Films starring Jake Gyllenhaal: list of the best

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Jake Gyllenhaal is an American actor and producer. He began his career back in 1991 with the movie "City Slickers" and over 28 years of acting has managed to star in a huge number of high-quality and commercially successful projects. His first major role was in October Sky (1999), where he played a high school student in Virginia seeking a degree. Since then, he has been actively acting in diverse films, trying on various roles, which he successfully copes with.

It should be said that the actor takes part in various projects, but most of them are warmly received by the audience and even critics. Today we will look at the best films starring Jake Gyllenhaal. And let's start with one of his first works.

Movie "October Sky" (1999)

The film is based on the story of NASA engineer Homer Hickam. After the launch of the first satellite (it was carried out by the USSR) in 1957, Homer literally fell ill with space and decided to design a rocket with his own hands. He even turns to a famous rocket scientist, but the boy's father is categorically against his idea. But Homer is ready to do anything to make his dream come true.

Rating - 8 out of 10. Viewers note that this is an inspiring and positive film, which perfectly shows the 50s of the last century. Initially, the picture was called "Aircraft Builders". However, later the creators reasonably reasoned that a film with such a name would not arouse much interest among the audience.

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

Jake Gyllenhaal in the title role in the disaster movie looked very harmonious. In the story, the Earth is experiencing global climate change. The glaciers are melting, and where it was warm just a short time ago, arctic frosts are coming. Climate scientist Jack Hall is trying to save his son, who was left in a city flooded by a tsunami, which is rapidly freezing due to low temperatures. Meanwhile, his teenage son (Jake Gyllenhaal) struggles to survive in uninhabitable conditions.

The film received very positive reviews. Rating - 8 out of 10. Acting, director and camera work, special effects are at the highest level. The meaning of the film is clear and understandable to everyone - we are only guests on this planet, which at any moment can destroy us.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

The world's first western about two gay men. Jakeplayed Jack Twist, and Heath Ledger (Ennis Del Mar) became his partner and lover. This is a dramatic picture about the love of two men who are prevented by the prejudices of society from being together. It should be noted that after the release of the film, Jake was even called bisexual. In an interview, he admitted that this is the highest mark of his work, although in real life men have never attracted him physically.

Rating - 7, 6 out of 10.

In 2005, several more films were released starring Jake Gyllenhaal. The next work of the actor was the film "Proof".

"Proof" (2005)

Jake's partners on the set this time were Gwyneth P altrow and Anthony Hopkins. The latter played a mathematician gone mad, after whose death his best student (Jake) tries to make a great discovery based on his old notes. The daughter of a deceased professor (Gwyneth P altrow), however, believes that the student wants to steal her father's ideas.

Rating - 7 out of 10.

Marines

"Marines" is a 2005 film that showed viewers the hard life of Marines in the desert during the Gulf War. This is a war drama based on real events. With a heavy load on their shoulders and a sniper rifle in the hands of Anthony (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his squad, they have to make a difficult journey through the desert, where it is impossible to hide from the unbearable heat and the fearless Iraqi soldiers who could appear on the horizon at any moment.

Rating - 7, 4 out of 10. Film "Marines"2005 received mixed reviews from critics, but Jake's work was appreciated.

"Zodiac" (2007)

Zodiac starring Jake Gyllenhaal is a psychologically difficult film. It is based on real events and tells the audience about the serial killer Zodiac, who rampaged the streets of San Francisco for 12 years (from the 60s to the 70s of the last century). His case remains one of the most terrible and unsolved mysteries, because the killer was never found by the police, like Jack the Ripper.

The film received very positive reviews and was warmly received by critics and nominated for a number of American awards. Rating - 7, 6 out of 10.

"Brothers" (2011)

This is a war drama starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman. The film tells about the fate of officer Sam Cahill (Maguire), who is sent to Afghanistan. Before leaving, he asked his unlucky brother Tommy (Gyllenhaal), recently released from prison, to take care of his wife and his children. When Sam is captured by the rebels, he is considered dead in his homeland. Tommy wins the love of his nieces and falls in love with Sam's wife, Grace. However, soon Sam, having experienced a strong emotional shock, returns …

Rating - 9 out of 10.

"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (2010)

This is an action-adventure game based on the game of the same name. Jake's partner was the charming Gemma Arterton, and his opponent was played by Ben Kingsley. The film tells about the young prince Dastan, who lost hiskingdom because of the machinations of enemies. Now he must steal a powerful artifact that can turn back time.

Quality fantasy film "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" pleases viewers with excellent special effects, beautiful costumes and excellent acting. Rating - 8, 6 out of 10.

Film "Love and other drugs" (2010)

This is a sweet and funny melodrama with a touch of tragedy. Persons over the age of 17 are allowed to view it, as the picture contains scenes of a sexual nature and obscene expressions. Nevertheless, this is a good film about true love, which is beyond reason.

Jakel Gyllenhaal played Jamie, a Viagra salesman and ladies' man. However, he fell in love with Maggie (Anne Hathaway) - a girl suffering from the initial stage of Parkinson's disease. Alas, the disease is incurable, but does Jamie need a girl with such a serious disease?

Rating - 7, 9 out of 10.

"Source Code" (2011)

Captain Colter Stevens wakes up on the train. He is talking to a girl who seems to know him. But then a monstrous explosion breaks his consciousness. He wakes up in a pod that is being watched by Dr. Colleen Goodwin. She informs him that he is inside the "Source Code" - a program that makes it possible to return to the past for 8 minutes, transferring consciousness into the body of another person. Colter's task is to find for all this the bomb that led to the monstrous tragedy. However, will he be able to do it with only 8 minutes?

This is a dynamic techno-thriller that keeps the viewer in suspense until the very end of the film. It was positively received by both viewers and critics. Rating - 7, 8 out of 10.

"Patrol" (2012)

This is a crime drama starring Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña as inseparable cop friends. The streets of Los Angeles are teeming with criminal gangs and the everyday life of the police is not only intense, but also dangerous.

The film is rated 7, 9 out of 10. The film received positive reviews and was named one of the best films of the past 5 years.

"The Enemy" (2013)

The psychological film "The Enemy" starring Jake Gyllenhaal is atmospheric and tense. The plot revolves around Adam Bell, who one day buys an unknown film cassette and sees his doppelgänger on the screen. Wanting to learn more about the actor, he begins his own investigation, which plunges him into the abyss of metaphysical theories.

The film is rated 6, 3 out of 10. It won multiple awards and Gyllenhaal was nominated for Best Actor.

"Prisoners" (2013)

Jake Gyllenhaal plays Detective Loki in Captives. This atmospheric psychological thriller did not leave any viewer indifferent. The plot revolves around the fathers of two girls who were kidnapped for Thanksgiving. The suspect is soon released due to lack of evidence. Therefore, one of the desperate fathers takes a man hostage, deciding to administer justice on his own. Now all the police and the detective are looking for him. Loki.

Rating of the film - 7, 7. Gyllenhaal's acting work in the movie "Prisoners" and Hugh Jackman was highly appreciated by critics. The film also received generally positive reviews, even from critics.

"Stringer" (2014)

Louis Bloom makes crime reports and makes good money doing it. However, this work is quite dangerous. After all, the heroes of his reports are people who do not leave witnesses. In addition, Louis once becomes a suspect in a crime himself after another footage from the scene…

Rating - 7, 4 out of 10. This role is very unusual for Gyllenhaal, who often appears before the viewer in the role of a goodie. However, his performance is excellent, as is the plot of the film, according to the audience.

"Lefty" (2015)

A dramatic film that inspires viewers to fight pain and mental weakness. Jake plays a boxer whose world is falling apart after the death of his wife. His daughter is taken from him. All he can do now is get back in the ring and prove himself worthy of the trust of those he cares about.

Gyllenhaal's performance was highly acclaimed, though the film itself was called "no transcendent". Rating - 7, 5 out of 10.

"Destruction" (2015)

This is an incredibly lifelike drama film. It is filled with quite deep symbolism, although the viewer does not have to interpret each frame in the hope of understanding the essence - the truth is on the surface. After deathwife Julia Gyllenhaal hero Davis Mitchell realizes that he does not feel anything. Nothing at all. This emotional blindness is not normal, he understands this. But how to get out of the abyss?

Rating - 7, 1 out of 10. The film received mixed reviews from film critics, but was highly appreciated by the audience, who saw in it the atmosphere and meaning that not everyone can understand.

"Under the cover of night" (2016)

Atmospheric dramatic thriller in which Jake played two roles at once - the former lover of the heroine / writer and the hero of his novel. Susan Morrow is a successful professional, but her marriage is cracking at the seams, she is lonely and cocooned in her own defense mechanism - indifference. The novel that her former lover Edward sends her as a gift awakens a woman. She reassesses her life and realizes that only with Edward was she truly happy. At the same time, the viewer on the screen is watching the development of events taking place in the book.

Rating - 7, 3. The film was marked by many positive reviews and a large number of nominations and awards. It is a psychologically difficult but profound film.

"Stronger" (2017)

Jeff Bauman lost both legs in a terrorist attack. However, he managed to remember the face of the terrorist and described it in detail, which helped to find the criminals. Alas, while the townspeople consider Jeff an example of masculinity and resilience, the guy himself does not consider himself such at all. He gets more and more bogged down in alcoholism and laziness, despite the presence of his beloved girl nearby. Will Jeff be able to overcome himself and become stronger?

Rated 8, 7 out of 10. This is a truly inspiring film, during which Jake managed to convey the metamorphosis that occurs with his hero.

"Velvet Chainsaw" (2019)

American satirical horror film starring Gyllenhaal as art expert Morph Vandewald. The picture demonstrates how profitable the sale of works has become. One day, his assistant finds paintings by an unknown artist who has recently died. Morph sees something unique in them, but soon terrible events begin to happen to everyone who has acquired the paintings.

Rated 7, 7 out of 10. The film is quite mixed, but received a lot of positive feedback.

Conclusion

So, we have reviewed the best films starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Today he is at the peak of popularity, and, of course, we will have many more paintings with his participation. It should be said that in the films "Patrol", "Stringer", "Wildlife" and "Stronger" he also acted as a producer.