It’s a shame to have someone pass on at the height of a career. But oftentimes, this one incident usually propels that person to greater heights of fame, and they earn heartfelt respect from those who never expected that death can be this sudden. Heath Ledger is probably one of the rare actors who would be thus received, since he died during the upswing of his career – much like Elvis Presley and James Dean were during the height of theirs, or what River Phoenix and music artist Jeff Buckley earned soon after their death. With the upcoming release of Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight’, Ledger would surely be remembered as one of the few actors who really could’ve been.
His first on-screen presence was typical, with heartthrob roles in “A Knight’s Tale” and even in “The Patriot.” He looked the kind of kid who was good enough to matter, but few would hardly think that he’d be Oscar material by then. That was before 2005, when the Academy nominated him for best actor for his role as a bisexual cowboy in “Brokeback Mountain.” The nomination was truly his defining moment, and no one can pin him down as a so-so actor anymore. Back then, he was even compared to the great Marlon Brando and acting legend Sean Penn.
Those who have only caught up will be surprised that Ledger has played roles which were off of the beaten path in recent years: as a tormented son of a prison guard with nothing to live for in “Monster’s Ball” (2003), as Jacob Grimm in the relatively hush-hush “The Brothers Grimm,” and as a love-struck poet with a heroine addiction in “Candy” (2006). His more recent work playing as a morose actor in “I’m Not There” is probably his most notable work since his Oscar nomination. But he’ll most probably be remembered for playing the Joker in the upcoming sequel to “Batman Begins,” and there will be probably be two groups of people who’ll walk out of the cinema house: those who didn’t even know Ledger but will remember the face from then on, and those who’ll be compelled to get a glimpse of his unfinished work (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus).
There’s a foreboding of things to come when Ledger was interviewed by the New York Times while he was doing the Batman movie, back then, he was already restless and mentally exhausted. He took Ambien, but as sleeping pills go, the one pill usually kicks off less and less with continued intake. When he took a pill after the first one and woke up vexed, the chronic insomnia had kicked in. He admitted being a little overstressed when he assumed the Bob Dylan role in “I’m Not There,” but his upcoming movie may reveal more of his final days than he intends to show on-screen. Though the cause of his death is now established, there’s still a sense of mystery which lingers with it, since no one really knows the circumstances around it. It’s just one of those rare enigmas which build up and live on with the memory.
That was beautiful, he truly would of been one of the greats.
Comment by ky — July 6, 2008 @ 8:38 pm