Leaps and Bounds

On such an auspicious day as the 29th of February, what else would be the post but Austin.

Looking back it seems that he has matured not only in his acting.

Way back when.....

Paper Magazine's Most Beautiful List


Who said a covered up Austin is a bad thing.



Many thanks to Hjulia at Austin Media and Spooky2th at Austin Nichols Journal for their amazing Austin pictures, make sure to check them out.

Remember today is day that romance turns on its head, and the lore is that is it the lady's turn to propose. But why should it be only one day to turn romance on it's head, do that every day.

Can you dig it?

Coming from a Hollywood family Jake seems to have connections with everyone. But one that was revealed during an interview during the 2005 awards was his one to Samuel L. Jackson. Sam was in his parent's collaboration Losing Isaiah with then newcomer Halle Berry.

Jake and Sam teaming up. Talk about a potential for a new buddy movie or for a Dave Chappelle skit (NSFW language). Think of the Remake potential Jake as Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction. Or as John McClane to Jackson's Zeus into finding Jeremy Irons. Step aside Timberlake, Ronnie Morgan is all Jake.

Of course the movie you really want to turn into the feel good buddy comedy of the year "Snakes on a Plane 2: Electric Eel Boogaloo". The plane filled with eels while Sam and Jake joke their way out of there. Hilarity ensues. And how could it not with cameos from Quentin Tarantino and of course Pam Grier reprising her role as flight attendant Jackie Brown. Airplane meets Weekend at Bernies with Eels! Now Dave Chappelle would be up to meet the challenge of playing Sam, and casting favorite John Mayer to play Jake. "Get him blue contacts, they'll never know the difference damn it" yelling at the writer's meeting.

And then of course there is the ultimate in cool films. Shaft. Imagine Jackson taking on Jake as wanna be protege, trying to teach him cool, and the ways of being John Shaft. Jake might be able to sing I am Telling You, but you know he would have to ditch the dress. Shut Your Mouth!

Red Carpet Rave Reviews

While Jake wasn't at this year's Oscars he was far from forgotten. Both the Academy and Men's Vogue recalled Jake on their Oscar men's fashion highlights.

The Academy celebrating their 80th birthday did a look back at Oscar style and Jake was on their list for two of his walks on the red carpet. Their first was when he was a co-presenter for Best Visual Effects at the 77th Academy awards in 2005, Jake wore a Valentino tuxedo. The Italian-made tuxedo was designed with a satin peak lapel and a two-button closure and made him look ever the dapper gentleman as he escorted Maggie, his date for the evening. He carried off the look of the freshly shorn head of Marine with certain confidence. Could have it been more than just a great suit to gave him that sexy swagger?

And both the Academy and Men's Vogue agreed on Jake's Oscar look in 2006. Celebrating the success of Brokeback and his Oscar nomination, Jake hit the red carpet old Hollywood style, never looking better, as fashion critics agreed. Wearing a classic tux designed by Ralph Lauren (Purple Label), again with peak lapels, his accessories included the white formal shirt, the black bow tie and white pocket square. Something as simple as that white pocket square stepped the look up from the rest on the red carpet. Men's Vogue loved it so much that got Jake a spot on their Top 10 Best of Oscar's Past. Jake never looked better that evening and it was not all about the clothes either. Jake looked as if he could conquer the world that night, and his dazzling grin and eyes sparkled with a confidence that few could ever rival. Again there is more than just a great, make that an incredible, suit to create that air and aura. Why said? Maybe because he can have that same aura in a grey shirt and jeans sitting courtside, perhaps.

The suit can make the man, and his accessories make him stand out from the rest. But there is one thing Jake has that never came from his stylist that truly sets him apart.

Oscar - Style: Men's Fashion

Men's Vogue - Best of Oscar's Past

Jake, Austin, Oscar winner Daniel Day Lewis, The Teapot Dome Affair and the hottest movie Quote of the Year. Huh?

Let OMG help.

"I. Drink. Your. MILKSHAKE! I DRINK IT UP!" (spoiler)

The line from Paul Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" has taken on a life if its own.

But where did it come from? According to Anderson particularly the lines came straight from a transcript he found of the 1924 congressional hearings over the Teapot Dome scandal, in which Sen. Albert Fall was convicted of accepting bribes for oil-drilling rights to public lands in Wyoming and California.

The line has become so often quote New York magazine is offering advice on it's proper usage.

"The question is, what is its proper use? What situation demands the milkshake treatment? As a sports metaphor? (“Let’s face it. The Celtics drank the Knicks’ milkshake last night.”) An amorphously obscene double entendre, hearkening back to its Kelis-ian roots? (“I’d like to drink your milkshake!”) Or maybe, in a nod to the godlike venom of its utterer, a taunt: 'You best back down before I drink your milkshake, bitch.” In the end, none of these seem quite right, especially as they all omit the special genius of the line’s coda, a burst of half-mad juvenilia that captures the demented feeling of the scene better even than the line itself: “I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!” "

Of coursethe inevitable You Tube mash up clip sprang forth.

But Jake and Austin? What the ? Well Austin can't make one. But Jake can surely shake one.
And oh yeah, Austin would be asking if fries go with that shake.


Pictures: IHJ and Austin Media

Hollywood, CA

Just thinking, after last night's Oscars, about the price of Hollywood success. Actors today know going in what it will be like for the successful- gossip, rumors, paparazzi following you, having to meet the unbelievably stressful and stringent Hollywood standards, the incredible difficulty of having a private life, etc. Obviously, despite all this, people still want to be famous and they still answer the call of Hollywood. My question to you today is, why?

Out Spotlight XIV

Today we have a comedienne on the Out Spotlight- Korean-American, bisexual Margaret Cho. Cho grew up in San Francisco in a very diverse community that she described as "old hippies, ex-druggies, burnouts from the '60s, drag queens, Chinese people and Koreans. To say it was a melting pot - that's the least of it. It was a really confusing, enlightening, wonderful time." She began performing comedy with her high school's improv comedy troupe.

Cho started a stand-up career and after several years opened for Jerry Seinfeld. She was also a frequent guest on Arsenio Hall. Cho starred in a short-lived sitcom called All-American Girl, in 1994. The show was the first to feature an Asian family. The irony of it was that Cho was called both "too Asian" and "not Asian enough." The producers of the show even hired a coach to teach her how to be more Asian. After being criticized because it was felt that her face was "too round," Cho rapidly lost weight and ended up with serious kidney failure. Despite all these efforts, the show was canceled.

Cho struggled after the cancelation of her show and turned to drugs and alcohol. She worked on some new material and in 1999 did her first one-woman show I'm the One that I Want, which chronicled her attempts to break into show business and focused on her ethnicity and weight. In 2002, Cho did another one-woman show called Notorious C. H. O., that dealt with her childhood growing up in '70s San Francisco and her bisexuality. In 2005 Cho released her first self-written film, Bam Bam and Celeste, about a fag hag and her gay male best friend. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Cho has written several books and recently toured with a variety show called The Sensuous Woman. Cho emceed the True Colors tour last year. Cho has also appeared in several music videos, including the one for today's song!

Margaret Cho is quite political and has been open about her dislike of President Bush. At a few performances, Cho has been threatened with picketing due to her remarks. Cho was even un-invited to the Human Rights Campaign/National Stonewall Democrats fundraiser in 2004 out of fear her statements might cause controversy. Cho recently said she supports presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Much of Cho's political advocacy focuses on GLBT issues. When San Francisco started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, Cho started a website promoting same-sex marriage called Love is Love is Love. Cho has referred to the gay community as her community and says that she is queer, despite her 2003 marriage to Al Ridenour. She continues to write and speak about gay issues in her shows.

Check out her website. She also has a link to her blog. Check out this video of Cho doing her mother telling a story about her father's encounter with a gay friend.














Margaret Cho in 1994.

Buddies

I miss seeing Jake with Chris. Chris seems to be such a good guy, and he's someone Jake has had in his life for a long time. I like that Jake has a regular guy for a close friend. We haven't seen Chris with Jake since they attended the U. S. Open together in September. Maybe they both got tired of people making snarky comments online whenever pictures of them together were published and decided make their get-togethers more private. I would imagine it would get wearing on you to be a close friend of a celebrity who is as hounded by paparazzi as Jake is. And Jake might have felt bad about some of the publicity and attention that Chris was getting as a result of his friendship. I hope they are still friends. I think they are, even though we have not seen them together. Here are some pics of Jake and Chris together, on both coasts, from 2007.















1/2/07 Beverly Hills












3/2/07 Central Park






4/12/07 L. A. Clippers game
















8/11/07 Chilmark road race















9/9/07 U. S. Open

Good Morning Mr. Powers

Yesterday Hjulia shared new pictures of Austin. 1,000 gold stars to her!

They're just so nice you have to post them twice. Nice? .. face it they're hot.

Austin really is a international man of mystery.


You think you get a sense of him, then you see another side. He's out of the spotlight in a way that adds to the mystique.

Vanity Fair is right, he is one to watch. But many already have known that for a while.



Pictures: Austin Media

Book 'em

Could Austin be cast in another Milch project?

David Milch returns to his "NYPD Blue" roots for HBO. "Last of the Ninth," set in the New York Police Department in 1970's is a gritty raw drama, Milch going back to one of his favorite genres.

" 'It is about an older detective's mentoring of a young detective returned from Vietnam in a department fiscally crippled, under attack by revolutionaries, and which has been brought by allegations of systemic corruption into public disrepute,' Milch said."

Milch completed writing on the pilot script prior to the writer's strike with former NYPD homicide detective Bill Clark, who worked with Milch on NYPD Blue and John From Cincinnati. The plan is that the pilot will be shot now that the writer's strike has been settled.

Austin as the young eager detective a foil to the grizzled and jaded older detective entrenched in the system? A young detective struggling with the aftermath of serving in Vietnam ?

Last of the Ninth

2008.02.20 Interview ADN424.JBG

You've got to be kidding me?

Him, they want him naked?

What about me? I look good.
I work out. Look at these guns,
what does he have?

The bathroom scene? Hey I got a hot babe.
He looks like a doofus with his pants down around his ankles.
Look at that face. Who could love that ?

And look at him in bed. Who sucks their thumb?
I am waking up after 2 hours of sleep.

How do I know so much about him?
That's classified.

Jealous?

Rendition Release

"There is a certain point in Rendition when a haunting image will strike you. As the good battles despair, the bad seeks glory and the ugly raises its hydra-heads, Douglas stands and watches. He turns, as shadows on his face coagulate; and suddenly the light balances the dark. You notice the sadness within the blue, and the rest just turns into mundane."

OMG's Exclusive review of Rendition from the premiere at TIFF, by Rattler

Rendition comes out today on DVD and while many equate this movie now more for what this means in terms of Jake's personal life at the moment, we can not lose important message of this film. This was a message movie dealing with the question when are actions justifiable? When is what seems wrong right? Is it ever? When is it okay for Rendition? When is it okay to use less than humane means to get information? Is there a time that the suspension of human rights is justified for the good of others, and how many others does it take that makes it count?

Gavin Hood's film deserves a second , third , and fourth look to understand the complexities of the story. Rendition is filled with great performances in addition to it messages. From the Washington players, the earnest of Peter Sarsgaard in contrast to Meryl Streep's icy realism with Alan Arkin's almost indifference unless it came to effecting his tenure that struck a chord. And in a world away the intensity of the twisted triangle of Omar Metwally, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Yigal Naor.

We can not forget that there are still individuals who have been imprisoned under Extraordinary Rendition. Whose families and friends are still working for their release. That rendition is not just a news blurb, a script, or a movie, it is real life. Like Sabri Ben Kahla, who still sits in a maximum security prison in Ohio in solitary confinement, despite judges orders for Sabri to be placed in a minimum security prison close to home (VA).

Another Poll!

A poll for your attention today. You can only vote once.

Out Spotlight XIII

This week we take a look at lesbian poet, Audre Lorde. Lorde was born in New York City to Caribbean immigrants. Lorde wrote her first poem in the 8th grade. In 1954, Lorde spent a year at the University of New Mexico, a time that she stated transformed her and cemented her identity as a lesbian and a poet. When she returned to New York, she became an active participant in the gay culture of Greenwich Village.

Lorde finished college and got a master's of library science degree from Columbia in 1961. She also married and had two children, later divorcing her husband. Lorde's work was published regularly throughout the '60s and her themes were civil rights, anti-war, and feminist. Lorde then began exploring lesbian themes in her poetry and life. She met Frances Clayton, who became her partner until 1989. Then Lorde met Gloria Joseph and was partnered with her until Lorde's death in 1992 from breast cancer.

Lorde's poetry is significant for its focus on the erotic. She was one of the first women writing lesbian erotic poetry and is regarded as one of the founding mothers of this genre. Lorde did one of the first public readings of lesbian erotic poetry in 1971. Lorde had this to say about the erotic-

"We tend to think of the erotic as an easy, tantalizing sexual arousal. I speak of the erotic as the deepest life force, a force which moves us toward living in a fundamental way."

The following is one of Lorde's best known erotic poems-

Love Poem
Speak earth and bless me with what is richest
Make sky flow honey out of my hips
Rigid as mountains
Spread over a valley
Carved out by the mouth of rain.
And I knew when I entered her I was
High wind in her forests hollow
Fingers whispering sound
Honey flowed
From the split cup
Impaled on a lance of tongues
On the tips of her breasts on her navel
And my breath
Howling into her entrances
Through lungs of pain.
Greedy as herring-gulls
Or a child
I swing out over the earth
Over and over
Again.

Twicked Unveiled!!!

Out of Touch Magazine Valentine’s Day Exclusive!!! ( or SuperNova Magazine)

Twicked on a romantic weekend in Washington, DC and you’ll only see the exclusive pics here!

Our reporter Megan Itallup caught up with the happy couple walking arm-in-arm around Union Station in our Nation’s capital, taking in the sights and getting coffee. Courtly Tom even gallantly carried his little lady piggyback-style across the busy streets. They’re happy, dammit!

“They spend a lot of time around Wicked’s home base in DC, because Wicked’s career and family come first.” So we’re told.

As you all probably have read, Tom had been linked romantically with his BFF, the tall drink of water from Texas Dallas Dimes, star of HBO’s quirky but recently canceled cult hit Jack from Cleveland. Pics of Tom and D2 sitting front and center at a few Sixers games last year and looking all cozy had rumors flying and raised the blood pressures of studio execs all over H-Town. Twicked should put those “Is he or isn’t he” rumors to rest once and for all, and prove that Tom’s only available for the ladies! Dimes is rumored to be “on location” for an upcoming film in Tierra del Fuego indefinitely for the sequel to the global warming disaster flick The Day Before Yesterday (TDBY) entitled El Fin Del Mundo (The End of The World). D2’s reps have been unavailable for comment.

How They Met

“Wicked and I have actually known each other for a long time,” Tom explained. “But we knew it was something special at the Boston premiere of Rendition and OMG get-together. I looked into Wicked’s eyes, she looked into mine, and it was then that we knew something had to be done about the rumors. This was as good an idea as any!”

“She’s also the best social worker of her generation, and a great mother.”

“He’s just great!” the tiny and demure Wicked giggled.

Why We Love ‘Em

Sources close to the couple say that things are getting serious between the diminutive Wicked and the tall and handsome Tom. Tom waits on her hand and foot, and they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other, ducking into public restrooms to indulge Tom’s penchant for public nookie when they are not living up to their reputation of being one of the most private couples in town. (see pics of Wicked and Tom trying to hide from the paps!). They are totally happy to spend quiet evenings at home, getting Chinese takeout, putting their feet up and watching TV (they’re both sports fans), or giving each other pedicures.

Friends say it’s the real thing this time, that Tom’s really a family man at heart, it’s just that he’s been waiting for the right woman to come along (so that’s why it’s taken years!). Wicked is perfect for him, and he loves kids, especially Wicked’s! He’s more than ready and willing to step in as a father figure to them. Maybe even have one of their own, if recent sightings of them both visiting a DC medical building are to be believed! Wicked’s Corgi Tinkerbell just adores him, check out that pic of Tom cuddling her. Tinkerbell (sans Atticus Gyllenhaal), is on a meteoric rise to fame herself since being linked with Atticus, and is seen in this pic with a mysterious black dog who she claims is “just a friend”. Check out that bandanna on the always fashion-conscious Tink!

Be sure to pick up next week’s issue for up-to-the-minute coverage of our favorite new it couple, and Tom’s controversial candy necklace!

Thanks to our mystery reader for this submission!

New beardless Jake pics from IHJ

Nic of Time

Austin popping up in the wee hours of morning at the Beatrice Inn, and Butter showed him enjoying the New York City nightlife. But his days in the city? What do you think he did in New York, while Jake was finishing up filming Brothers? Plenty.

While Sophia and company seemed to be sitting front and center at every show at Bryant Park, the bet is that Austin was enjoying his time in town in his own way. Pouring over the Times with coffee, with maybe a sneak peek at the Post's Page Six. Time. Grabbing good food, not always at all the expected spots, you imagined him standing in line with everyone else in Washington Square Park at the Dosa Man cart. Blending into the city. All the while being the quiet observer of the people around him, soaking in the atomosphere, storing it up for future reference.

Austin being alone in the city he can move in anonymity, and when recognized, most New Yorkers just keep going. He can come and go with no worries. Afternoons of ducking in and out of little shops, stopping off for books, wanders in galleries, slipping in for an afternoon matinée, meeting up with friends. Time in his city.

The hearts have it

G. I. Jake

The end of 2005 found Jake starring in three films. Most will say the triumph was Brokeback. With no one knowing what the unknown potential was for Brokeback, the buzz for Jake that fall was on his role in Jarhead. It was that Jarhead buzz early in the fall, that was saying a leading actor nomination for Jake for his role as Tony Swofford.

Rolling Stone said, "It's the best acting Gyllenhaal has ever done (and he triumphs in the upcoming Brokeback Mountain). Gyllenhaal is the heart and soul of a darkly intense and ferociously funny movie that sets its sights on soldiers under the gun of doing nothing."

Jarhead had a stellar cast including Oscar winners Jamie Foxx and Chris Cooper. Peter again brought an incredible performance and it make you wonder when will he be finally recognized for his work. Jarhead was the supposed Jake's Oscar vehicle. No one expected Brokeback to be the phenomenon it became.

It wasn't the lack of Oscar worthy performances that held Jarhead back for nominations, it was more of the overall theme of the film. Jarhead never took a position on the war, Sam Mendes did this intentionally, leaving it up the audience, but the audience it seemed was looking for a statement one way or the other.

Unfortunately Jarhead sometimes gets overlooked while it is yet another great performance from Jake on his growing list of credits.

Where is my mind?

From these pictures from last March, Jake was in a chilly NY, but it seems something was making a warm glow. Or someone. Who could be on the other end of the other end of that call?

Now we might know who was on his mind, but where was his mind?

A warm sunny spot in San Diego? A trailer with a good game of backgammon with snacks from craft services? Come on, it must be something like his next interview of the day, why else would that grin be so big?

80 years forward 2 years back

Fast forward 80 years from Billy and Jimmy to another pair beaming their affection for each other. Today marks two years from the first Lakers game for Jake and Austin. The first look at the ring and the first the glimpse of that grin that appears just for Austin.

The pictures were confirmation for some, conversation starters for others, but one thing they were, they were the most open and candid moments of Jake and Austin seen.

"He makes really smart choices.
He knows what works for him. And the kid can sing!"



"I know when I wake up in the morning
with the person I love, we end up laughing.
It really is the morning time,
the waking up time that I look forward to."

"I've learned a ton from Jake. He's a really sharp guy.
He told me everything about acting, the business, girls, life."

"The only people who can help you are
those who stay by your side
in hard times, those who really love you,
not stopping at saying so."



"In the end, it's about how hard it is to love somebody,
to really be intimate, to really let go and be open to that,
no matter what the context."