That's funny, Ruby! I had exactly the opposite reaction -- Lords of Dogtown is the ONLY movie I've been able to watch Heath in since Brokebackl! That might be because I saw it BEFORE I saw BBM and liked it a lot (partly because my sons are skateboarders). I watched it again after BBM and still liked it. I bought the soundtrack of mid-'70s rock and my boys (ages 10 and 11) and I love to crank it up and sing along when we're in the car.
I liked a lot of things about the movie, but the best thing about it is Heath's performance. I'd had my doubts about the casting for BBM when I heard about it, but after seeing LOD, I knew that everything would be OK.
When I watch Heath as Skip Engblom, I forget completely about Heath as Ennis (well, to the extent that I EVER forget completely about Heath as Ennis). The two characters are so different, and Heath looks and acts so different, that you'd hardly know they were played by the same person. Skip is the classic California surfer dude, and Heath just nails him -- he acts and sounds EXACTLY like the guys I've known like that. And his character is poignant, sort of an arrogant washed-up alcoholic loser.
The only similarity I saw between Skip and Ennis is that Skip says "hunh" once or twice.
On the other hand, I know exactly what you mean, Chris, about avoiding other Heath movies. I know I normally would like Casanova, but I can't bring myself to see it. (I have been tempted to rent Monster's Ball, though ...)