encounter with a woman.

This is an interesting creative period for Gyllenhaal who is coming off arguably his two most complex performances in Prisoners and Enemy. He's currently getting ready to step in the ring for Southpaw, the boxing drama directed by Antoine Fuqua. [Variety]

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Jay-Z and Beyonce's Crazy Star-Studded Trailer 'Run' with Sean Penn, Jake Gyllenhall, Rashida Jones and More

It must be pretty God damned good to be Jay-Z and Beyonce. You can go from that whole elevator ass-whuppin' thing with Solange Knowles (I forgot she even existed before then so good on her for the reminder) and totally flip the news cycle in another direction by droppin' a crazy ass short film trailer. Dialing up all their friends from Sean Penn, Don Cheadle, Guillermo Díaz, Emmy Rossum, Jake Gyllenhaal, Blake Lively, and Rashida Jones, the film is titled Run and directed by Melina Matsoukas. It's basically a high-octane gangsta "Bonnie & Clyde" thing but it looks like the kind of film made by people trying way too hard. And maybe it's because the film is "coming never" but I'm not quite sure what the purpose was other than as a big "Fuck you look at us and all our awesome celebrity friends" middle finger to the rest of the world. Blergh. Okay, I get that it's for their upcoming tour but to that I say "double blergh".

And hey, if you thought Blake Lively couldn't act before, wait til you see what she can do in a film that doesn't even really exist. 


JAY Z Beyoncé RUN - Trailer Addict by Trailer-Addict

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The Talent Show: Jake Gyllenhaal

There are several words that come to mind when I think of Jake Gyllenhaal. Talented, sexy, charming, and a versatile actor are just some of them. He flies under the radar a lot of the time and does different, abstract, and varying roles that make him one of the best actors working today. And who are we kidding here? He's also sexy as hell, with the ability to pull off boyish charm and manly ruggedness, which is no easy feat. 

We've seen Gyllenhaal grow up as an actor, from the days of Donnie Darko and October Sky to more mature roles in End of Watch, Brokeback Mountain, Prisoners, and The Day After Tomorrow, just to name a few. He'll continue to make good movies, and you can see his second film, Enemy, with director Denis Villeneuve, but for now, let's just enjoy Gyllenhaal in all his sexy glory. 

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Review: Denis Villeneuve's 'Enemy' Starring Jake Gyllenhaal

If interminably dark and unsettling Prisoners weren’t enough of a convincer that Jake Gyllenhaal and Denis Villeneuve is the next big actor/director tandem, then perhaps Enemy will do the trick. Actually shot prior to Prisoners, the sinister and devious Enemy is an epic mind-screw that crawls around in the dark corners of the psyche like a spider in a dusty attic. Subdued, deliberate in execution yet infuriatingly incoherent, Villeneuve's film is as confusing as it is transfixing.

“Chaos is merely order yet deciphered,” the ominous title sequence flashes and muddies the psychological waters in a way that never quite recedes. Somewhat loosely based on Jose Saramago's Portuguese novel, Javier Gullon's sparse script is pregnant with disturbing pscho-sexual context that the source material largely understates. In what is becoming a string of impressively dark lead performances, Gyllenhaal tackles the dual role of dull college professor Adam Bell and his marginally more charismatic doppelganger, Anthony. Adam's boring existence consists of little more than teaching his class, grading papers in his anonymous Toronto apartment, and having regular sex with his girlfriend (Melanie Laurent), who he doesn't seem to share much in common with. Captured in coffee-stain yellows by cinematographer Nicolas Bolduc, Adam's world is one of sickening loneliness and isolation. One night after a chatty colleague randomly recommends a movie, to which the Adam initially responds with an unexpected snark, he goes and rents the film anyway and makes a startling discovery. There in the background, in a minor role few would notice, appears to be his exact duplicate.

Fraught with terrifying dreams of a decidedly alien nature, Adam's buried paranoia bursts forth with this new revelation. Unable to resist, he begins to investigate the nature of Anthony's existence, eventually calling the man's house and connecting with his very pregnant wife (Sarah Gadon, a Cronenberg favorite of late) who thinks he's the husband of one of Anthony's mistresses. An excited but cautious meeting between the two men in a rundown hotel confirms that they aren't siblings but perfect replicas, distinct only in their wildly differing personalities. Where Adam is introverted and almost pathologically nervous, Anthony is a schemer, a devilish rogue and risk-taker. It's Anthony who figures that he can have his cake and eat it too with both women, expecting that Adam would be too meek to do anything about it. As the layers are peeled back on both men, we learn that they share more than just a physical bond, but perhaps a similarly demented sexual thirst.

At only about 90 minutes, Villeneuve's slow burn approach to this clash of male egos can prove an exhaustive exercise, but he still manages to captivate with an unsettling Fincher-esque tone and Gyllenhaal's mesmerizing performance. More an art-house thriller than the big studio Prisoners, Enemy presents an abstract, off-the-wall dreamscape that doesn't always jibe with the seriousness of the situation. Chillingly embraced by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans' disquieting soundtrack, the occasional splashes of B-movie humor seem deliberately placed to leave you unprepared for the impressively terrifying and shocking finale, one of such instant horror it snaps everything into focus.

Enemy will be seen as an off anomaly to some, but it explores human (particularly male) frailty with Villeneuve's meticulous eye for oppressive mood. If anything, it proves he's one of the most interesting and forward-thinking directors working today, and hopefully he has the foresight to keep Gyllenhaal close at hand.

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Jake Gyllenhaal and Antoine Fuqua Confirmed for Boxing Drama 'Southpaw'

Ding ding ding! The opening bell has finally rung on long-developing boxing drama, Southpaw. Its complicated history has been well-documented here, but it began as the brainchild of Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy), with rapper Eminem set for the lead role and Antoine Fuqua directing. For various reasons Fuqua and Eminem dropped out, the project changed hands and ended up with Weinstein. Fuqua resurfaced last year when Jake Gyllenhaal suddenly became attached, and now the project is ready to get rolling.

Deadline reports Southpaw will begin shooting this summer, with confirmations on Fuqua and Gyllenhaal. The story is your basic hard-luck hometown boy makes good tale, centering on a lefty welterweight who climbs the championship ranks while his personal life is in turmoil and he tries to win back the love of his daughter. You can see why Eminem was targeted for this one as it has an 8 Mile sort of feel to it, but Gyllenhaal should be able to fill the role just fine. As the above Prince of Persia image shows, he knows how to throw a good punch.

The search is on for someone to take the other lead, that of Titus "Tick" Willis, a former boxer forced to retire after losing an eye, and quit as a pro trainer when his son was killed. Heavy stuff.

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Red Band Teaser for 'Enemy' Starring Jake Gyllenhaal

In their last collaboration, Prisoners, Denis Villeneuve and Jake Gyllenhaal explored some really nasty corners of the human psyche, making for one of the most thrilling movies of the year, Oscars be damned. They're going to creep even further into the darkness with the doppelganger mind-f**k, Enemy, certainly the most twisted film of the year so far with an ending that....well, the less said about that the better.

A brief, pulsing NSFW teaser has been released that introduces you to this sordid tale. Gyllenhaal pulls double-duty as an ordinary man who discovers his exact duplicate while watching a movie. Becoming increasingly paranoid, he arranges for a meeting, only to discover that his duplicate is one screwed-up cat with some really ugly ideas how to take advantage of the situation. Melanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon, and Isabella Rossellini co-star in Enemy, opening March 14th but available now on DirecTV.

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