Sight of Hand

March 10, 2005

Mere days ago, while everyone was hooting and complaining about this gown and that host from the Oscars, Tile was right out in the open holding hands with his man in a West Hollywood restaurant--which shall remain nameless...because I love going there and they probably won't serve me anymore if I start outing their customers, ca-friggin'-peesh?

Not that I'd be outting anybody, anyway. Mr. Tile took care of that himself. Covertly, but he did it.

It was late in the afternoon; everybody had cleared out. Save Tile and his man-amigo, who extended his hands flat on the marble table (yes, that's a hint) until they were intertwined with Tile's. Massive smiles then appeared on both daring dudes.

Too sweet! And such a departure for this debauched department, doncha think? Don't worry, as sure as Tile's famous ex knew, deep down, way below her doable dimples, what Tile really wanted (hence, the breakup), next week, we'll be right back on salacious patrol, damn sure.


Hands can tell a lot about a person, and in Hollywood is it the one thing they have perfect hiding peoples age. Sure the face looks 35 but the hands are saying 50 loud and clear. Hands show emotions or secrets that are not supposed to be given away. They're expressive, comforting, loving, sometimes angry or stressed, or excited or nervous. People talk with their hands, fight with them, create with them, convey with them.

Jakes long delicate fingers are quite deceiving, they don't look like the hands of a woodworker, gardener or chef. Fine and graceful they don't show the battle scars of cooking, or woodworking, or the grit of gardening. But as refined as they are there is strength in those hands. Who would have thought he could palm a basketball. Jake uses his hands to talk and tell stories they are a part of how he communicates. He also knows his hands can give him away, let people know if he is current mood and demeanor. He often has something in his hands to hold or has them in his pocket.

Austin's hands are broad and more rugged, and looking closely you can see couple of those fingers have spent time in splits for crack bones. He relied on strong hands to each time he waterskied. That was his point of connection. Everything comes down to holding on to the tow rope in waterskiing, if you let go, you're in the drink, so you success came down to your hands. He knows the key to some of his roles has come down to the slight gesture of his hands. But just as Jake, his are equally deceptive, because they become quite gentle in situations, not what you would expect. And while Jake tries to tuck his hands away, Austin oftens puts his out on display, maybe to show what he really wants to say.

They say opposites attract, maybe they do with hands too, because it seems like they have found the perfect fit in each others.


October 18, 2007
Jake Gyllenhaal sure as hell lives to get the gossies in gonzo overdrive. Why, just this week, right after J.G. did Letterman, all shy 'n’ stuff, he pulls the same don’t-look-at me routine down in the Village—almost.

Desk Stealth just followed J.G. and his gorgeous amigo, a dead ringer for Austin Nichols (would just go ahead and say it was A.N. here, but, like, maybe Jakey’s pullin’ a Natalie Portman, choosing to hang with an Austin doppelgänger just to throw us snit-snoops off the mark?) for several blocks. Too fun for the ab-perf tum! D.S. embarked on an intrepid block-by-block Jake-athon, stealing close behind just for us, too kind.

“They could have walked to the ferry, and I still would have followed them,” admits our pavement detective, so refreshingly honest (see, always loved those NY types, this is only one reason why). “All the while, they kept walking close to each other, like they were purposely trying to bump into each other, ya know what I mean?”

We do, you baddie bro, we do! So, do continue:

“At one point they had their heads briefly touching each other,” D.S. practically breathlessly relayed. “A short time after that came the friend's arm around Jake and the whisper to the ear. Then, the whole block before they got to West 12th Street," said the onlooker, J.G. & A.N. did a little digital dance. "Oh so cute!”

Photos: IHJ, Austin Media