Heath Ledger - News Accounts

[MilAn]

I made a donation yesterday, thanking him for doing this in Heath's memory. I got a thank you email this morning. It's quit an effort and all for a good cause.

Very true!

[SunShadow]

The EW article ...

The Dark Knight, July 18th

It's impossible to know how Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight might have been perceived had the actor lived to see the film's opening.  His wildly different approach to the Joker - "totally fearless" is how director Nolan described it in an interview on the set last year - would surely have drawn attention anyway, if only for the deeply creepy clown makeup splattered all over Ledger's face.  But the star's death adds a tragic resonance to the turn that nobody could have anticipated.  Already there is talk in Hollywood about a posthumous Oscar.

Of course, The Dark Knight was intended to be one of this summer's biggest sequels.  Picking up the story line from Nolan's 2005 Batman Begins - and revisiting that film's gloomy, contemplative tone - it once again stars Bale as the brooding caped crusader, with Caine returning as butler Alfred, Morgan Freeman as inventor Lucius Fox, and Gary Oldman as Lieut. Gordon.  This time, though, Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over for Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes (a.k.a. Bruce Wayne's love interest) and Eckhart enters the picture as DA Harvey Dent (a.k.a. Two-Face).  Expect the usual eye-popping Bat-action, including a chase scene with a sleek new Bat-pod, much of it shot the old-fashioned way, with real actors and real explosions.

Still, there's no denying that Ledger's death has made The Dark Knight an Event Movie of an altogether different sort - one of the last screen performances by a young actor who had already earned one Oscar nomination (for Brokeback Mountain) and who seemed destined for a career filled with more.  Even before his death, Ledger's casting in Jack Nicholson's former role was one of the most intriguing aspects of this production.  "I knew from the first day on the set that Heath was going to totally redefine the Joker," says Eckhart.  "He just really got into it and took the character to the limit.  He went for it.  I know the film is going to be perceived differently now, but that could be a good thing.  You know, maybe it'll just make people think about Heath's talent."

[optom3]

The EW article ...

The Dark Knight, July 18th

It's impossible to know how Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight might have been perceived had the actor lived to see the film's opening.  His wildly different approach to the Joker - "totally fearless" is how director Nolan described it in an interview on the set last year - would surely have drawn attention anyway, if only for the deeply creepy clown makeup splattered all over Ledger's face.  But the star's death adds a tragic resonance to the turn that nobody could have anticipated.  Already there is talk in Hollywood about a posthumous Oscar.

Of course, The Dark Knight was intended to be one of this summer's biggest sequels.  Picking up the story line from Nolan's 2005 Batman Begins - and revisiting that film's gloomy, contemplative tone - it once again stars Bale as the brooding caped crusader, with Caine returning as butler Alfred, Morgan Freeman as inventor Lucius Fox, and Gary Oldman as Lieut. Gordon.  This time, though, Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over for Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes (a.k.a. Bruce Wayne's love interest) and Eckhart enters the picture as DA Harvey Dent (a.k.a. Two-Face).  Expect the usual eye-popping Bat-action, including a chase scene with a sleek new Bat-pod, much of it shot the old-fashioned way, with real actors and real explosions.

Still, there's no denying that Ledger's death has made The Dark Knight an Event Movie of an altogether different sort - one of the last screen performances by a young actor who had already earned one Oscar nomination (for Brokeback Mountain) and who seemed destined for a career filled with more.  Even before his death, Ledger's casting in Jack Nicholson's former role was one of the most intriguing aspects of this production.  "I knew from the first day on the set that Heath was going to totally redefine the Joker," says Eckhart.  "He just really got into it and took the character to the limit.  He went for it.  I know the film is going to be perceived differently now, but that could be a good thing.  You know, maybe it'll just make people think about Heath's talent."

I do not think I will be able to go and watch it.I find just the makeup disturbing enough,particularly combined with all the speculation about Heaths' frame of mind.I think it would possibly be a step too far fro me at the moment.
I am ambivalent about a posthumous Oscar as well. Part of me thinks it would just be Hollywood throwing a panacea to the fans.He deserved the Oscar when he was alive for BBM and awarding one when he is gone,seems a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

However I guess it would be nice for his daughter and family to have some tangible recognition of his enormous talent.
It still does not let the idiots off the hook who ignored him after BBM. I despise cowardice and pandering to the masses.I find it equally distasteful when all of a sudden there is a whole host of sycophants.

It's just all a bit too late, and funnily enough I actually think an award for his acting talent would have been one thing that Heath would really have appreciated.I think he was far more concerned about being thought of as a good actor,than any of the money and media attention.He lived for his daughter and his work.
Oh dear all this is making me miserable all over again.I think that is going to be a definite no to the Dark Knight !!!!

[Ellemeno]

The EW article ...

The Dark Knight, July 18th

It's impossible to know how Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight might have been perceived had the actor lived to see the film's opening.  His wildly different approach to the Joker - "totally fearless" is how director Nolan described it in an interview on the set last year - would surely have drawn attention anyway, if only for the deeply creepy clown makeup splattered all over Ledger's face.  But the star's death adds a tragic resonance to the turn that nobody could have anticipated.  Already there is talk in Hollywood about a posthumous Oscar.

Of course, The Dark Knight was intended to be one of this summer's biggest sequels.  Picking up the story line from Nolan's 2005 Batman Begins - and revisiting that film's gloomy, contemplative tone - it once again stars Bale as the brooding caped crusader, with Caine returning as butler Alfred, Morgan Freeman as inventor Lucius Fox, and Gary Oldman as Lieut. Gordon.  This time, though, Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over for Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes (a.k.a. Bruce Wayne's love interest) and Eckhart enters the picture as DA Harvey Dent (a.k.a. Two-Face).  Expect the usual eye-popping Bat-action, including a chase scene with a sleek new Bat-pod, much of it shot the old-fashioned way, with real actors and real explosions.

Still, there's no denying that Ledger's death has made The Dark Knight an Event Movie of an altogether different sort - one of the last screen performances by a young actor who had already earned one Oscar nomination (for Brokeback Mountain) and who seemed destined for a career filled with more.  Even before his death, Ledger's casting in Jack Nicholson's former role was one of the most intriguing aspects of this production.  "I knew from the first day on the set that Heath was going to totally redefine the Joker," says Eckhart.  "He just really got into it and took the character to the limit.  He went for it.  I know the film is going to be perceived differently now, but that could be a good thing.  You know, maybe it'll just make people think about Heath's talent."

I haven't had this in a while, but every sentence in the past tense about Heath is causing me to jump - What?  What??  Finding out all over again...

[Meryl]

I haven't had this in a while, but every sentence in the past tense about Heath is causing me to jump - What?  What??  Finding out all over again...

I know.  It's never going to make any kind of sense. 

[Marge_Innavera]

I do not think I will be able to go and watch it.I find just the makeup disturbing enough,particularly combined with all the speculation about Heaths' frame of mind.I think it would possibly be a step too far fro me at the moment.

I can certainly understand how some Heath fans would find it too painful to watch this movie, but I'm not going to be able to stay away.  Kind of ironic -- I have had, and have, absolutely no interest in any of the Batman movies otherwise.

I am ambivalent about a posthumous Oscar as well. Part of me thinks it would just be Hollywood throwing a panacea to the fans.He deserved the Oscar when he was alive for BBM and awarding one when he is gone,seems a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

I'd be happy to see Heath get an Oscar but it won't raise my opinion of AMPAS at all -- his possible nomination will be the only reason for me to watch it next year. It's kind of reminiscent of an exchange at the beginning of Doctor Zhivago (movie version) years after Zhivago's death:

Aide: We all admire your brother [Yuri Zhivago] very much.

Evgrav: Yes, everybody seems to.  Now.

[optom3]

I can certainly understand how some Heath fans would find it too painful to watch this movie, but I'm not going to be able to stay away.  Kind of ironic -- I have had, and have, absolutely no interest in any of the Batman movies otherwise.

I'd be happy to see Heath get an Oscar but it won't raise my opinion of AMPAS at all -- his possible nomination will be the only reason for me to watch it next year. It's kind of reminiscent of an exchange at the beginning of Doctor Zhivago (movie version) years after Zhivago's death:

Aide: We all admire your brother [Yuri Zhivago] very much.

Evgrav: Yes, everybody seems to.  Now.

It is an all too familiar thing isn't it.Artists of all genre only really being appreciated after their death.It nauseates me. I think the classic example is Van Gogh.

I love your quote,how incredibly apt it is.Just the right balance of wit and cynicism.
If Heath did get an Oscar I would love whoever accepts it for him to stand up and use a modified version of that.

[SunShadow]

I do not think I will be able to go and watch it.I find just the makeup disturbing enough,particularly combined with all the speculation about Heaths' frame of mind.I think it would possibly be a step too far fro me at the moment.
I am ambivalent about a posthumous Oscar as well. Part of me thinks it would just be Hollywood throwing a panacea to the fans.He deserved the Oscar when he was alive for BBM and awarding one when he is gone,seems a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

However I guess it would be nice for his daughter and family to have some tangible recognition of his enormous talent.
It still does not let the idiots off the hook who ignored him after BBM. I despise cowardice and pandering to the masses.I find it equally distasteful when all of a sudden there is a whole host of sycophants.

It's just all a bit too late, and funnily enough I actually think an award for his acting talent would have been one thing that Heath would really have appreciated.I think he was far more concerned about being thought of as a good actor,than any of the money and media attention.He lived for his daughter and his work.
Oh dear all this is making me miserable all over again.I think that is going to be a definite no to the Dark Knight !!!!

I am not sure yet if I will be able to see it.  It depends how detached I think I could be with him under all that makeup.  About the posthumous Oscar, it doesn't make any sense to me.  Batman is not the type of film that people win Oscars for, and if an Oscar is awarded for the Joker role, I think it will be more of an Oscar of general recognition (too little, too late) of Heath's talent and untimely passing.

[SunShadow]

I haven't had this in a while, but every sentence in the past tense about Heath is causing me to jump - What?  What??  Finding out all over again...

Same here.  Most of the time I am able to out it out of my mind that all we have left is pictures, but then I remember and it hits me again.

[SunShadow]

I can certainly understand how some Heath fans would find it too painful to watch this movie, but I'm not going to be able to stay away.  Kind of ironic -- I have had, and have, absolutely no interest in any of the Batman movies otherwise.

In other circumstances, I would probably wait for the movie to come out on DVD.  Batman is not really my favorite type of movie.  I may go to the theater in this case, but am a little concerned about crying my eyes out in public during an action flick.