Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Heath Ledger Remembrance Forum
Poll: Your opinion on Jake's silence
BlissC:
--- Quote from: atz75 on March 26, 2008, 04:11:25 pm ---This really is a situation where "there's space between what we know and what we try to believe."
--- End quote ---
So true Amanda. Yet again the words of the story sum up real life.
I guess another part of it all is the parallels between Jack dying in the film and Heath dying in real life. That makes it very easy for people to make assumptions based on the story and carrying them into real life.
Brown Eyes:
I see your point about the other co-stars. But, I still contend that BBM is different. It stands as the most significant film Heath made and is also Jake's most significant film to date. It's the film that each of them won Oscar nominations for (as well as all the other awards). In terms of Heath's legacy, it really will be BBM that stands out (to me this just seems very clear). Before Brokeback, I had no idea who Heath Ledger was. Brokeback really played such a significant role in Heath's prominence. Even in terms of visual recall... in terms of Heath's memory... the image of Heath paired with Jake (a la the BBM poster) is probably one of the first things most people think of and will think of as time goes on. Jake's role in this and the perpetuation of Heath's memory (as far as serious film goes) I think is at a different level than the other co-stars.
Also, I think we're more worried about Jake than the other co-stars simply because we're Brokies. Maybe the fans of those other people are wondering about them, but it's of less concern to me personally than the reactions of BBM people (including Ang Lee's comments, Anne Hathaway's tribute and statements put out by Michelle).
MilAn:
--- Quote from: Susiebell on March 26, 2008, 04:48:25 pm ---I voted "I really don't feel that he owes us anything and I understand why he hasn't said or written anything about Heath's passing".
It's interesting that no one has ever questioned why his co star in Casanova, Sienna Miller, hasn't issued a statement, or perhaps Julia Stiles from Ten Things I Hate About You. I wish people would leave Jake alone.
Susie
--- End quote ---
I think it's because they starred in BBM together and you all know BBM was huge also Jake is Matilda's Godfather and that's why people expected something. I don't even think the press contacted Sienna Miller or Julia Stiles, but i'm pretty sure they contacted Jake.
I wanted to add that those tributes to Heath are pretty nice gestures and are a great counterpart to the stories (which are probably mostly made up) written about him in rags.
Fran:
--- Quote from: atz75 on March 26, 2008, 05:05:40 pm ---Also, I think we're more worried about Jake than the other co-stars simply because we're Brokies. Maybe the fans of those other people are wondering about them, but it's of less concern to me personally than the reactions of BBM people (including Ang Lee's comments, Anne Hathaway's tribute and statements put out by Michelle).
--- End quote ---
And let's not forget Diana Ossana's lovely tribute to Heath in The Advocate (March 11, 2008):
HEATH WAS AN OLD SOUL in a young man's frame, extremely masculine, extremely competent in all things, and yet sensitive beyond belief. In person Heath was animated and kinetic and full of life, far different from the character he portrayed in Brokeback Mountain. He was always disheveled, unconcerned with his appearance, because -- like my writing partner, Larry McMurtry -- Heath lived in his head. Heath was a pure actor, much like Larry's a pure writer, and I was moved by the similarities between these two seemingly very different men.
One of my most endearing memories of working with Heath on set was the day we filmed the final scene in Brokeback. Before the first take, Heath walked over to me, a big smile on his face, and said, "I think you're going to like what I've done with thhis scene." Then he headed inside that bleak little trailer house, and the cameras rolled. I watched the monitor as Ennis opened his tiny closet door and revealed the two shirts he had found hidden inside Jack's childhood bedroom, like skins, one inside the other... and realized that Heath, as Ennis, had chosen to reverse the order of those shirts, with his on the outside, embracing Jack's. Such was Heath's commitment to the truth of our story and to the rawness and depth of his portrayal. Afterward our grizzzled and thoroughly macho first assistant director marched over to me, bent down, and whispered in my ear, "Diana, I've worked in this business 50 years. This is the first time an actor's brought a tear to my eye."
Heath was generous and dear, painfully shy and gifted, and I will miss him for the rest of my days.
nova20194:
It's obvious that this is a very difficult subject. I rarely express a strong opinion about anything on any forum. This could be the exception. I can accept and respect the fact that we have different opinions on this subject, and I don't like to argue, but I think that much of the anxiety I'm experiencing here has to do with the wording of the voting choices. I, like some others, find it difficult to restrict my opinion to one of the statements which have been provided. At this point, 40.6% have voted for the statement "I really don't feel that he owes us anything and I understand why he hasn't said or written anything about Heath's passing". I agree almost without exception that "I really don't feel that he owes us anything", however, I don't understand how anyone can agree with the second part. To anyone who can honestly state "I understand why he hasn't said or written anything about Heath's passing", please explain it to me and the rest of the world. You must be in intimate touch with the depths of Jake Gyllenhaal's mind. Perhaps I'm nit-picking with semantics, but the results of the poll thus far seems to me like "lying with statistics". Yes, I'll admit I'm "disappointed", but there's no way I could ever say that I "understand".
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