DP/30: Jake Gyllenhaal on Prisoners

(SPOILERS) Jake Gyllenhaal has gone on a journey with Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, mixing the traditions of genre film with the aesthetic of the arthouse. The first release of the two films they teamed on is Prisoners, co-starring Hugh Jackman, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, and Maria Bello.
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Shot in Los Angeles, October 2013

[@gabeplg]

Such an underrated film. It's a pity this movie didn't get the recognition it deserved.

[@Jojo-bk2pq]

Seriously. I think it's a joke that it only got a cinematography oscar nomination. The whole cast was FANTASTIC and the directing was amazing

[@paradoxar]

I only just got to watch it and looking it up: NO ONE being in some way involved in creating this movie, NO one got even NOMINATED for an oscar, except for Roger Deakins who didn't win it........ -.-

[@98Ashb]

It was fantastic, so well shot and the tone- amazing movie

[@kiko1935]

Goes to show what a jerk off the Oscar's are

[@Thrillseeker8922]

Fight Club and Se7en, two of the best and most impactful movies of all time only got one Oscar nomination each. Prisoners in my opinion is on that same level. By far one of the best psychological thrillers ever made.

[@ChanMorgan]

Detective Loki should have his own spinoff series. I wanna see him solve more crimes. Really loved the character in Prisoners. Definitely one of Jake Gyllenhaal's strongest roles to date.

[@ThePlatineist]

Same, detective Loki is one of the better detective characters I have seen.

[@bluceree7312]

Bosch can easily have a Loki crossover season. How great would that be?

[@chrisharp8362]

bruh i just wanna see jake gyllenhaal on more movies and a tv show

[@valmacclinchy]

Detective Loki is fascinating. Definitely would like to see Jake portray him again..

[@NachoBazzano-qg3hw]

Detective Loki some years later, more experienced and all that stuff would be great

[@punkrocker4julie]

He feels so much like Lou Bloom in this interview, it's crazy

[@valhalla1240]

yes! I almost can't watch his interviews around that time, because he's so in the role and it freaks me out :D he's usually such a funny guy, but he's also such a committed actor that he completely transforms himself for a role

[@LTdammit]

I think he was actually filming and playing Lou bloom around the time of this interview.

[@CitizenDevi]

Taylor Page shortly before Nightcrawler.

[@bellacruz6763]

Watching this, I felt like its so unfair that actors like Jake that actually put on effort on their craft are less appreciated or recognized, when some just have "great body" or whatever are much more popular and praised a lot. I really love Jake, perfect actor for me. :)

[@naruto00nix]

agree with your basic points but cant say jake doesnt benefit from this either :P many of his roles required him to get in incredible shape and no matter the intelligence and acting skills, if he wasnt as good looking he wouldnt be where he is right now :P but generally you just gotta commute with the right people and you will see that actors like jake are never not appreciated :P

[@soteris777]

That scene, where Loki is zooming through the traffic in the stormy night, and Anna about to die while Loki is bleeding out, is so intense and heavy. After letting this scene and movie sit with me for the next day or so, I realized how heartfelt yet heavy Prisoners was. Truly a masterpiece. Hands together for Jake, Roger, and Denis.

[@TechLive]

srsly!! usually in scenes like that u know that everything is gna work out in the end so it's not rly that tense - but with this one i was honestly unsure if he was actually gna make it thru every crazy intersection he crossed & swerve he made. it was truly a great movie with great performances from everyone.

[@clemencec3790]

@@TechLive I really thought he was gonna crash too, the way Denis Villeneuve builds up tension is so amazing that you never truly knows what's about to happen

[@comic-forsaken6961]

Man 10000% it was so well done and acted I thought and felt the exact same thing

[@WupWup68]

Watching this interview once more, after seeing 'Nightcrawler'. It must be confusing for an actor to do promotion or an interview for one movie (in this case 'Prisoners'), when he is so obviously working on his next project ('Nightcrawler'). I mean, this is Lou Bloom talking about Detective Loki! ;) Jake is awesome in both movies, and also in 'Enemy'. How about an Oscar for him? It's about time.

[@HorridDave]

Oscars ruin actors. I'm enjoying his performances, so should you! At the end of the day, its a statue lol

[@PatrickPierceBateman]

Oscars have nothing to do with merit. Jennifer Lawrence has an Oscar and she's a terrible actress, but she slept with Harvey Weinstein and back in the day that was a shortcut to roles that garnered awards.

[@LadyScaper]

@@HorridDave oscars give actors an automatic pay boost. More then just a statue.

[@urlittlewindmill6162]

Haha for real, he looks so skinny here it’s weird! Like, Lou?!?

[@lukaskywalker7791]

Staying home and watching movies is my perfect date night idea. My first question... "Have you seen Prisoners?". One of the most underrated masterpieces.

[@Nazaba09]

‘If you’ve seen enemy’... ‘I haven’t seen it. I’m sorry’. ‘Don’t apologize. It’s fine’. ❤️I love him.

[@lotusglobe2671]

It's odd because I LOVE both Prisoners and Enemy. And yet Enemy gets overlooked! Which is really sad because it's such a gem of a movie...and in fact it is unashamably among my Top 3 favorite all time movies ever. I have friends who have seen Prisoners, which is an underrated film in itself. But they never heard of Enemy until I introduced them to it! I was initally attracted to the surreal nature of that film and the fact that he meets a doppleganger version of himself. I'm just THAT big of a fan of both Denis Villeneuve and Jake Gyllenhaal that the fact that they made these two movies back to back was just icing on the cake for me. I actually didn't know that Enemy was made before Prisoners, yet it came out the year after Prisoners.

[@Ana-iy8hq]

​@@lotusglobe2671 What makes Enemy all the more interesting is that it helped build this bond between Jake and Dennie, whose movies tend to be brooding and he found his Bale in him. It's a movie I love bc I love the atmosphere and the doubles, but it's odd. Seems like Enemy was the draft to Prisoners.

[@lotusglobe2671]

@@Ana-iy8hq I never thought about that: Jake being on the same level as Bale. He did have the same brooding yet intelligent persona playing the college professor as well as the charming charisma of the actor who was his double. All qualities that I've seen in Christian before. I actually feel that him and Dennis hit it off smoothly with Enemy, which gave him the courage to be more intense with his role as Detective Loki later on. I also think his role as the writer in Nocturnal Animals was inspired by his work with Dennis.

[@holeefuksumtingwong5788]

I read where someone met him in an airport and they said he was such a nice guy. Signed things, took pictures, and was very kind the entire time. Dude doesn't get enough credit. Very underrated.

[@YouriCarma]

One of the few actors who doesn't talk BS.

[@flippert0]

Detective Loki transitioning to Lou Bloom

[@I.pray.to.George.Carlin]

His eye tic was so sexy in the film. Amazing actor he is.

[@justinebouchard353]

This man blows my mind. He's just so impressive, smart and genuine. I love Jake!

[@hanah197]

"freedom is on the other side of discipline." Love it!

[@mikeoddball4478]

ever since he is on Nightcrawlers (in preparation for it as in this case, but also afterwards in interviews over the Nightcrawler movie) he repeats this motto.. Is this Lou Bloom speaking, or Jake ?

[@mikeoddball4478]

and you see his hairstyle, and he has lost already some weight...

[@prsoon]

6:56 Hey Lou.

[@hannve]

Such a smart man and such a underrated film. Love how Jake and Denis work together and how Jake respects it all. We need more people like him, he is so down to earth.

[@Em-bz3pi]

its weird that he's in nightcrawler mode but doing a prisoners interview lol

[@Ana-iy8hq]

Surprised so many people liked Nightcrawler. I didn't. He plays a good psycho though.

[@valmacclinchy]

​@@Ana-iy8hqLove Nightcrawler...Lou Bloom and Det. Loki are two of Jake's best characters.

[@wheelmanstan]

he and gosling sure have stepped their game up, pretty serious actors when I thought like most they weren't going to be

[@felitzitasmay6257]

I totally agree with that. I always thought that jake was some sort of lower middle class actor, for whatever reason. Because of Prisoners I startet to get interestet in jakes work. Nightcrawler and southpaw just blew me away, just as much as La La Land and Blade Runner 2049. Phenomenal actors.

[@clemencec3790]

they're also two actors that make some of the best decisions picking their project. Now if I see them in something, I'll just watch the movie without questioning.

[@annabellebond7108]

100% agree two of my favourite actors

[@Fuckstain16]

I went into this movie thinking it was going to be a better than average movie about child abduction and that Roger Deakins was a bit overrated and it turned out being the best films I've seen this year. The film is so much more than that; the acting, the cinematography, everything is just so much better than I expected it to be. Probably that's why I love this movie as much as I do. Jake Gyllenhaal had one of, if not, the best performances I've seen this year.

[@AngeloLumba]

Better than only god forgives and place behind the pines?

[@Micpink5]

Angelo Lumba place behind the pines was pretty amazing too

[@AngeloLumba]

oh yeah, i guess we were just remembering our teenage years.

[@SomeKindOfScum]

Angelo Lumba far better then Only God Forgives, OGF was a weak weak film

[@Micpink5]

***** oops, why did i say behind?

[@pickletarts8196]

30:50 onward is Gold. "Freedom is on the other side of discipline."

[@isabelgutierrez524]

ahhh so glad this interview exists i love when he talks seriously about his work

[@JacobH29]

I love his hair in prisoners, wish i could see a tutorial on it

[@Jjw338]

Foolish Mastermind it’s just an undercut with the top slicked back

[@chrisp.5954]

TheSalonGuy did one a while ago it’s on YT

[@pierceholston6639]

If I still had my hair like I did when in my late teens/early 20's, I would rock it 24/7 lol!

[@ohio72213]

My God so many people like his hair and so do i. My hair is dirty blonde but as soon as its long enough im trying it out.

[@pslives4185]

Thought the cryptic nature of the tattoos and how they weren’t being flaunted was great, in fact re-watching the film for the fifth time I just noticed more tattoos on his forearm in the scene where Bobby Taylor commits suicide and really appreciated that subtlety. I’d love to see another film about Loki, I thought he was fascinating and thought Gyllenhaal was captivating as Loki, the eye twitch or hard blink is just one example of life he breathed into this character.

[@Ana-iy8hq]

Thankful they will never make that movie cause all of that worked to make the Character. It would make Prisoners a franchise which i like tho.

[@franklippert4278]

After the depressing events in Pennsylvania Detective Loki moved over to L.A., ditched the tattoos, changed his name and found his one true calling: crawling the night with a camera and provide exciting crime footage to local news broadcasting stations.

[@JhanDoriel]

And he's a freemason

[@adamcuneo7189]

I like how in this film, he's the exact opposite of Lou Bloom, in this film he has a lot of empathy for the people he's trying to help and he's a very good person, unlike in Nightcrawler where he has no empathy for others and is driven by pure selfishness.

[@azex7594]

He looks older, heavy-lidded and very burdened with his past in this movie. I've never been a big fan of his but he's mesmerizing in this film.

[@Merlinthehappypig]

its called a beard XD

[@JoeBlow-jt4me]

Merlin The Happy Pig He doesnt have a beard in Prisoners?

[@Merlinthehappypig]

Jameson Grilley Yes he does...

[@JoeBlow-jt4me]

No he doesnt look it up man lol. I just watched it hes clean shaven with long slicked back hair and the sides shaved (a style I haven't seen since the 90s)

[@holeefuksumtingwong5788]

He was doing Nightcrawler at this time too. He dropped a lot of weight and a off, kind crazy look was his characters look. Another great movie if you wanna watch something great. That movie is awesome from beginning to end.

[@froufroudeluxe]

Really makes you appreciate the work behind the finished project. I love how collaborative it was

[@glendahersey3090]

Just is such an underrated actor, he is amazing. And I love his voice se can be really soft spoken like he is in this clip but also can be tough when speaking in some of his movie rolls. I just love him. 💕💕💕

[@retardedpancakes8141]

Jake's a future great director.

[@tims_always_fishing7117]

I just got a haircut and I said give me a loki....and everyone loves it

[@PatrickPierceBateman]

You can tell he's a great actor because he seems so nice and approachable when he's not in character as the intimidating Detective Loki.

[@bunimovichsofia5985]

Oh my. This interview is so snappy, interesting and smart. It gives so much insight into the movie and where it all comes from, really describing the journey of the director and everyone involved in the making. I love how both Jake and the interviewer are fascinated with the world of cinema, they're just having a conversation about their favorite topic. And Jake's ability to describe things in this abstract, philosophical, almost visionary way is such a treat. Wow.

[@OwlCUlater]

This is one of the few intelligent actors.

[@3039576202]

OwlCUlater yeah Jake, Viggo Mortenson, Matt Damon, Keanu Reeves as well.. all deeply sensitive and intelligent people ...and they work with smart directors and pick interesting thought provoking projects ... I always look forward to their films now.. Jake G is just wonderful. I could listen to him talk about his projects for hours.

[@PONYBOYonline]

+OwlCUlater There are plenty of intelligent actors/actresses. The media just highlights the others as it makes for quick and cheap stories.

[@xXGeneralButtNakedXx]

+OwlCUlater what about Charlie sheen

[@lucanreynolds1341]

Stephanie Brown KEANU REEVES?!! WHAT A SHIT ACTOR!

[@Ana-iy8hq]

He played people irl but came to terms with the fact it's riddic. That's the intellectual thang he gives off and why he thinks exploring his darker things on screen is a healthier way.

[@Weird-City]

I think his past related to a wrongful conviction (hence the jail tattoos) and being able to return to the force after his conviction was quashed. I loved that he hid his tattoos is brought a whole new depth to the character. Also - that scene at the door where he is asking about child's clothes - wow! One of my all time favourite scenes.

[@cynhwon]

I am so late to the party but I've just watched Prisoners and the whole cast is absolutely amazing. Detecive Loki was exceptionally well portrayed. Well done!!!

[@talhakatoonkhaana]

For me, this was The Film of the decade (2010s) and why Jake Gyllenhaal wasn't even nominated is beyond ridiculous.

[@sineadsmithh]

Wish this could have gone on forever. Great questions. Jake is such an interesting and intelligent guy.Totally deserves a nomination for this.

[@Kevlexicon]

love to see ppl genuinely engaged w their work working together

[@LadyScaper]

Jake Gyllenhaal impersonating Denis Villeneuve with the Québécois accent is gold. 🤣 Excellent interview.

[@benjamingentile1660]

wow, I nearly started crying 15:30 and on

[@weaslyisourking4170]

same

[@lahleslie5251]

Could you please at some point interview Paul Dano. That guys is a great actor and totally overlooked. Love your interviews!

[@WupWup68]

This interview makes me want to see 'Prisoners' all over again. I saw it two weeks ago and I loved it! As always. Jake is really passionate about his roles - and it shows! He's amazing.

[@five01340]

I think Jake is a great actor and would make a great future director

[@valmacclinchy]

Absolutely 💯

[@thevillainwasright2601]

hes such an amazing person and real fuckig actor.i don't know what I like more him as an actor or him

[@Weird-City]

Basically, the film is as much about Loki as the father, killer, parents. All of them, are prisoners in a manner of speaking.

[@nathanaelmarklew8818]

His character was so fascinating and full of mystery. I'd love to see a standalone cop drama with detective Loki because I felt he was the best thing about prisoners.

[@valmacclinchy]

Exactly 💯

[@anandwrld]

such an amazing actor.

[@lisafoadstock1452]

man.. what i would give for a one-on-one conversation with Jake or Denis.. my gooooodness they've tapped into the very essence that guides me and so many others subconsciously

[@GotoMaki4Micah]

Amazing interview! I don't care how late it was. It's full of insight and hearing him describe certain moments was so much fun. The beginning with Paul and him was amazing, my favorite part. XD The fact that it was improv makes it even more fantastic.

[@mathildehuar2018]

I usually watch my phone here and there during films, but with this one I was so invested I couldn’t take my eyes out of the screen

[@HicoxArchie]

Second to Fassbender, my favorite actor working today. Such a consistent performer, and he is quietly racking up one of the most impressive CVs out there. Really, really hope he is nominated for Prisoners.

[@Amberoniii]

This is such a great, informative interview. I learned a lot about films, acting, and Prisoners. Bravo.

[@rickl3840]

amazing actor, very underrated

[@TheBadLiutenant]

Thank you so much! This is terrifically inspiring. I'm kinda glad that what Jake said about his own stuff and Denis' confirmed my agenda that this film really is actually a metaphysical thriller about "what is actually there" and what isn't, and how the lack of something suggests the existence of that thing or person that is in this case, the missing children.

[@toshimipeter3249]

18:00 exact same reaction at that moment here.

[@josepabloarellano9171]

Thank you for this interview

[@brianagresta8365]

Wow. Thank you for this interview.

[@lisafoadstock1452]

I love jake gyllenhaal so much ha

[@trixieb8263]

I only wanted to see 5-10 minutes of this interview but I just couldn't stop. Very good movie, nice grades added to the actors' portofolios I think. I was simply delighted to watch Jake playing det. Loki. By every role he gets more and more mesmerizing as an actor and as a person too. Not to talk about his appearance, I mean.. sure you can see it yourselves anyway( 28:16 hand through the hair ).. ~ ok I'm gunna run my ass off now xD

[@Ana-iy8hq]

Donnie was a handsome schizophrenic and super vibrant still. Intense stare.

[@dddebolt]

I loved Enemy as well. It was a movie thats certainly not horror by genre, but if you watch it in the dark by yourself, I found it extremely eerie and very creepy.

[@dilfizm2750]

he is so fucking passionate about his work and it makes my heart flutter

[@aworam101]

24:02 is everyone's face when your friend does something completely stupid.

[@sndrs]

loved the movie, jakes character was one of the highlights for me

[@C0nand0]

Thanks for this. Bit late since the movie released a while back, but I've been hoping this interview with him for this movie with you would happen.

[@GooFucYourselfSir]

oh my god its lou!

[@jancihassani]

I just finally watched Enemy tonight and I just wanted to say that it is incredible. It keeps you guessing the entire time and I was literally clenching my blanket with my eyes wide open thinking “what’s going to happen next 😳” 12/10 Gyllanhaal 🌙

[@midwayj72]

This was an a-maze-ing movie.

[@Nergal_Slayer]

Jake Gyllenhaal is the guy I wish to be like someday

[@DariusVincentHughes]

They must have changed the name of the movie he was talking about. He's calling it 'An Enemy'. I looked it up and it's called 'Enemy'.

[@lucanreynolds1341]

DariusVincentHughes Incredible movie!

[@laurenanna2916]

He is most the Most underrated actor in Hollywood !

[@arimax888]

Wah, what an increadible actor.One of the most underated actors out there..can't beleive he hasn't gotten an award for his latest work!! awesome interview. loved his honest and funny answers

[@relinquis]

great interviewer... most would have cut Jake off with leading questions and such, taking us to more conventional territory. this is much better. well done.

[@gjin141]

Just saw this movie. Everyone was phenomenal in this. Viola, Terrence and Hugh. Hugh really was inspiring the determination he had to find his daughter, although his fate at the end was so sad and questionable. A gem of 2013, quite remarkable. Starting to see Jake as a great actor after watching this, Nightcrawler and Life

[@valmacclinchy]

Jake is so incredibly versatile as an actor.

[@mod69]

This movie was fantastic,I was on edge of my seat for a couple of hours

[@deadpool4131]

2019 anyone ?

[@Nergal_Slayer]

2020 bro

[@valmacclinchy]

2024 and I'd still like to see another movie with Jake portraying Det. Loki...such a fascinating character.

[@likemonalisang]

love Jake's performance in Prisoners. sooooo great!

[@shruti5443]

"Freedom is on the ither side of discipline."- Jake Gyllenhaal (God this man is heaven sent)

[@benjaunceyyy]

Gyllenhaal gave a flawless performance in this movie, and the movie itself is a complete masterpiece from it's cinematography by Deakins and score by Johannsson and ofc direction by Denis, but Hugh Jackman gave one of the best performances I have ever seen on screen

[@greggblackwell7858]

all these comments about how great jakes performance was which i completely agree with but what about hugh's performance...i thought it was just as good no one seems to give him credit tho?

[@crystalborealisstudio]

They threw out a couple breadcrumbs but I wanted to know so much more about Lokis back story.

[@itisthatis.]

It's Lou Bloom

[@Stannyhand]

To this day I still tell everyone who I speak to about films to watch this if they haven’t

[@hutchreviewsmovies]

I would LOVE to see one of these with Jake for Villeneuve's Enemy.

[@tara5190]

2:42 he sounds a lot like lou bloom. im 😳

[@christophermirkovich7290]

The blinking always having a buttoned-up collar always restating let's keep calm

[@christopherbullard6975]

The interviewer does not need to go mmmmhmmmm every sentence good lord!

[@jacobileoo1941]

jake is the type of actor that can make a movie character better than the book version.

[@deepakkarki745]

i love this guy

[@StressFreeCity]

He looks like a young Al Pacino.

[@JimMunty13]

Before I saw this film, I thought that Loki would be the bad guy just because of his name and I was really upset that I knew that and then I watched it and he wasn't, so that was a great surprise.

[@JohnDoe-yr3lm]

what does lokis tatoos mean? and the mason ring?

[@Nergal_Slayer]

I couldn't skip forward through this interview. I just really wanted to hear what Jake had to say. Genuinely interesting.

[@timpower4922]

That film should and will go down as a masterpiece of cinema.

[@rubenTR309]

Damn, I thought this was Al Pacino in the screen shot

[@naruto00nix]

great interviewer and great interviewee :D was he talking about nightcrawler in the very end?

[@jonasulrich]

well, they should screen this interview to the academy and jake's oscar nomination would be a formality

[@Oceansta]

11:45 WTF. Who are those punks???

[@Tojoj22]

OMG Yes!!!! and on 13:48 & 15:48 there still talkin'

[@flippert0]

Jake has an weird mix of Nightcrawler and Prisoner physicality here. I get a strange Michael Douglas vibe from him here.

[@cc-gx8hr]

Didn’t know what ppl were talking about saying he’s like Lou Bloom in this interview until I got a few minutes in like wowwwww

[@sonnymp1337]

Great actor

[@phillipahodson4139]

What amazing film and character (Jake Gyllenhaaul) !!!