[Upated] Jake Gyllenhaal: A Garden Revolutionary and 'hanging with Bear'

With special congratulations to the French contingent to LA that will leave the US with extremely heavy suitcases, it is a shame to say that Jake Gyllenhaal was notable in his absence from last night's Oscars. But even though we don't get new pictures of Jake in a tux, we have the next best thing - Jake with a spade. Yes, Jake appears with his his fellow Garden Revolutionary Alice Waters in the March issue of Bon Appetit. 'He genuinely believes... he has his hands in the ground', says Alice of Jake. Click and it shall be embiggened. Many thanks to BBMISwear for the scan!

Updated to add another picture. Source.

Speaking of earthy matters and the great outdoors, enthusiastic Brit Bear Grylls has been talking about his spirit of adventure. It's good to see that Jake was not deterred by his Icelandic experiences. We know that Jake and Bear had dinner together during his recent visit to the UK but it seems that this is very much not a one off.

'Then there was the time he and Jake Gyllenhaal, a friend since the actor appeared on “Man vs. Wild” last season, decided to go for a leisurely boat ride in the Santa Monica Bay. “We pull out of Marina del Rey and, I’m not joking, it’s like standing waves, 30 feet high. Absolute monsters,” Mr. Grylls said. “We just got smashed to bits.” “Hanging with Bear is not for the faint of heart,” Mr. Gyllenhaal wrote in an e-mail. “He is always pushing the limit, and it is infectious to be around.”'

I have it on excellent made up authority that sleeping inside a camel carcass is still on Jake's todo list.

Jake Gyllenhaal films video in Dalston and out for dinner with Bear Grylls and... Ant and Dec?

Jake Gyllenhaal is back at work! At the builders merchant Leyland in Dalston, North London, of all places... Just the kind of place one would expect to see a movie star in London as we head in to the BAFTA weekend. Jake has begun filming the new video for The Shoes directed by Daniel Wolfe and, according to a production company, the shoot will last three days. Of course, this means that Jake will be able to combine working with buying carpets and chairs. Always a bonus.

Last night, Jake was seen back at The Wolseley on Piccadilly dining with his old friend and torturer Bear Grylls (he's behind Jake in the picture above). It's believed that Jake may have been asked to slaughter and prepare the food first while hanging upside down on a wire hung between two London tower blocks. Joining Jake and Bear was TV presenter Dermot O'Leary and - leaves a pause for suspense - Ant & Dec??? The evidence.

Watch this space for the latest from Dalston's Leyland.

Thanks, IHJ, for the pic!

Jake Gyllenhaal chose Bear Grylls above Gordon Ramsey and Soul Cycle more popular than ever!

Jake Gyllenhaal is in the news today. Bear Grylls has been talking about making Jake balance precariously above a precipice, revealing that it could have been so different. It could have been a cookery show instead. “He was joking about what it was like being famous. He said ‘it’s great, if I ever needed something, I’ll ring up my friend Gordon Ramsey. Or if get lost in the wild, I’ll ring up Bear’,” he says, adding that even though he didn’t personally know Jake, he sent him an email inviting him to travel with him. “He just went ‘yes, that would be fun’.”

“When I’m on your own, I don’t need to double check a knot. But when suddenly I have Jake Gyllenhaal hanging off it, I have to triple check it before letting him commit to it,” he says. The exploration expert travelled to Iceland with Jake, apart from touring New Zealand and Borneo. Recalling some of the toughest situations that he and the actor wriggled out of, he adds, “We were 5,000 feet high, when we hit hurricane winds moving at 160 kph. The other was crossing a huge gorge, which had a 150-foot drop. We had to balance on top of this and pull ourselves along. Jake was really nervous. He’s pretty scared of heights.”

With no format preparation, the two headed out into the wilderness few months ago. “I always say ‘just trust me and we’ll be okay’. But with Jake, it was definitely one of the worst conditions I’ve ever had on my own. He really got thrown in at the deep end, but I thought that he would love that; he’d never been there. And it made sense to both of our schedules,” says Grylls. The episode featuring Jake airs on Wednesday at 9 pm on Discovery Channel.

The GyllenFactor has been having a great impact on the fitness levels of the citizens of NYC. Jake's appearances at Soul Cycle have caused such a stir that there are so many people going now that there isn't room for Jake! He’s always there,” a source said. “And he gets a lot of female attention.” This Friday, though, they were on their own. Where next will exercising Jake strike?

Jake has been keeping up with his mission to work through the restaurants of NYC though, this time with his mum. Nice shirt!


Includes pictures from IHJ.

Jake Gyllenhaal at the NYC Film Festival (again), Bear Grylls part 2 and Annie Proulx' tips

The London International Film Festival is now underway. On the other side of the pond, the New York City Film Festival is also full steam ahead and, should you be so lucky as to attend one of its screenings and parties, you might want to keep your eyes open. Since supporting Michelle Williams at the premiere of her My Week With Marilyn Film, Jake Gyllenhaal has been seen at two other screenings (and the number could be increasing by the hour).

On Tuesday, Jake was seen at the screening for one of the least memorably named movies around, 'Martha Marcy May Marlene' (or something like that). Note, Jake still hasn't found his contact lenses.

'At the party — also attended by a scruffy Jake Gyllenhaal and “Gossip Girl” star Chace Crawford — the three Olsens “held court at a corner table all night” and toasted Elizabeth’s movie with Bear Flag Wine, an eyewitness told us. Though Elizabeth is quickly entering star territory, she hasn’t mastered one celebri-feat: wearing sky-high heels all night. At the party, she “took off her very high heels and slipped on a pair of moccasins,” our source said. Gyllenhaal, meanwhile, also kept things casual, wearing cargo pants, a long-sleeve tee and glasses to the screening, then skipping the after-party. "I don’t think anyone knew he was there,” the source said. “He clearly did not want to be seen.”'

Last night, it was the turn of 'The Skin I Live In', which stars  Antonio Banderas. At the same screening was David Lynch.

Should Jake fancy taking in more movies, how about a spot of LIFF?

Bear and Jake

Bear Grylls has been talking some more about Jake's appearance in Man Vs Wild. In this interview from Australia, Bear talks about Jake wanting to go for the full monty (in a manner of speaking) and he includes those immortal words 'What happens on the mountain, stays on the mountain'.



And finally...

I really wanted to include a link to this interview with Annie Proulx I saw today in which she gives some tips for those who want to write. It includes a mention of arguably her two most famous creations, Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar.

'Proulx doesn’t mold characters after any real-life people, and when pressed, says only that it’s possible she draws inspiration from what’s happening around her. For example, the characters of Ennis and Jack in “Brokeback Mountain” may have sprung from some unconscious desire to counteract the “John Wayne, right-wing” mindset where she lives in Wyoming that cowboys can only be and act a certain way, she says. “I realize stories I’ve written are contrary to the culture and have a touch of the corrective about them,” she says. “I’m not saying that’s how it is, I’m saying, perhaps.”'

Includes pictures from IHJ.

My review, better late than never hopefully, of I Am Number Four is on MovieBrit.

'He was a dude' - Bear Grylls on Jake Gyllenhaal and Japan gets ready for Source Code

Bear Grylls has been talking a little about his experience of having Grizzly Sasquatch (aka Jake Gyllenhaal) on Man vs Wild this year.

'On the insurance nightmare in taking Hollywood star Jake Gyllenhaal into the wild: "I never understand this. I don't know why one man's life is more valuable than another. I will commit 120 per cent of my energy to keeping anyone alive, I don't care if they're a superstar or whatever." On taking Gyllenhaal into the wild: "He was nervous but at the same time he said don't hold back. He was a dude."'

Also worth noting from this interview with the Courier Mail, in addition to Bear's efforts to keep Jake alive despite making him creep along a rope above an almighty gorge, is that it doesn't do to ask Bear what he thinks of Vegemite. Jake's opinion on this substance is not known. Personally, I would say to any Australian reading here that you're very lucky to have Vegemite - consider the alternative: marmite.

Japan gets ready! Three weeks to go until Source Code

Source Code has almost reached Japan. It's taking its time but on 28 October, Source Code at last opens. Obviously, we all hope it does very well, not least so that Japan doesn't have to wait as long again for Jake's films or those by Duncan Jones. I'm grateful to Mayumintolor for keeping an eye on everything for us in Japan. She has sent these pages from the October issue of the cinema complex magazine Cine Com Walker.

'Where's the relaxing chilling out in the wild?' - Jake Gyllenhaal on Man Vs Wild plus a WDW Interlude

Jake Gyllenhaal's appearance alongside Bear Grylls as Men Vs Wild has attracted some attention. I'm amused to see that some sites are comparing Jake's epic two-day stint with Will Farrell's comparative walk in the park which saw him eat his emergency rations within a minute or two of the chopper landing. And that's nothing against Will, it just says a lot for Jake and his intrepid heart. Now that we've seen the show, it's good to hear something from Bear about it. Thanks to Mermon for the heads up.

Here are some excerpts from Bear's interview with the LA Times: 'Shara, my wife, saw him on some chat show, and he was asked what it is like to be famous. He said, "It's great, and if the paparazzi get to me, I just ring up my buddy Bear Grylls." And I go, I don't even know him! So I emailed him and we started talking about going on a proper adventure. He was a fan of the show, and once we made the schedule work, we did it quite spontaneously.'

'I thought Iceland would be good because there's lots to do. I was like, "The weather will be cool and it should be pretty mellow. We'll do a bit of climbing, and we'll just kind of jump into it." But he was thrown right in on the deep end. We did have some crazy conditions -- some of the worst weather I've seen for years. The wind was so strong that they literally had a jumbo jet blown sideways at the airport. And there we were, 5,000 feet up on a mountain trying to get our backsides out of there in one piece. Jake was saying, "Where's the relaxing chilling out in the wild?"'

The spare rope over the gorge: 'That wouldn't have held him. That wasn't a safety line -- that was a helping line for him to balance. And if he ran out of puff, I could have helped him across with that. But I was pretty confident that he'd be OK. We worked out afterwards that it was the equivalent of doing 180 pull-ups.'

'I always have to have kind of a weird conversation with these people's insurance guys, where they ask me, "Can you guarantee us that these actors will be safe?" And I go, "Well, no. I can't." Then there's a long pause on the other end of the telephone. But you can't predict what's going to happen in the wild -- that's what makes the show edgy. There's a significant element of unpredictability out there, and I can look after him to my utmost ability, and my ability is OK.'

'You've gotta admire somebody when they step out of their comfort zone and put their life in somebody else's hands. I was very clear with him and said, 'Come on your own and trust me.' He did incredible. What I like about the wild is when you're squeezed, you see what people are made of.'

Many thanks to IHJ for the caps.

WDW Interlude - Festival of History part 1

Never mind Iceland storms, today I aquaplaned my way through the drenched English countryside to the first day of English Heritage's immense Festival of History in Northamptonshire. Thank heavens the sun did come out and so there was plenty of time to ogle at jousting knights, battling gladiators, charging British guards, a tortoise of Roman soldiers - and then there were the World War 1 trenches. An excellent day -way too much to see. One minute you could be watching a reenactment of the Battle of Bosworth, the next you could be marvelling at a frenzy of Jacobite gunmen and horses at full charge while General Patton ambles by. Here are some pictures from today. I'll be back there tomorrow so I have no doubt there'll be more. And did I mention the real ale tent?

There is also a historical fiction literary festival taking place there, which I'll be reporting on elsewhere. I'll put a link here.

Not everyone enjoyed it...

Pictures from WDW.

My review of Adjustment Bureau is now up at MB.

Here's my report on the Festival of Historical Writing that also took place this weekend.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Bear Grylls - Man Vs Wild

With no more ado, here it is! So pull up your favourite armchair, grab something comforting to clutch and get those bushtucker snacks ready, and watch Jake Gyllenhaal take on the wild with Bear Grylls. A rumour has it that Jake even takes his shirt off, something I wholeheartedly approve of. There is one very special person to thank for this and that is Stephanie at IHJ.











So, how did he do?!

First worm - Jake Gyllenhaal eats a worm on Man Vs Wild (video) and I pass out a bit

Ever since the mid 1990s when I was made to excavate an archaeological site that was terrorised by the Giant Norwegian Worm, I have had a completely rational phobia of all slimy tube-shaped critters. You can therefore imagine my horror at learning that Bear Grylls has subjected Jake Gyllenhaal to nothing less that worm consumption. Never mind ravines, collapsing snow holes and rotting sheep, we're talking worms. Shudders. And without even a drop of wine to ease its wriggling journey down the throat. You can watch the video at People. I'm off to lie down.

'I'm up for anything' - Bear Grylls subjects Jake Gyllenhaal to more peril (and rotten sheep) - 3 more videos

It's relentless - the peril that Bear Grylls cavalierly throws in the path of our intrepid Jake Gyllenhaal, who is seriously impressing the media with his courage and ability. We've had rope shimmying countless metres into the air across a small canyon, despite a fear of heights. But now there's more. In this post's videos we have Jake demonstrating that the best way to find a snow cave is to fall in to one as well as discovering that rotten sheep mixed with volcanic heat in a confined snow hole does not smell like your usual roast dinner.

There is also a video in which Jake seeks to explain why joining Bear in Man Vs Wild was the action of a sane human being and not the result of a bad bet.

'I have done nothing to prepare for this situation' says the Fittest Actor in Hollywood. 'I feel like that's somewhat appropriate. Everytime I've seen the show I've just thought what would it be like to be there with him and that's why I'm here. I'm looking forward to everything. I'm up fpr it. I'm up for anything.'

'For me it's all about discovery. I want to experience things and discover new things. I have a fear of heights, a regular fear of heights, I think. Wading through frozen water? Huuuh. So a little bit of fear, a little bit of excitement. I can't wait.'

I'm particularly impressed with how Bear gets away with calling the volcano Eyjafjallajökull E15. Isn't that cheating?

Note to Jake: please be advised that camping with Brits is not normally like this. Usually, a pub features somewhere.

Here are the videos:







For good measure, here's the video from yesterday of Jake's terrifying hirewire act.

[Updated with new video] 'Let fear be your guide' - Jake Gyllenhaal faces his fears in a new clip from Man Vs Wild - eek!

Update! New video - more peril, more weather, more Jake hanging onto a rope - this time we have snow traps. If you can't see the flash video below, here's the link. Thanks to those who gave me the link!



Before you watch the video below from Jake Gyllenhaal's appearance on Man Vs Wild with Bear Grylls, I advise you pace around the room, do some breathing exercises and fill those lungs with air because I promise you, you may not be able to look! In this clip, Jake faces his fear of heights - and the elements - to clamber (possibly not the right word for this sort of hairbrained activity) across a rope above a big empty space and drop to nowhere. Are you ready? Are you sure? Here it is.



'You're going to be strong' says Bear to Jake. Never mind, Jake, what about us?! 'It's pretty high!' says Jake. Not that I heard that bit, I'd passed out.

Here are some caps. They are not for the fainthearted.

My review of Life in a Day is up at MovieBrit.