Yeah right… tell that to the millions who watched Spiderman!

But we’re not just talking about box office here; we’re talking about the difference between being an actor and being a star! About selling out or being true to one’s craft. We’re talking about the difference between a risk-taker and a conformist.

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While we admire Tobey Maguire for bringing to life one of Marvel’s most popular characters, we simply prefer Jake Gyllenhaal for continually choosing the more difficult road and opting for roles that challenge his range as an actor. Gyllenhaal is a risk-taker who has shown that he is not afraid to portray characters that may affect his ‘star image’. I don’t think it matters to him that it might - think of Brokeback Mountain and his love scenes with Heath Ledger – I don’t think any other actor would have agreed to take on the role of Jack Twist.

And how about dancing naked with his butt exposed in Jarhead? And that jerk-off scene? Actors like Tobey would not even dare! (Orlando Bloom would run and hide!)

He’s not a yes-man either. He has guts. He can talk back and he speaks his mind. He can be serious and analytical, charming and funny, frank and confrontational. Take this quote for example: (Interview magazine with Jake and director David Fincher)

"My favorite line in the whole movie (Rendition), which is actually the reason why I wanted to do the movie was “This is my first torture.” And then Meryl Streep’s character is like [In a Midwestern accent] “Americans think we don’t use torture.” It’s this denial. "

It's opinions like this that can either endear him to his fans or evoke controversy and Jake seems not to care. He has no hidden agenda and he keeps it real.

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What’s that got to do with acting then? Well, it’s his principles as a person that makes him a consummate actor.

But surely Tobey made some pretty good movies too. We loved him in Seabiscuit and that little movie with Charlize Theron and Michael Caine? Cider House Rules. Yes….that one!

Then again, how about Jake in October Sky and Zodiac? And oh, you’ll certainly agree with this one - Donnie Darko? Reaching cult status soon after its theatrical release, Donnie Darko remains one of the most popular DVDs today. Of course, Gyllenhaal is not the only reason why Donnie Darko became a cult classic, but he certainly played a big part in making it one.

Is it relevant to compare? Both men are good men and actors …but we’re talking here about who is the braver and better one. And in our opinion, Jake definitely is.

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