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Heath Ledger - News Accounts
MaineWriter:
REM pay tribute to Heath Ledger
REM frontman Michael Stipe has paid an emotional tribute to Heath Ledger by dedicating one of the actor's favourite songs to him at a gig in Texas.
Stipe dedicated their track 'Until the Day Is Done' to Ledger in front of a sold-out crowd at Stubb's Barbeque during their set at Austin, Texas' South By Southwest festival on Wednesday.
A visibly upset Stipe announced, "This is dedicated to Heath Ledger who loved this song," before shouting at the end, "Goodbye Heath, we loved you!"
As well as Stipe's moving homage to Ledger, REM used the 90-minute set to preview songs from their forthcoming album 'Accelerate', which will be released in Ireland at the end of this month.
Story from RTÉ Entertainment:
http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0313/rem.html
MaineWriter:
Heath Ledger's Joker makes dramatic entrance in 'Dark Knight'
12 hours ago
LAS VEGAS — This time out, there's no vat of chemicals to explain how Batman's greatest enemy came to be the twisted sociopath known as the Joker.
Heath Ledger's Joker springs full-blown in this summer's "The Dark Knight," the sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins" that was previewed for theatre owners Thursday with a clip showing the new movie's opening sequence.
Unlike 1989's "Batman," in which the deranged, disfigured clown appearance of Jack Nicholson's Joker resulted from a dip in chemical goo, "The Dark Knight" starts right in with the bad guy in all his psychopathic glory.
"I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you stranger," Ledger's depraved Joker cryptically tells an accomplice in the opening scenes, in which he pulls off a daring bank robbery.
In an interview at ShoWest, a theatre-owners' convention where distributor Warner Bros. showed off footage of "The Dark Knight" and the rest of its summer lineup, director Christopher Nolan said it was almost inevitable the sequel would pit Christian Bale's Batman against the Joker.
"The psychopathic clown, that's an icon to stand with the guy with the ears and cape," Nolan said.
"It's just a wonderful visual relationship and it's a terrifying image."
Long before Ledger's death of an accidental prescription drug overdose in January, the marketing of the movie had focused on the villain's rise to power and his creepy appearance.
There had been speculation among critics and fans that the studio and filmmakers might take a different approach to selling the film in light of Ledger's death but the marketing has gone on as originally planned.
"I think he'd be very pleased to see we're just moving ahead as is," Nolan said.
"If you try to honour somebody, you honour them by respecting their work and putting it out there for as many people to see. He was immensely proud of the work he did on the film. I feel a great burden to present that in an undistorted form."
"The Dark Knight" is due in theatres July 18.
The last time producer Charles Roven saw Ledger was when he showed the actor the very footage that was screened at ShoWest.
Fans have been buzzing over the anarchic style Ledger brings to the role in the movie's trailer but the actor himself was utterly taken by what he saw of himself on screen, Roven said.
"He was just blown away by his own performance," Roven said.
"He said: 'Can I see it again?' So he was really, really thrilled."
Bale - reprising his role as the wealthy Bruce Wayne, who moonlights as the emotionally tormented crimefighter - said he watched the footage Thursday with a heaviness of heart over Ledger. But Bale said he hopes the movie will serve as a testament.
"I hope that this can be seen as a celebration of his work," Bale said.
"He did a phenomenal job. It was a real joy working with the man."
"It was a joy knowing him, as well. I liked him a great deal and I liked also how seriously he took his work."
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hhmxi4K0fJfHHpIeU4xW3F59taZg
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: MaineWriter on March 14, 2008, 07:37:13 am ---Heath Ledger's Joker makes dramatic entrance in 'Dark Knight'
12 hours ago
LAS VEGAS — This time out, there's no vat of chemicals to explain how Batman's greatest enemy came to be the twisted sociopath known as the Joker.
Heath Ledger's Joker springs full-blown in this summer's "The Dark Knight," the sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins" that was previewed for theatre owners Thursday with a clip showing the new movie's opening sequence.
Unlike 1989's "Batman," in which the deranged, disfigured clown appearance of Jack Nicholson's Joker resulted from a dip in chemical goo, "The Dark Knight" starts right in with the bad guy in all his psychopathic glory.
"I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you stranger," Ledger's depraved Joker cryptically tells an accomplice in the opening scenes, in which he pulls off a daring bank robbery.
In an interview at ShoWest, a theatre-owners' convention where distributor Warner Bros. showed off footage of "The Dark Knight" and the rest of its summer lineup, director Christopher Nolan said it was almost inevitable the sequel would pit Christian Bale's Batman against the Joker.
"The psychopathic clown, that's an icon to stand with the guy with the ears and cape," Nolan said.
"It's just a wonderful visual relationship and it's a terrifying image."
Long before Ledger's death of an accidental prescription drug overdose in January, the marketing of the movie had focused on the villain's rise to power and his creepy appearance.
There had been speculation among critics and fans that the studio and filmmakers might take a different approach to selling the film in light of Ledger's death but the marketing has gone on as originally planned.
"I think he'd be very pleased to see we're just moving ahead as is," Nolan said.
"If you try to honour somebody, you honour them by respecting their work and putting it out there for as many people to see. He was immensely proud of the work he did on the film. I feel a great burden to present that in an undistorted form."
"The Dark Knight" is due in theatres July 18.
The last time producer Charles Roven saw Ledger was when he showed the actor the very footage that was screened at ShoWest.
Fans have been buzzing over the anarchic style Ledger brings to the role in the movie's trailer but the actor himself was utterly taken by what he saw of himself on screen, Roven said.
"He was just blown away by his own performance," Roven said.
"He said: 'Can I see it again?' So he was really, really thrilled."
Bale - reprising his role as the wealthy Bruce Wayne, who moonlights as the emotionally tormented crimefighter - said he watched the footage Thursday with a heaviness of heart over Ledger. But Bale said he hopes the movie will serve as a testament.
"I hope that this can be seen as a celebration of his work," Bale said.
"He did a phenomenal job. It was a real joy working with the man."
"It was a joy knowing him, as well. I liked him a great deal and I liked also how seriously he took his work."
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hhmxi4K0fJfHHpIeU4xW3F59taZg
--- End quote ---
Heya,
This exact story just popped up as an entertainment headline on the CNN website. In this case it has a different title, but the story's the same.
Crew honors Ledger by not distorting Joker role
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/14/ledger.batman.ap/index.html
Aloysius J. Gleek:
--- Quote from: MaineWriter on March 14, 2008, 07:37:13 am ---Heath Ledger's Joker makes dramatic entrance in 'Dark Knight'
"He said: 'Can I see it again?' So he was really, really thrilled."
--- End quote ---
I love it!
Kerry:
This has been reported here before, but here it is from an Australian perspective; i.e., Heath's homeland; as reported in the (Sydney) Sunday Telegraph on Sun 23 March 2008. These stories sadden me so much.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23417337-5001021,00.html
Was Heath Ledger only worth $145,000?
By Colleen Egan
The father of Hollywood actress Michelle Williams has challenged the grieving family of Heath Ledger to publicly state the value of their son's fortune.
Larry Williams, who is one of the world's best known stock market traders, said he was perplexed that documents filed in a New York court listed Ledger's assets at just $145,000.
In an escalation of the public attack on Kim Ledger in the wake of his superstar son's death, Mr Williams issued the blunt challenge through The Sunday Telegraph.
"It's real simple: just come clean with everything,'' he said.
"It's so easy to resolve this. He just has to say where the income went and where the assets are.
"I'm certain that there is grieving in the Ledger family but (lawyers for) Kim have already filed papers in New York, so it seems like it's time to be transparent about it.
"I have no idea what Heath Ledger was worth (but) they certainly haven't stated all of the assets to the court.''
Mr Williams conceded that he did not have a close relationship with his daughter and that he was not in constant contact with her.
However, he said he was certain that lawyers for Michelle, her toddler daughter Matilda and the Ledgers did not "sit down and sort all this out'' before the will was filed in New York.
Heath Ledger, 28, died in New York on January 22 of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
He doted on Matilda but was separated from Ms Williams, who joined the Ledger family in Perth for a memorial and wake on Cottesloe beach on February 9.
Documents obtained by The Sunday Telegraph indicate that papers were filed by US lawyers acting for the Ledger family at 4.07pm on February 29.
The 2003 will names Ledger's father, mother and sisters as the only beneficiaries.
However, the New York documents also acknowledge Heath's only known offspring, Matilda Rose, 2, as an interested party.
They declare that "the total value of their shares of the estate will be $145,000'', with furniture and fixtures worth $20,000, a Toyota Prius worth $25,000 and $100,000 in miscellaneous bank accounts.
The Australian co-executors nominated by Heath Ledger's will are Mark Dyson and Rob Collins, a Perth accountant who has been a close financial adviser of Kim Ledger's for many years.
Scrutiny of the Ledger will was sparked by a public warning this month from Kim Ledger's estranged brothers about the management of the $2 million estate of their late grandfather, Sir Frank Ledger.
Mr Ledger took over the elderly relative's affairs in 1986 and borrowed against his assets, leaving the estate in debt by the time the WA Supreme Court removed him as administrator of Sir Frank's will in 1994.
Mr Ledger signed a deed in 1998 to repay $1 million but the family claims the money was never paid.
Repeated attempts to contact Mr Ledger, who is a well-known racing driver and mechanical engineer, have failed.
He has not responded to the controversy sparked by his brothers' comments, except to say that Matilda would be "taken care of'' and that he hoped his family would show respect at a time of grief.
Mr Williams, who is a colourful public speaker and high-selling author whose short-term stock-trading skills are legendary in the financial world, has a separate legal battle on the other side of Australia.
He is stranded in Sydney, fighting extradition proceedings to the US on charges that he allegedly tried to evade $US1.5 million ($1.9 million) in tax from 1999 to 2001.
Mr Williams said he would not be pursuing the Ledger family on his granddaughter's behalf and would leave any challenge to the will to his daughter. However, he questioned why a will made in 2003, before Ledger met Ms Williams, was lodged in New York just a month after the death.
"It's my understanding that you have six months to file (will documents) in the United States so there was no rush,'' he said.
"There was plenty of time to sit down with lawyers for Michelle. It's not the way I would have handled it.''
A New York judge granted temporary administration of the estate to Mr Dyson, Mr Collins and an American adviser "provided that the authority shall be limited to their taking such action as is necessary to vacate the premises rented by the decedent (deceased person).''
The documents stated that the will would also be submitted to a court in Australia for probate.
In what appeared to be an error due to ignorance of Australian geography, the case was remitted to the "State of Victoria, County of Melbourne, W.Australia''.
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