Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal are co-starring in the drama Brothers together, which is currently filming. There have been several stories about how they’re not exactly fighting, but not exactly getting along on set either. These two are said to be competing for resources in an alpha-dog type situation while they work together.

Star Magazine had them fighting over their makeup artists last month, with each holding out for their own person, and producers trying to cut costs by getting them to share, but they weren’t having it.

“[Tobey and Jake] each want their own retoucher, but the producers don’t think it’s necessary and don’t see why they can’t share,” a source tells Star. “Tobey is holding out for his own person, while Jake said he needs his artist so badly he’ll let her stay with him during the shoot.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, December 10, 2007]

And this week’s edition has some more insider news from on set. Tobey and Jake are said to be making everyone they work with uncomfortable with their competition, but at least cast and crew are benefiting from it. They each gave expensive gifts to cast members and sound like they were trying to outdo each other. It doesn’t sound like there’s much harm in that:

“[Tobey and Jake] are competing over who gets along better with castmates and crew!” an insider tells Star. The actors are also showering them with gifts! While Tobey gave crewmembers new 8GB iPod Nanos, Jake gave out gift certificates to tony Koi restaurant! Adds the source, “It’s getting uncomfortable.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, January 14, 2008]

They’re undoubtedly spinning it to make it out to be much worse than it is, but something must be going on to prompt Maguire to give out expensive gifts like that. He’s notoriously tight-fisted and careful with his money, having come from humble beginnings. Maybe his wife Jennifer Meyer is influencing him to change his ways.

You can imagine Maguire and Gyllenhaal quietly trying to outdo each other, each acting overly gracious while trying to be more professional than the other. That would make a great comedy – two actors treating each other with quiet disdain with one changing his normally grumpy and self-important personality with great effort, the other naturally nice but just a bit goofy. Did I just violate the writer’s strike by coming up with that concept?

Tobey and Jake ran into each other accidentally in Brentwood this weekend when they were both out. Jake was seen smiling and chatting with Tobey, his wife, and Tobey’s father in law, the head of Universal studios. The story is that Jake saw Tobey with his family outside and pulled his car over for a chat. Does this encounter reveal that their competition on who can act the friendliest extends even to each other? Were they straining themselves trying to act nice or does this show that there’s no bad blood between them?

Tobey Maguire is shown looking grumpy out at Mr. Chow on 12/20. Jake Gyllenhaal is shown out at lunch on 1/4. Thanks to Splash News.