Cinematical's staff would like to take a moment to share our thoughts on Heath Ledger, who passed away today after an apparent overdose.
Although Heath Ledger's best known film to date is Brokeback Mountain, my favorite of his films was Candy, in which he starred opposite fellow Australian Abbie Cornish. His performance in Candy, as an artist and heroin addict in a mutually destructive relationship with Cornish's nice middle-class girl, was so riveting and raw, and it's one of those fest films that I've thought about often since I saw it. Like most everyone who's here working Sundance, I was deeply shocked by the news of his tragic death today. He touched us through his films, and we are saddened by the loss of his life, and the films he would have made in the future. His family, especially his young daughter Matilda, will be in our thoughts and prayers.
-Kim Voynar
My original feeling about Heath Ledger -- after films like The Patriot, A Knight's Tale, and 10 Things I Hate About You -- was that he was yet another handsome and likable matinee idol ... but not much more than that. But over the last several years, I was proven wrong ... several times. My favorite performance of his was the lead role in the underrated Casanova -- and I'll be giving that film a second spin as soon as I get home from Sundance. He was a very fine actor who clearly took a lot of pride in his work, and I believe that the movie world has just lost a good soul. My heart goes out to his friends, his family, his fans, and also to the departed Heath Ledger; (If his death is ruled a suicide) I'm deeply sorry that he was so unhappy. (Regardless of the reason for the actor's death, it's a stunning tragedy.)
-Scott Weinberg
Like most young actors, Heath Ledger starred in his share of mediocre movies, yet he always appeared to take his work seriously, giving solid, professional performances regardless of the project. He knew he had to pay his dues before he got the prestige projects -- and when prestige finally arrived in the form of Brokeback Mountain, he was prepared for it. I had occasion to re-watch the last 20 minutes of that film just last week, and I was struck again by how much he does with so little. There are no tantrums or obvious "Oscar-bait" scenes. The character is reserved and unemotional; somehow, Ledger managed to convey so much about him anyway. He was a talented actor, and his death is a blow to the film community.
-Eric D. Snider
Many people finally came to respect Heath Ledger after his Oscar-nominated performance in Brokeback Mountain. But I honestly became a fan after 10 Things I Hate About You, a Shakespeare-inspired teen comedy that deserves a lot more credit than it receives. Ledger was a great actor, because he could do just about any kind of movie well. After 10 Things, he could have simply been a heartthrob. After The Patriot, a movie I guiltily admit I enjoy a lot, he could have easily gone further into action territory. And in The Brothers Grimm, he showed
us that he had a decent knack for comedy, too. Even when everybody in the blogosphere was shocked to hear he'd be playing The Joker in The Dark Knight, he proved that he had the goods to pull it off. Now his performance in the Batman sequel is one of the most eagerly anticipated of the year. After watching the recently released trailer, I even felt like he could be nominated for a second Oscar for the role. It could still happen, I guess, but it won't be as exciting without Ledger himself to accept the honor.
-Christopher Campbell
When Monika sent me an Instant Message with the news, it hit me like a claw hammer to the forehead. I knew she wouldn't joke about something like that, but, on a day of supreme cinematic reflective self-love, as the indie world obsesses over a snowy resort town in Utah, as Hollywood celebrates nominees for an award that doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, it's very sobering. Heath Ledger wasn't my favorite actor, but he was definitely one to watch, and the thought that his light has been extinguished at such a young age, leaving behind a young daughter ... it's so sad it makes me want to cry, and I never cry about celebrities.
-Peter Martin
Insert Caption: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian_thumbnail.jpg)
SCOOP: Spider-Man 4 and 5 Might be Shot at the Same Time!
Cinematical Seven: Disney's Awesome Live-Action Kid Adventures
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
1-22-2008 @ 8:57PM
Health said...
I'm completely shocked by his death!! I am very sympathetic toward his family and friends. And wish my kindest condolences. I love his role as william in "A knight's Tale" best, and I have seen the movie on DVD again and again: http://dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=79851&ru=279 , Such a brave knight! Really enjoy every minute! I think he will always be remembered as an actor who shone in every role he ever portrayed, and chose some of the most difficult and beautiful roles for his career. Australia will miss him! And The world will miss him!!!
Reply
1-22-2008 @ 9:26PM
Ethan said...
He was pretty brilliant, but he would've been better. And I enjoyed him in everything I saw him in. Can't say much better than that.
Reply
1-22-2008 @ 11:16PM
Norm Schrager said...
It might sound obvious, but I have always been impressed by his Brokeback Mountain performance. It holds up upon multiple viewings, and really set him apart from a lot of actors within his peer group -- including his co-star Jake Gyllenhaal,a talented guy himself.
Norm -- Meet In the Lobby
Reply
1-22-2008 @ 11:24PM
Ryan said...
Very beautiful statements you guys. May he rest in peace.
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 12:29AM
eugene said...
Scott - there's nothing to support the claim that Heath took his own life.
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 12:51AM
Scott Weinberg said...
Eugene,
Thanks very much for that note. I wrote my comments when the TV news was indicating suicide. I will amend my post.
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 3:02AM
cristian cortes said...
i feel so bad for this notice, ledger was a great actor.
Mi pelicula favorita fue "Corazon de Caballero"
Rest in Heaven Heath forever
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 3:03AM
cristian cortes said...
heath rest in heaven forever
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 4:11AM
Marty J said...
Likeable in 10 Things I Hate About You, Charming in a Knight's Tale, outshone Gibson in The Patriot, A revelation in Candy and simply outstanding in Brokeback Mountain. Rest In Peace, Heath
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 4:44AM
Irene said...
I am still in complete shock over these news. We all are. My thoughts go out to Michelle, Matilda, his parents and everybody who knew his, directly or indirectly. An untimely death, that nobody expected. You and your family are in my prayers. You will be deeply missed and never forgotten.
Rest in peace, dear Heath.
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 5:15AM
bongo123 said...
Fantastically talented actor and such a loss to the world of film, RIP mate and hopefully your Joker part will be legend.
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 5:48AM
Nina said...
I'm stunned. For me, celebritites deaths have never been 'real' to me before, but Heath Ledger's death has really affected me. He was an integeral part of my childhood and teenage years. He was my first pin-up, 10 Things I Hate About You was the first film me and my friends went to see by ourselves, without parents. A Knights Tale was a film I watched when I needed cheering up, I grew up with Heath Ledger in teen comedies and films and now, at the age of almost 21, he was still one of the first movie stars I ever had a crush on.
I think it's true for a lot of people my age, in much the same way as I'm sure women of my mothers generation would sob at news of (god forbid) Donny Osmonds death. Each generation has a celebrity that people grew up with, and for me and my friends, that was Heath Ledger. So no, I did not know him, I never met him, but his death has affected me more than the death of any previous celebrity. You never forget your first crush, whether it be on a friend, a teacher, or a film or TV star. Heath Ledger was an enormous talent who was only just reaching the peak of his skills, and I know, will be sorely missed by all who really knew him, and those of us who will always remember watching 10 Things I Hate About You at the cinema, and then buying ever tween/teen magazine with even a hint of a picture of him in it.
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 5:58AM
The Hero With No Fear - Mohammed said...
So young....and so talented
I've got to watch his previous movies properly now....and I'm definitely going to see The Dark Knight....which is likely to be his finest achievement....its bad that he wont be able to see it completed :(
He is forever young now.....Rest In Peace, Heath
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 5:59AM
mandy vd ven said...
I was shocked when i heard it this morning... I can't believe it! he was a great actor and he will not be forgotten.
My heart goes out to his family.
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 6:06AM
Aleš said...
Terrible loss for cinema,may he rest in peace
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 8:52AM
aldredo said...
Heth
Vc agora esta num lugar melhor, seu fã do Brazil !
Alfredo
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 8:54AM
ayse said...
I was so shocked to hear about Heath Ledger's death.I only found out this morning, whilst browsing the internet. When I saw the headline I thought I had misread it.Having seen most of his films,I believed him to be a very talented actor,Brokeback mountain being one of his best.It's so tragic.My thoughts are with his family totally,especially his daughter,he was so young and had so much life left in him.RIP Heath Ledger
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 9:27AM
Chris said...
I cannot explain how I can feel so bad about this. I never met him, and because he has flown pretty well under the Media's radar, he was not nagging on my mind like a "Britney Spears." That is what gets me... he lived in Manhattan and went about his life normally, and didn't make an ass of himself like other stars tend to do. He seemed like a friend ever though we never talked, he seemed like a brother even though we never shared a juice box. I felt like I would cry when I heard the news...Heath Ledger was many things: A father, friend, son, brother, actor, man.... And in this way, he touched so many people's hearts.
Good Bless You Heath and may you be resting in peace.
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 10:06AM
Bret B said...
Heath Ledger was a beautifully talented actor with such a wide range of variety in the roles he played. From rebel teens, to knights, to cowboys, to addicts, to villans... I was really somewhat heartbroken to hear that he had passed away. It's terribly unfortunate and my thoughts are with his family, his friends, and his fans. Much Love.
Reply
1-23-2008 @ 11:12AM
Joseph said...
Heath wasn´t one of my favourite actors. But I loved his movies, respectad him, and tought that he had a bright future. I saw a post at the Imdb that said "Heath Ledger´s death". Don´t know why I didn´t take a better look. Around 5 hours later I was looking at some news in the net. I couldn´t believe it. I still can´t.
Heath´s death means a terrible lose to the film industry and too us. People who loved him in his roles.
Heath...Rest In Peace.
Reply