In answer to your question... everything?
I had liked Jake in his other movies prior to Brokeback. And I thought he had a lot of potential that somehow wasn't being fully tapped. His other performances weren't as rich not because he wasn't capable, but because it wasn't required. How many nuances can you give Holden Caulfield, really, you know? But he gave those characters really more depth than required. Still they weren't enough to really stretch him.
My husband and I watched the movie together last night. My ninth time (but who's counting?) his second. I remember finding that my second viewing is what really illuminated Jack in all his many-splendored glory. My husband thinks I'm crushing on him a bit (it's been known to happen before
), so I think he's thought all these viewings of mine were so I could look at him on a purely superficial level repeatedly, like that other movie and actor which shall remain nameless here. But last night, he sat riveted to the sofa, watching in thoughtful silence the whole time. This is rare for him. He's like a shark - he never stops moving, even when he's asleep. The only other movie I can remember him doing this with is Schindler's List. And we've seen a lot of great movies together. He even sat through *all* the credits, which he didn't do in the theater the first time, and which I can't remember him ever doing with another movie when watching it at home. We never really talked about it the first time - he's my Ennis, dontcha know. But this time, as we were turning everything off and heading to bed, I said, "So..." And he goes, "You're right. That's a great movie." I said, "What did you think of the acting?" He goes, "I thought it was great - *everyone* was great." He said "everyone" as if he'd never seen anything where the acting was so good across the board. Then he goes, "But that Jake Gyllenhaal walked away with it." And I said, "Yep. Kinda what I've thought all along, too." He goes, "The other guy (lol) was great, but he just... did more."
So chalk up another fan.
I have to say, too, that as much as I admired Jake's performance from the beginning of my experience of this movie, I never expected him to be such a doll in "real" life. I watched him on Leno back in January - had never seen him interviewed before - and was just floored at how genuine and grounded and warm he is. He made me think of Jodie Foster, in a way - she's another one I love to watch in interviews because she has such a strong, positive life force exuding from her every pore. Both of them are so enthusiastic about and reverent of what they do, without being the least bit affected or arrogant. It's so refreshing.
