Jake Gyllenhaal biking on the Very Good Girls NYC set

Well, who'd have thought it? It turns out that there was a perfectly rational explanation for Jake Gyllenhaal's rolled-up trouser leg that didn't involve strange cults or bathing preferences - it was a bicycle after all. Jake either cycled along to watch his mother filming Very Good Girls in NYC or he's got a bit part as Cyclist 3. No doubt he did it very well. The tongue will no doubt get him a little extra screen time too.

And how appropriate on this glorious day for cycling - congratulations to Bradley Wiggins for being the first Brit to ever win the Tour de France! What are you going to do with all those lions...

Thanks to IHJ for the pics.

My non-spoilery review of The Dark Knight Rises is now up at MovieBrit.

Catching up with Jake Gyllenhaal - twizzlers, pie plates, Ask Jake, bands, Parkour, stuff

This is a bitty post because, you know how it is, you have a weekend away in Austin, Texas, and then there's all the catching up to do. So I've made a Jaking List:


1). Let's get the important stuff out of the way. Here below we have Jake Gyllenhaal with a red stick thing. A source informs me that this alarming object is actually a food item. It is known as a 'twizzler'. In the UK, twizzlers are an abomination - they are made from turkey and have been the subject of a major 'get them banned before they kill us' campaign. I am hoping that the bright red variety is a lot better for Jake than the twisty turkey type.


2). We've had a chance to ask Jerry Bruckheimer our PoP questions on Facebook (and I'm still thrilled they picked one of mine), but now, for a few hours, you can ask the Prince himself! You have til 10pm, London time, to get your questions in for Jake. No mention yet of when the video answers will air. 'Jake, do you regularly eat twizzlers?'

3). Jake's Mellow Johnny's cycling hat, complemented by his friend's shirt, reminds me of a new post at Bike Snob, in which the writer and cyclist waxes lyrical over why he so happy to be in posession of Jake's pie plate.


4). Jake and his friends moved on from sport to music last night and went to see Mumford & Sons play the Troubadour. Not surprisingly, this set Jake's fellow boppers atwittering with tweets congratulating Jake on both his music taste and his hotness. It's not only sportsmen falling at Jake's feet...


5). And continuing the music theme, on Friday 19 February, a video for the new single by Vampire Weekend will premiere on Channel 4 in the UK and, we're assured, it features a Jake Gyllenhaal cameo! 'Exclusive first play of Vampire Weekend's new single Giving Up the Gun, which features cameos from Jake Gyllenhaal and Joe Jonas in the video.' It plays at 22:50 on Rude Tube. I must admit to being intrigued and not a little perplexed. So that's one to watch. Thanks to Karen for the heads up!

6). In a fascinating and revealing interview, writer Ben Ripley discusses the momentum that has propelled Source Code into production...


7)... while Parkour king David Belle talks about bringing parkour into the movies, including Prince of Persia: 'The idea is you move around with the actor to see where his limits are. How much can he do? I can do this. It is up to you as the coordinator to determine where those limits are and whether he needs to be substituted with a stuntman, whether it is a risk that he can handle or not. Unless he is really comfortable with it, it is probably better for him to be substituted with a stunt guy. Now, in the case of Prince of Persia, Jake prepared himself well physically and he was able to do a lot of stuff himself. '


8). Sir Ben Kingsley was on The One Show this evening and he was asked about Shutter Island and not Prince of Persia! What a travesty...

So what have I missed off my list? Oh yes, Jake is hot.


Includes pictures from IHJ.

The Armstrong Biopic gets a push but Jake's leghair could be safe

This evening was my first experience of spin cycling - ie cycling like a creature possessed while going absolutely nowhere. Obviously, this now qualifies me as an expert on all biking matters. Just as well, then, that it's today that we get a long, long overdue update on that project that has hung around Jake Gyllenhaal like a cloud of mosquitoes for a good three years or so - The Lance Armstrong Biopic.


The Frank Marshall/Kathleen Kennedy production now has a writer, Gary Sea Biscuit Ross 'and could shoot as early as next year, according to producer Frank Marshall.' Lance Armstrong's comeback this year has given the project a bit of a kick up the bum. Jake and Matt Damon have both been associated with the lead role - hardly surprisingly since Jake spent much of 2006 cyccling round the hills of Malibu with Lance, not to mention scaling the odd Alp. But this news comes at a time when Jake has been attached to almost every movie in production during the next year and so new candidates are being suggested, such as Robert Pattinson and Chris Pine.


I always had the feeling that this was a role Jake would personally have relished, the subject even popped up during Rendition promotion. Jake's love for cycling is not in doubt, nor is his extensive wardrobe of matching spandex and arm warmers, many of which carry the yellow and black of LiveStrong.


Jake has even taken that one extra step - I'm sure we all remember our consternation when Jake emerged with shiny, bald legs. Our preoccupation with Jake's hair is extensive. For now, at least, Jake's legs are safe - a compensation, perhaps, for the worrying possibility of a mullet on the horizon.


Includes pictures from IHJ.

Jake Gyllenhaal's triathlete credentials

This weeekend, a triathlon (the second largest in Britain) is taking place just down the road from me at Blenheim Palace - the home of Winston Churchill and clipped vowels. These pictures below were taken by me in past visits to the Palace because today it was chucking down with rain and, as they say, if you're watching someone swim, there's no point getting wet yourself.



As Jake Gyllenhaal is still doing his best to avoid every single camera in New York City - another kind of feat, I'm sure you'll agree - I thought I'd take a look at how Jake would excel as a triathlete, combining excellence in swimming, cycling and running. As someone who proudly walked out of the Beverly Center clad only in a pair of speedoes, Jake's swimming credentials are assured. But here's a reminder.



Incidentally and totally off topic, this reminds me of Peter Sarsgaard's story from the filming of Jarhead in Mexico, when he decided to take a swim in the hotel fountain even though Jake was right in the middle of a sentence. Jake had to remind Peter of the story because he can't remember it himself - margaritas can do that.


Jake's running prowess is also assured, judging by the number of running outfits he has, his Nike 'Thing' and his hunky trainers (and I'm not talking shoes). Jake has that greatly envied skill of being able to run up hills and down hills.



Talking of running up hills, Jake can also cycle up hills. And not just hills, an Alp! Back in 2006, Jake made it up the Alpe d'Huez. Nevertheless, Jake's recent 2009 biking excursions have attracted the attention of the Bike Snob who lambasted Jake for his pie plate. I have a bicycle, in fact I have two bicycles, but I thought a pie plate was a plate you ate pie off. I was comforted to discover this blog because I thought Mr WDW (who has five bicycles and four and a half motorbikes) was the only bike snob left. He is now an avid reader.


My conclusion: if any star was born to pop by here and go through his paces in the lakes and private, potholed roads of Blenheim, it's Jake Gyllenhaal.


Includes pictures from IHJ, links and WDW.

Acquaviva, 3 May

The wedding over, and Peter and Maggie GyllenGaard safely confettied and sent off with a 'Just Married' sign, Jake Gyllenhaal took his hat for a bike ride (3 May). He took it along the Insenatura Acquaviva to the Acquaviva Marina di Marittima, Puglia - right in the heel of Italy's boot. Jake also brought along his mother Naomi (in a hat), Reese Witherspoon and a friend (both hatless).


The outing involved Jake switching bikes (this is because everyone wants the bike with the basket - it means you're much closer to the picnic), admiring a red car, PDA on an uncomfortable ledge, and, judging by hotels I've stayed at in the past, which also despatched their lunches in brown paper bags, a shared packed lunch of cheese and tomato sandwiches, a bag of salt and vinegar crisps, an apple, a Mars Bar and a bottle of pop (flat).








It is very good to see Jake and the others cycling their way around - much the best way to explore new places.

Many thanks to IHJ for the pictures and thanks to Xenia for the local info!

Congratulations Peter and Maggie!

Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal wed yesterday 'at a small chapel on the grounds of the luxury hotel Masseria in Brindisi near Rome, Italy. There were about 40 guests including Maggie's brother Jake and Reese Witherspoon.' And in the glimpses we can see Jake (plus hat) and his parents, Stephen and Naomi. Many, many congratulations to Peter and Maggie! Huge thanks to IHJ for the happy news.








The day also included a bike ride through the old streets with Jake, Maggie and Peter.



In the picture below, you can just see Ramona in the child seat with her pink helmet.



I always cry at weddings... I may have to dig out Mike Newell's Enchanted April to watch today.