Being away working on the holidays is never fun, but sure that Jake and Natalie made the best of it and did Hanukkah Southwest style. How? Maybe Jake used his penchant for cooking and made some homemade latkes with a some chili and seasonings. Maybe a little sweet potato, chili, spring onion latkes to mix it up a bit. With a little sour cream and applesauce - delish. Okay, so he had someone act as his sous chef and shredded all those potatoes, hey PA's can be sous chefs can't they?
Light the candles, Natalie can take care of the blessing, sure Jake's Hebrew is not as good as Natalie's. While not home with family, friends can be the next best thing. Maybe Toby, Jennifer and Ruby Sweetheart joined them.
A little spin of the dreidel for some candy gelt - seriously who doesn't want to play for chocolate?
And for entertainment? All sit down and watch a new modern Hanukkah classic - the Hebrew Hammer. Maybe not a movie for everyone but bet your latkes Jake finds it hysterical.
Just who is the Hebrew Hammer? He's Mordechai Jefferson Carver(Adam Goldberg), a Certified Circumcised Dick who has dedicated his life to defending Jews. After Santa's evil son takes over Christmas he is out to get rid of Hanukkah, and make everyone celebrate Christmas the Hebrew Hammer comes to the rescue.
Hebrew Hammer creates a character rarely seen in Hollywood or off-Hollywood films: a sexy and powerful Jewish action hero. In the tradition of blackexplotation movies of the 70's, "The Hebrew Hammer" pitches stereotypes like flaming fastballs at a knowing audience. Director Jonathan Kesselman has jokingly dubbed it the first "Jewsploitation", or the first Jewish exploitation film ever."
One of the many in -jokes in the movie - "The name of the Hebrew Hammer is a reference to the story of Hanukkah, in which Judas Maccabeus helped retake the Temple in Jerusalem. "Judas Maccabeus" literally means "Judah the Hammer".
Hebrew Hammer Official Website
Hebrew Hammer Trailer
Watching the tumbleweeds blow by in this post.
ReplyDeleteI think the Hebrew Hammer is hysterical! Also really like this Swingin' dreidel song.
ReplyDeleteI've been having this thought recently regarding coming out and remaining a big-name actor in Hollywood- it will continue to be impossible, until someone does it. Then it will be obvious that of course a big-name actor can come out and be successful. I guess that is the nature of all paradigm change. A thing is impossible until it is done.
Hi guys,
ReplyDeleteLove Hammer Time. Funny post, great song to go with it and where did you ever find such a great picture? :)
Love the cactus Hanukiah - very clever.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of The Hebrew Hammer. Bet Jake and Austin have both seen it.
ITA, wicked. Nothing is going to change in HW until a big-name actor comes out and proves all the naysayers wrong. It seems like the time is right for somebody to just go ahead and do it.
BV, I think it WILL happen and sooner rather than later. I wonder what will happen after someone does it. Will there be an avalanche of HW coming out?
ReplyDeleteAlso, starting to wonder if Jodie might actually come out. She has been more open recently in talking about her partner than I've ever heard her be. I've always thought Jodie would NEVER come out. I think she could do it and it wouldn't hurt her at all. People know she's a lesbian. She doesn't play romantic leads and hasn't done so in years. She's totally established. I'd love to see her do it.
I'd bet my last dollar that big-name male star isn't Jake.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see Jodie being more open, though. Have loved her since Taxi Driver. Did she ever have any tabloid bfs?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAnyone going to claim authorship of 10:54?
ReplyDeleteRemember anon comments will be deleted without a name attached.
Wicked, if Jodie is talking openly about her partner, and everyone knows she is a lesbian isn't she out already? Why would she need to make a big statement about it?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't necessarily want Jake to make any big statement, rather live his life the way he want without having to put up a show to hide it. I thought that was what he was going to do but looks like I was wrong. But given the state of affairs, with people monitoring every single moves he makes and speculating about every single person he is seen with makes it difficult. If he is not ready to come out full frontal then he needs to take extreme measures to push himself in, since he has been essentially outed. Also too much interest in his personal life, rather than in his work as an actor, which I am sure does not make him happy. I think he is back working hard, I don't expect him to be papped that much, and do not expect too much of Jeese either ( unless somehow it is real, which I don't think). The stunt was to make people focus attention on something not real for both Jake and Reese and people go spinning on things neither of them really cares too much. I think both need to focus on their own private life in private.
^^Jodie's amazing, I've always admired her, even more so now. I think it would be great if she came out. Loved her comments about her partner "my beautiful Cydney who sticks with me through all the rotten and the bliss". I was wondering about that too, Max, if she had ever felt the need to play the showmance game. I don't recall. J&A certainly have had their share of rotten, and bliss, and they need more bliss. I don't wonder that it's a lot more difficult for male actors in HW.
ReplyDeleteI like those "Ever Fallen In Love" lyrics too, Max, I've heard that song done by another artist. :)
The Southwestern Menorah was a find out there in the open plains of the Internet. Now that Swingin' Dreidel, well Kenny Ellis has a whole CD of Swing Hanukkah music. I never thought of putting the two together but hey why not.
ReplyDeleteI guess what I really want is someone to say "you know what the hell with it, this is who I am, this is who I want to be with, and this is what I want to do with my life, this doesn't have anything to do with my work on screen" to Hollywood. They don't have to make a public statement, just one to the industry that can't seem to think the public is mature enough to handle a mature approach about relationships.
I admire what NPH did. Talk about a incredibly classy how he has handled this past year. He never was really in, never was hiding the fact, just living his life very happily. When comments were made, and his own people started the denials. He stepped up answered the question, and then continued on with his work and life just as he was doing before.
Love that we're celebrating Hanukkah, Spesh. The potato latkes sound yum! Hebrew and Yiddish culture is some of the warmest and most beautiful around IMO (I like that sort of thing). I agree, I wish HW would just let people be who they are. You make some good points too, 2Cents. It really all has nothing to do with his work. But sometimes it scares me (and yes, makes me feel slightly sick) to think of the pressure they must be under. Even the SO says he couldn't care less about whose doing what with whom in HW, and doesn't believe the half of it, he just enjoys a good movie and good performances. :)
ReplyDelete2cents, I would argue that Jodie is not out because she has made a big show of refusing to discuss her personal life. She has seemed to want to hide it. Prior to very recently, Jodie had never really talked about Cydney in public at all. She has never publically acknowledged that Cydney is her partner. She does not bring Cydney to events with her. I read an interview with her where the interviewer said he was told he was forbidden to ask her any personal questions. The only one he got away with was, "Is there anything you would like to say about your personal life at this time?" Answer, "No."
ReplyDeleteWhen I say everybody knows she's a lesbian, I say this because people know she doesn't have a boyfriend or a husband and hasn't been paired with a man in years, and she seems to share her life with a woman. If Jodie continues to talk openly about Cydney, even if she doesn't make a big announcement, I will probably consider her to be out because she will not longer be trying to hide or evade. And that would be fabulous!
Perhaps, just perhaps, the Jake and Austin r/ship isn't solid enough to be put forward for the inevitable public scrutiny - aside from all the big concerns about career.
ReplyDeleteNPH has been with his partner for quite a long time, as as Jodie.
Jaustin appears to be more fragile and much more complicated than that. Holding that up under the spotlight might not feel right to either Jake or Austin.
Wicked, her partner is not a public person. Maybe she does NOT want to be in the public eye at all. It is my understanding that she has been Jodie's partner for many years. Especially when Jodie was younger and more talked about a coming out would have been big news and put Cyndey out there where maybe she didn't want to be. Now, it is unlikely paps/people would find it "yummy" to run stories about Jodie.
ReplyDeleteJake claimed that being in the spotlight was a reason that ruined his relationship with Kirten. He said he'd never do that again.
Yet, he goes on for a photoalbum of his Rome trip and Napa trip. That by tells me their relatonship is a stunt.
Personally I think the cover up is more about protecting his private life than denying he is gay though I am sure PR has its own ideas about. he is putting out there for publicc shredding and spitting and obsessing something it is not really too close to his heart. Same for Reese. I think they are helping each other.
What did Jake say on Ellen just before the Rome trip. Something like his mantra was the truest love was that which is unspoken? Did he change his mind and that's why he looked uneasy in Rome. Or is his truest love still unspoken and remains so.
ReplyDeleteIt got unspoken by Ted one day and a few days later Jake is on a Very Public Tour of Love.
ReplyDeleteHey, that "Hebrew Hammer" movie sounds great. Can you get it on DVD? I always love to have a couple of Holiday movies to watch during that season's break.
ReplyDeleteGood for Jodie to finally acknowledge Cydney!!! Wonder if the pseudo-outing Advocate cover had anything to do with her new attitude.
Yes Frenchy it is available on DVD.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Jackson County Court records, Austin's dui case has moved from pre-trial to review (hearing date in the new year). I have no knowledge of the US legal system but it sounds sort of positive to me (at least he won't be spending Christmas in prison).
ReplyDeleteIHJ got new/old stills from TDAT. Nice to see our guys together :)
ReplyDelete2:15, Interesting. I imagined Austin's lawyer asked for a delay due to his filming (FNL, The Informers).
ReplyDeleteI love how everybody is looking in the general direction of the door in this one except for Austin who is literally staring at Jake with a little pout on his face.
ReplyDeleteAnd this a publicity still, can you imagine the looks that passed between those two when they weren't being watched?
Austin does look rather intense and pouty in that picture doesn't he. Just love that guy's curly hair.
ReplyDeleteNot very good legal eagle- Austin probably will not spend time in prison for his first DUI. Probably he will get fines and points on his driver's license, which will make his car insurance go up. He may have to take some kind of driver's education class too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the DVD info Special.
ReplyDeleteI really have to watch those new old pics when I get home. They "sound" really interesting. :)
Talking about latkes, the first time I ate some was with a friend from France. He put Dijon on his and I put... ketchup on mine. You can shoot now as I have to leave anyway. ;)
Story about Jodie and the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award she received last night.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8TBEFA80&show_article=1
x17Online has pics of Ryan, Abbie Cornish, Ava and Deacon. So clearly that relationship has beening going on.
ReplyDeletex17
ReplyDeleteI can't find those pictures there
Sorry, it was Flynet that had the Abbie and Ryan and Abbie and Ava pics.
ReplyDeleteAbbie/Ryan
Abbie/Ava
Wow we really cannot stay away from Jeese, now we even have to take up the Abbie/Ryan pai. W-h-o c-a-r-e-s!
ReplyDeleteMarit Allen, costume designer for BBM, died: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/05/db0503.xml
ReplyDeleteWithin 10 years, a male A list star will come out as gay.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it will take 10 years, I think it will happen much sooner than that. I also think that once an A-lister comes out, you will see a definite shift in up and coming actors. They will be out from the beginning rather than hiding who they are from the public.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you special and I think the acceptance is coming more from the public as opposed to idiot Hollywood that seems to think it's still 1957 and Rock Hudson has to marry his agent's secretary. I think the public is just tired of being lied to.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this link Wicked.
ReplyDeleteI particularly like this passage:
I wonder if it isn't so much the gay part that obsesses people but the possible secret about being gay. People love celebrities, but they also hate being lied to.
Fans write to people like me whenever they sense something dishonest about a star—a lie about a pregnancy, a hookup, a breakup or a sexual identity. They feel like they're being played in order to make some rich person richer, and they don't like it.
Special, what makes you think that it will happen sooner than that? To me it looks like HW is still deep-frozen in its good-old-ways.
And please don't tell me you got those rose-colored glasses on! :D
And Now off to check those new TDAT pics.
Frenchy
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a lot teens who are coming out a lot younger age than in the past and more of their peers, family and friends are accepting of them. I am not saying everyone everywhere but you see things are changing in the next generation. But there is also a different attitude. "If you don't like it, it's your problem not mine." They are going to be who they are, hell be damned.
And I don't think as much as we don't like to be lied to, they don't see the point of stars lying to them at , nor are they going to put up with it. If they are out, why can't be the movie stars, musicians and other celebrities that they follow.
They are going to be who they are, hell be damned.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that there is definitely a shift in attitudes both in today's teens and their close circle.
Except that if some of these youths wants to make it in HW, let's say in five years, I'm sure they will be served an extensive lecture on the mechanics of the het crowd and its disgust and reticence towards gays.
Those youths will probably have a lot more problems dealing with the closet and hence lie hope. But I think a lot of them, when faced with the possibilities of fame and fortune, will follow the traditional drill and stay in.
As for the future movie audience(s), even if out and proud gays and their gay-friendly parents and friends are more numerous, I'm afraid HW will still consider them a minority and less worthy of attention.
That's why I think ten years is not too pessimistic.
On the other hand there might be other accelerating factors: a change of guard in the TPTB (read: younger guys who are willing to try new things; now that's optimistic!!), the never-ending flow of information made possible by the Internet and the resulting pressure on celebrities, a change in media consumption - a lot of movies flop these days and studios can't seem to come up with the new Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt; maybe we're witnessing the slow death of the traditional super-het leading man? Maybe the next hot guy will travel from TV to screen and will benefit from a higher level of acceptance than our current exclusively-movie actors?
Ok, enough blah-blah for now and please be kind and forgive my mistakes if any. :)
All it will take is for someone to do it successfully. Then we will see a paradigm shift in Hollywood. But someone's got to take that chance. Right now, Hollywood only has one response to a gay leading male actor- closet him. Until HW sees there is another viable option, it will continue to institutionalize the closet. It's like that saying, when all you've got is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
ReplyDeleteAll it will take is for someone to do it successfully. Then we will see a paradigm shift in Hollywood.
ReplyDeleteI agree this is probably the only thing that will bring a true change in HW. But "successfully" is the keyword here. Producers will have to trust and accept the casting of such an out actor to begin with. And they will also have to trust the audience to be accepting.
It seems right now that the only people they have in mind when they market a film is the het male crowd, which is considered, rightly or wrongly, less open-minded.
But this discussion reminds me how I felt at the beggining of the Toothy saga. One of the main factors that made me hopeful about Jake's coming-out was his very youth. I remember clearly feeling that his liberal upbringing coupled with true love and the sheer energy, take-no-prisoner attitude and optimism of youth would make him throw all caution to the wind and refuse to follow the lead of his elders.
I guess what happened next and what's happening now is making me a bit more prudent in terms of hopes. :)
ITA frenchy. I sort of feel that if someone like Jake can't do it now, given his background and the fact that what made him a star was BBM, then I think it is going to be a long wait. I think he did try to be different and suffered for it by not getting work. What it will take for things to change is for someone like a Spielberg or Geffen to come forward and be supportive, and that is clearly not happening. You can just hear all those stuffed shirts talking about how they can't take the chance that the film will bomb, or that it will only make $100 million, not $200 million.
ReplyDeleteNever mind that BBM in terms of its cost and what it made is considered one of the most successful pictures in many years, according to an article from the New Yorker on film that I just read, (It's an old article from the beginning of the year, you should see my magazine stack!) That article talks about many of the things you raise frenchy.
Thanks Special for all of the Hannukah goodies, me and my gf are enjoying them, especially the music. How in the world did you ever find Swinging Dreidel? I love this style of holiday music, and glad to have something we can add to our paltry Hannukah collection. I also love the cactus menorah.
Testing new "Santa-Eating Polar Bears" Holiday avatar.
ReplyDeleteIf it doesn't show up nice I'll revert to my monkey-bird shot.
Hmmm, I'll keep it for a while...
ReplyDeleteGood night all!
" ITA frenchy. I sort of feel that if someone like Jake can't do it now, given his background and the fact that what made him a star was BBM, then I think it is going to be a long wait. I think he did try to be different and suffered for it by not getting work."
ReplyDeleteHear, hear. I also think that it's staggeringly hypocritical for some organization to present Jodi Foster with a leadership award, and pat her on the head for mentioning her Cydney when she has done nothing, absolutely nothing, to help the gay community during her *long* and very successful career in Hollywood. In his short career, Jake has done more for queers, and taken more criticism for being bi/gay (in spite of his recent fall from grace) than Foster ever has. He's suffering and she's getting an award.
This fauxmance is almost biblical. 2007 has been a great year for Jake in terms of his movie roles (Rendition and Zodiac were stunningly brilliant films), but it has been horrible for Jake personally. Let's hope that 2008 improves his fortunes.
Piers,
ReplyDeleteJodie has not bearded like Jake has during her relationship to Cydney. She is living her life quietly, neither denying or refuting anything. However, she is taking baby steps out of the closet--and that's great considering she (according to the Hollywood Reporter) is one of movie's top ten earning actresses (and she isn't even heterosexual). I think it would be fine if she came out--Middle America would not be traumatized one bit. Even my elderly father knows she's gay and doesn't care one bit. (I've known she was gay since her days at Yale when a good friend of mine lived in New Haven and knew Jodie and her then gf very well).
Since the death of her best friend Randy Stone, who founded the Trevor Project, Jodie has become a more active and public supporter and patron of it--like she's become the gatekeeper of it.
BTW, comparing Jake to Jodie is ridiculous. Jodie is 20 years older than Jake and has also been through far more than Jake. Remember John Hinckley who supposedly shot Ronald Reagan (and paralyzed James Brady) for the love of Jodie? That was a lot for her to go through--for many years, Jodie needed a bodyguard, lived in secrecy for fear of attracting another stalker/potential assassin and was constantly being asked about this incident with the stalker who was obsessed with her and wanted to kill the president to "impress her." She even thought of suing Hinckley at one point.
You say Jake has done more for queers--well, what about Heath Ledger? He was in BBM too and Ang Lee was the one who was responsible for getting it together in the first place by wanting to direct this long dormant project.
Heath ledger? You mean the guy who dod the movie, made sure he got Michelle Williams pregnant right away, refused to be seen with Jake and never showed up at any post oscar BBM-related award so to make sure 'he moved' on really quickly? What did he do for the gay community, again?
ReplyDeleteAt least he agreed to do BBM, unlike so many actors before him who were talked out of the project.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Heath is bi from what I hear. Loves those young rent boys.
And supposedly he does see Jake from time to time but always privately behind doors to avoid that "nasty gay gossip."
broadway fan, has Jodie Foster ever received a death threat for acting gay in a movie? Has there ever been a bunch of people following every of Jodie's moves getting upset at her if she would not come out? Sadly Jake had no choice. It takes one A-lits actor to come out succesfully. What does succesfully mean? Perhaps if in spite of swirling rumours around Jake, if Zodiac or Rendition had exceeded box office expectations, it would have been a green light. But they did not. If Jake is gay he will come out, but definitely not at a time when it would mean killing his career.
ReplyDeletesee broadwayfan? Heath will never be caught at a Rufus concert and that is NOT because of his music tastes. So yeah he did BBM, makinf sure he would be Ennis, whom he played as straight as possible, and got a gf on the set so to kill ANY rumour at the root. Went short from jumping on couches about how wonderful she was and how much in love he was growing every day. Yeah, I see the results.
ReplyDelete"You say Jake has done more for queers--well, what about Heath Ledger? He was in BBM too and Ang Lee was the one who was responsible for getting it together in the first place."
ReplyDeleteComparing Jake's influence and impact on the gay community to Heath is laughable beyond belief. Except for his mention of a gay uncle and the gay Australian cowboy who came out when BBM was released, Heath has run from the gay community as fast as his little legs could take him. He also did his own form of bearding, knocking up Michelle Williams in order to prove his heterosexuality. He's a little man, easily intimidated by Hollywood (see his stupid gaffe during the Oscars when he said that he wanted Clooney to win over Jake), deeply insecure about his own drug-infused bisexual tendencies. He has encouraged people from day one to perceive him as the more macho member of BBM, which hurt Jake. He refused to have his picture taken with Jake. Mr. Ledger also refused to take the role of Jack, just like most of the other macho male actors in Hollywood (bearding or non-bearding, with or without children), because the Jack character was too 'gay-acting'.
When it comes to supporting the gay community, Jake and Heath should not be mentioned in the same breath.
As for Ang Lee, who has not made as many overtly anti-homosexual remarks as Heath, we need to remember that this is a classic, heterosexual liberal director. He'll talk the talk, but he's never been subjected to the kind of scrutiny that Jake has had to endure recently.
"Since the death of her best friend Randy Stone, who founded the Trevor Project, Jodie has become a more active and public supporter and patron of it--like she's become the gatekeeper of it."
She's supporting the Trevor Project because it was founded by her friend, not because she's an active supporter of the gay community. This is an open secret in LA.
"However, she is taking baby steps out of the closet"
She's been in the business for 25 years, and she's getting an award for taking baby steps now? What are we going to give her when she fully comes out of the closet in 2020? A Nobel Prize for peace?
"Jodie is 20 years older than Jake and has also been through far more than Jake. Remember John Hinckley who supposedly shot Ronald Reagan (and paralyzed James Brady) for the love of Jodie? That was a lot for her to go through-"
I know where you're going with this, and it's isn't going to work. This theory has been floated for years, and it's completely false.
Jodie's decision to stay in the closet had *absolutely nothing* to do with the Hinckley affair. She stayed in the closet to help her career, not to avoid the attentions of some homicidal lunatic. If she was that concerned about her welfare, she would have avoided the spotlight altogether. She didn't'; she just avoided the part of her life that would harm her otherwise *very* public career.
Nor does she get any brownie points for not bearding. The same is true for Anderson Cooper and Pete Williams, or for that matter, NPH or TR Knight. The events of the past two months clearly demonstrate why there are a number of successful A-List closeted actresses, C-List out actresses, C-List out actors, and closeted entertainment figures, and absolutely no successful A-List out male actors. Out.com got it right; this is the final frontier in Hollywood, the ultimate glass ceiling. Jake is one the only men in a position to do this. The aforementioned individuals have *never* been subjected to the level of scrutiny, criticism and attention that Jake has had to endure since BBM.
In terms of media scrutiny and attacks from a homophobic public, Foster is out of Jake's league. She has no idea what he's going through, and as a woman in Hollywood, she probably never will.
Funny how it has been said that Jake would be pathetic if he came out in say 15 years from now because who cares it will be too what a coward, yet Jodie Foster only now takes baby steps mentioning her partner and people are so proud. Can we cut Jake some slack, please.
ReplyDeleteI always felt Heath was standoffish about BBM, and now even more so since it's old news. Compared to him, Jake more or less embraced it even if he might have been uncomfortable at times. Too bad, his bad luck at the box office has apparently forced him ever further back into the safety of the PR-arranged closet.
ReplyDeleteI think people will be proud of Jake when he takes his baby step as well, be it tomorrow or 15 years from now. The recent backlash is not for his reticense but for taking backward steps. Only a couple months ago, before the clumsy bearding began, people were way more gentle in how they view him and how he chooses to be himself.
Piers your entire post at 12.35am bears repeating. I agreed with every single part of it. It couldn't have been said better
ReplyDeleteThe recent backlash is not for his reticense but for taking backward steps
ReplyDeleteMaybe, but it had gotten to a point where you walk back or you forge ahead, OUT, right now right here. He walked back because it was really not a good time to go forward. I don't think it would have been a successful move. I think Jake felt he was being forced to come out and did not want to so he put on a show. I seriously doubt he is the needy little boy following mama's order. He can get pretty unpleasant and that is exactly what he did. We can speculate to no end, but all we got are Jeese pics and nothing else, not even family and friends, for months now.
New Post!
ReplyDelete