Summary
As impressive as Jake Gyllenhaal might have been in theRoad Houseremake, his performance in a new 2024 show is even better. In an acting career spanning over two decades,Jake Gyllenhaal has starred in several acclaimed moviesand been honored with one Academy Award nomination, two Golden Globe wins, and three Tony Awards. Although, like most actors, Gyllenhaal has seen a fair share of ups and downs in his acting career, one thing remains constant in everything he stars in: his unwavering dedication to his craft.
Owing to this, even though2024’sRoad Houseremakewas met with a mixed response from both viewers and critics, many praised the actor for his performance and ability to add more layers to the original Dalton’s characterization. With his portrayal of a whole new character in anApple TV+ show, Gyllenhaal has outdone himself again, seamlessly transitioning from movie to television. While it may be too soon to tell whether this new show will be as commercially successful asRoad House, it gives viewers the opportunity to see the best of Jake Gyllenhaal.
Presumed Innocent Cast & Character Guide
Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent walks through a gripping courtroom drama that features several familiar actors but also ones who are relatively obscure.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s Role In Presumed Innocent Is His Best Performance Of 2024
Presumed Innocent Gives Enough Room To Jake Gyllenhaal To Shine As An Actor
In 2024, so far, Jake Gyllenhaal has starred in one movie,Road House, and one television show,Presumed Innocent. Considering how he plays completely different roles in the film and the show, both highlight his impressive range and ability to effortlessly portray diverse characters. However, sinceRoad Houseis more of an action comedy flick that only gives so much to Jake Gyllenhaal to work with, it does not put his full acting forte on display. WhileGyllenhaal still does an incredible job at delivering Dalton’s physicality, comic timing, and shades of anti-heroism, the movie does not tap into his full acting potential.
Since this is not the first time theRoad Houseremake star has taken on troubled heroes, he perfectly puts himself in his character’s boots, immersing viewers into the gamut of emotions he has to go through during the show’s central legal trial.
Presumed Innocent, on the other hand, is a character-driven crime drama in which Jake Gyllenhaal gets to play a morally complex character. Owing to this, the show’s storyline allows Gyllenhaal to delve deeply into the moral dilemmas of his familial troubles and the legal intricacies of a chilling murder mystery. Since this is not the first time theRoad Houseremake star has taken on troubled heroes, he perfectly puts himself in his character’s boots, immersing viewers into the gamut of emotions he has to go through during the show’s central legal trial.
Presumed InnocentandRoad Housebelong to completely different movie genres. Even the two movies' protagonists, Dalton and Rusty, are worlds apart. However, both have one thing in common:2024’sPresumed InnocentandRoad Houseare both remakes/reimaginings of classic movies. Long before Jake Gyllenhaal playedDalton in theRoad Houseremake, Patrick Swayze immortalized the role in the original 1989 film. Similarly, before Gyllenhaal walked viewers through Rusty’s legal adversities in the Apple TV+ show, Harrison Ford played the prosecutor in the originalPresumed Innocent.
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Patrick Swayze and Harrison Ford did an incredible job of portraying their respective characters in the two films, explaining whyRoad Housebecame a cult classic whilePresumed Innocentwas both commercially and critically successful. Despite having the pressure of living up to the high standards set by Swayze and Ford,Jake Gyllenhaal plays both characters with the utmost confidence and dedication, bringing his unique interpretation to both. While hisRoad Houserole only gives a glimpse of his acting abilities,Presumed Innocentfollows it by showing how he seamlessly acts across diverse genres.
Why Jake Gyllenhaal’s Role As Rusty In Presumed Innocent Deserves More Attention
It Is Jake Gyllenhaal’s First Major Television Role
Jake Gyllenhaal is known for his roles in various films, likeJarhead,Brokeback Mountain,Love and Other Drugs,Spider-Man: Far From Home, and, most recently,Road House. He also has a long line of compelling thrillers under his belt, includingEnemy,Nightcrawler,Zodiac, andSource Code. However, when it comes to television, the actor has only briefly appeared in a handful of reality series, late-night shows, and one police drama. This makesPresumed Innocenthis first major television show, interestinglygiving him the perfect opportunity to channel his extensive film experience in the thriller genre.
New Presumed Innocent episodes are released every Wednesday on Apple TV+.
Presumed Innocent
An eight-episode limited series based on the New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Scott Turow. Starring Gyllenhaal in the lead role of chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich, the series takes viewers on a gripping journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when one of its own is suspected of the crime. The series explores obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.
