Jake Gyllenhaal took the stage at an actual UFC weigh-in this weekend for his Road House remake
Shirtless, flexing, and dropping mother-f-bombs, Gyllenhaal was clearly getting into the UFC vibe
Aux News Jake Gyllenhaal
Look, we’ll be honest here: We had managed to completely forget that Jake Gyllenhaal was, very seriously, remaking Road House. It’s just a weird idea, you know? There’s the oddball Patrick Swayze/Donnie Darko connection, the incongruity of Gyllenhaal playing a guy literally known for ripping out people’s throats, the sheer unnecessariness of remaking Road House at all… It was just a little hard to keep front-of-mind.
But no longer! We have now witnessed the raw spectacle of Jake Gyllenhaal bringing philosopher throat-ripper Elwood Dalton to life, and it is for-sure now burnt into our memory. Not in a trailer, not via a poster, but by the most natural venue for Gyllenhaal’s many talents: A UFC weigh-in this weekend, where Gyllenhaal appeared, in-character but out-of-shirt, to film a scene for the movie in front of a crowd of cheering fans.
As noted by MMAJunkie (which also captured copious video of the event), the weigh-in happened on Friday evening in Las Vegas, amidst a bunch of actual weigh-ins for the sport. See, the new version of Dalton isn’t just a mysterious shit-kicker monk; he’s also a former UFC fighter. Hence Gyllenhaal taking the stage and talking trash to opponent (and actual former UFC guy) Jay Hieron, with the two eventually giving each other a long stare-down with some of that “hey, I’m gonna hit you, and not in an officially sanctioned, this-is-legal-for-some-reason sort of way” play-acting that fighters apparently do in these sorts of situations. Also, Gyllenhaal loudly yelled “shit” twice and “motherfucker” once, leaving no doubt that he is both R-rated and powerful.
Road House is being directed by Doug Liman, and co-stars Daniela Melchior and Billy Magnussen. The remake reportedly transplants troubled bar Double Deuce from Missouri to the Florida Keys. The film is being set up at Prime Video.
41 Comments
He did what to the stage now?
Why would you remake Road House. It’s a rare example of the “perfect” movie in the sense that Road House is 100% the exact movie the makers of Road House wanted to make. It’s also, imho, the perfect example of making a movie so “bad” it’s good on purpose. No one writing, directing or acting in Road House thought they were making high art. They were making elevated grind house and they knew it. And that’s why it’s perfect.
I quite like seeing these brilliantly deep, experienced actors like Ben Gazzara lending their powers to these kinds of films in equal measure to their more ambitious work. The folly of bringing your entire Cassavetes film energy to Road House delights me.
Folly? Or fruitful collaboration? You wanna see Gazzarra in folly mode, watch Buffalo 66. But actually do not watch that movie. Vincent Gallo probably should not have been exposed to other humans
See, I think that Gallo specifically engaged Gazzara because Gallo fancies himself as a Cassavetes type, and fancied that film as a maverick work of iconoclasm like this films Cassavetes made with Gazzara. I thought he was inserting himself into that tradition, which is not so much folly as idiocy.I’m talking more about the inverse of that, where the traditional, disciplined methods you have developed in your craft are used totally at odds with their purpose or your broader artistic aspirations.Like how in the 90s, the majority of film work for classically trained actors were silly villain roles, where they clearly never expected to be using their skills and techniques in this way. Or when Langella was Skeletor. Powers Boothe bringing his Shakespearean repertory experience to Sudden Death. Or how in that dumb 70s derivative thriller “Two Minute Warning” Cassavetes himself plays a fairly rote SWAT team commander but still imbues the rudimentary characterisation as scripted with this really deep, physical nuanced performance. It’s like if Cindy Sherman was commissioned to make a Tijuana bible and didn’t slum it at all. You might find it admirable but you’d also sort of wonder *why* she didn’t slum it.
There’s just always been something so delightful to me about people bringing the full extent of their artistry and craftsmanship to things which don’t really require i. Gazarra coulda done Road House on autopilot and it would have been fine, but the film is made even more baffling by the fact that a performance this nuanced is couched in material this devoid of nuance.
I’ll never not love watching Gazzara just calmly sit there after the entire bar leaps to its collective feat and just starts fighting in every direction.
Why would you remake Road House. It’s a rare example of the “perfect” movie in the sense that Road House is 100% the exact movie the makers of Road House wanted to make. It’s also, imho, the perfect example of making a movie so “bad” it’s good on purpose. No one writing, directing or acting in Road House thought they were making high art. They were making elevated grind house and they knew it. And that’s why it’s perfect
I can’t wait to see Jake G saying “Pain don’t hurt.”
After your sixth rewatching, I expect a full review.
“Lack of necessity” is much tidier than “unnecessariness”.
So who is the senior citizen he murders? I’m hoping they can get Bruce Dern. Or…wait for it…Bruce Willis.Btw this “scene” they are filming here looks fucking terrible and it’s the same garbage they do in every C-movie and every week at every one of these face-humping UFC shitshows.
Watched that again a few weeks ago, it’s magnificent. RIP Rick Ducommun
Tom Sizemore.
Mom says no more gerbils until I stop putting things in my ass.
Well, it’s not exactly a Habitrail. You don’t even have a wheel up there.
“face-humping UFC shitshows”?Someone doesn’t understand MMA and is real salty about it.
Road House is very clearly a set of rudimentary genre parts that have been souped-up in surprising and often confounding ways, and it’s through this souping-up process that the film becomes memorable.Unusual decisions are usually what makes a “bad” movie entertaining – if the audience detects a baffling, impenetrable thought process, that’s what keeps them interested.And I think that’s why Road House is such a workhorse in the so-bad-its-good stable, but I do also think that every unusual decision is implemented extremely competently in this film. It’s one of those oddly fascinating films because you have no idea what the ‘vision’ for the film could possibly have been, but it does seem to have one, somehow.I guess what I’m saying is that until everyone involved proudly admits to hoovering up industrial quantities of cocaine to get into the headspace of making a Road House, rather than simply “attending UFC events”, it’s not only a pointless retelling, it’s an inauthentic one.
One of my favorite parts about the original was being slapped in the face over and over with ridiculous events that are covered up with “what are you going to do? Wesley owns the sheriff.” Like driving a monster truck through a car dealership in front of a few hundred witnesses.
If a UFC fight occurs and isn’t recorded, does anyone remember if it actually happened? Also, Gyllenhaal loudly yelled “shit” twice and “motherfucker” once, leaving no doubt that he is both R-rated and powerful.There’s that degree in Philosophy at work!
As someone with a degree in Philosophy, I can verify as true.
It’s what he said when he compared his future earnings potential with his student loan balance.
Oh boy I’d get in so much trouble if my mom found out the way I talk here.
Road House is, like so many “classic” movies that are “so bad, it’s good”, better remembered than actually experienced. Go back and watch the movie: it drags. It’s an absolute bore to watch, except for like 5 min of actual screen time, like when he rips that dude’s throat out for no real reason. Seriously, most of the movie is just watching a blind blues player in a cage get bottles whipped at him. Did you remember there was a blind blues player who performs like 3 or 4 full-length songs in it? Didn’t think so.
Jeff Healey? Man, that dude could play his ass off IIRC.
He was a great guitar player. Actor, not so much.
Respectfully,Shut your whore mouth, you smelly pirate-hooker.
So, wait, is he a hooker for pirates, or a dual-class pirate and hooker?
“so bad, it’s good” means it’s endlessly rewatchable. Trying to recast this phrase to mean “so bad, it’s… just so bad” is silly.
Yeah, you’re wrong. But you seem comfortable being wrong, like sliding on an old pair of shoes.
How’d you get in here?Hey Wesley, if you’re going to have a pet you need to keep it on a leash.
People whip bottles at me too but I don’t have a cage. Mom says I deserve one but not the other.
Yesh. Thing is, Patrick Swayze had a sense of humor about his work. Something about this has the distinct odor of pretense, and rancid reheated canned corned beef hash.
Swayze may have had a sense of humour about his oeuvre, but he played James Dalton completely serious.
Swayze is the kind of brilliant actor who could pitch his performance with surgical precision. His read on the material itself, as well as his read on the directorial vision, meant that whether he was making something dumb or something challenging, he used his acting skills in exactly the right way to add value. Sometimes I think the best measure of an actor’s talent is what they do with the material that will never get them an Oscar.
Does anyone remember when they tried to remake Road House with Ronda “Sandy Hook Truther” Rousey?
Everybody involved in this remake is a bunch of BLEEDERS! They BLEED TOO MUCH! If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a messy bleeder.Can I get you a Bloody Mary? Some breakfast?
It’s not Road House unless it includes the exchange, “I fucked guys like you in prison!” Followed by, “You’re an asshole!”
Shit, I was actually watching Road House on Friday night when this apparently happened. The universe is telling me something. I’m not sure what, though. Probably “Pain don’t hurt”.
The universe is reminding you to stick with the original, I’d say.
Oh boy I love MMA. My mom says if MMA stood for Masturbation, Masturbation and Assplay I’d be the champion.