firstly, i wanna prelude this by saying that i'm a person who is totally in the Jake fandom, but I'm more of an outside enjoyer. i'm not in the trenches making awesome fics for his characters and making neat detail headcanons, etc etc. I wish I was like that, but I'm a simple lover. I make gifs and love his movies.
So, thank you for considering me for this question. 🥰💕
I'm gonna do my top three in order and start with my soul-crushingly favorite:
#1 Brian Taylor -- End Of Watch 🚓
This isn't strictly about Jake as it is for the movie as a whole; I freakin love, love, love, love End Of Watch. I love David Ayer movies. I love that he worked with Jake. EOW is so extremely special to me. I think all the Jake fans I have interacted or have actively seen in his small active fandom here on tumblr have that one specific movie that they claim is "theirs" and EOW is absolutely mine. 😁
Now, unfortunately EOW is extremely underrated in Jake's filmography for whatever reason, and there isn't much for it here on tumblr (even from me, for reasons!) that there isn't much to share for it.
Anyways, Jake and Michael's chemistry is so incredibly fun to watch; how Ayer shot the movie, it makes it believable that they are cops. i've always had this interest about law enforcement and this movie really scratches that itch for me. it's shot in a behind-the-scenes style, where you, the viewer, get to ride along with two cops and are able to see what their life is like on the job--- with the good and bad, Ayer kept it real, and i adore him for that. i have seen this movie lauded repeatedly by LEO communities for being the best movie out there representing them.
this movie has ruined me. i became such a LA and LAPD whore because of this damn film lmao. Plus, Bald!Jake AND Jake in uniform is just... unparalleled for me. it's on a level of sexy i could never properly explain. Lowkey thirst movie.
Fun Fact! Brian Taylor works at Newton Division (Lucky 13!) and the real LAPD Newton Division has a End Of Watch poster displayed in their building. 😍
#2 Billy Hope - Southpaw 🥊
Okay, this is another pick where i love the movie as a whole vs loving it just for Jake's character. This movie other than having a strong script and a cast to match, it's a thirst watch for me. Billy has my dream man physique that I drool over (and i'm super envious of). I'm the self-proclaimed #1 bald / short hair jake supporter, and as much as i love to gripe about his haircut in this movie, i'm absolutely in love with it too. it looks so good on him. just as good as that shredded bod. and don't get me started on the whump / injury kink this movie indulges.
Here are some of my fav sets from other creators. (i) (ii) (iii)
# 3 Lou Bloom - Nightcrawler 📹
Now, i can definitely say i love this movie specifically for Lou. Nightcrawler is a great film overall, I think it's Dan Gilroy's on-hit-wonder, but Lou absolutely makes the film. he is the only Jake character that I will actively search for, for fics. he's so deliciously evil. i highly enjoy dark characters. i am wild for unhinged, morally corrupt, manipulative, charismatic, viciously ruthless characters and Lou checks every box. (though he's not 100% charismatic, he tries to be but comes off creepy which, ya know, not everyone can be perfect lol). this movie being set in LA and we get to see Lou have run ins with LAPD is a big plus for me in loving this movie.
i think he should get some kind of honorary recognition in the slasher fandom, because Lou fits among those characters so well. the way he set up Rick to be shot down by the man in the escalade, i mean come on ! if he's willing to do that, then the possibilities of what he would do to further his reputation and company-- i can see him committing murders. whether he does them himself or sets them up just adds to the fun.
@/deputyrook's fic for Lou will always have my heart. I think it was the first one I read, too. (i think there were others but i don't know where they went)
