Dark Knight Producer Calls Heath Ledger “Coolest Guy Around”

Beating all records for opening weekend known to mankind, The Dark Knight stormed into the box office with a fierce vengeance. Closing its 3-day weekend run with a cool $155 million (over $30 million more than its production cost), the film’s producer, Chuck Roven, went on to gush about Heath Ledger’s fatal performance as the villainous Joker.

With Oscar buzz all around mounting over Ledger’s portrayal and some going as far as to say, his “method acting” antics put him over the edge (who buys that, really?), no one’s arguing that Ledger’s the real draw in all this movie-going mania frenzy, even with Maggie Gyllenhaal replacing Katie Holmes and Katie giving some bogus excuse as to why her love for Tom Cruise Scientology prevented her from resuming her role in the follow-up sequel.

Last time I checked the Summer movie line-up however, this year has been a doozy as far as decent films in the theatres so maybe we could all use a little reality check here.

Our Obsession With The Truth

Rarely do I read a magazine article these days that really intrigues me unless it’s a movie, book, or TV review and those don’t entirely count. Those aren’t the “real” pieces of journalism - the ones that launch TV shows, spin exposes, and get the same degree of exposure as one episode of “Law & Order.”

A few years ago everyone was up in arms about James Frey and his fictionalized memoir. Oprah banned him from her studios and banished her support of his thriving business - the one she practically built overnight. A public backlash ensued. Frey’s account was built, after all, on a foundation of lies and if nothing else, America likes its truth. Even when it’s spoon-fed with every known artificial sugar substitute on Earth. About the time that everyone was roasting Frey (sorry couldn’t help the pun), I came out in defense of him. Read More…

Johnny, Colin And Jude To Finish Heath Ledger’s Movie

Before his death, Heath Ledger was working on a new movie called “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” a modern-day fantasy adventure involving a traveling theater company and a magical mirror. We now learn that three major actors have agreed to complete Ledger’s part in the movie. Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law will help the director, the great Terry Gilliam to finish the movie. “Since the format of the story allows for the preservation of his entire performance, at no point will Heath’s work be modified or altered through the use of digital technology, Each of the parts played by Johnny, Colin and Jude is representative of the many aspects of the character that Heath was playing.” said the film’s producers in a statement (Yahoo).
Now that’s a really nice thing to do, that’s how you honor someone, not by digging in their trash, or interviewing their masseuse.

Mass Attack

Now they say Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose. Well, I’m not sure what it means, but regardless, does it help his family and friends that on top of mourning his death had to deal with those ugly suicide assumptions? And what about all those pre-written eulogies which guarantee celebrity’s life summery even before his or her last breath. The media should take a step back not before something bad happens, because it’s already happening. Cynicism is a great defense mechanism when you are 15, but when adults over use it, like in the case of AP and the rest of the gang, it’s a dangerous weapon, a weapon of mass communications.

Heath Ledger Dies, The World Mourns

Film star Heath Ledger died today of an alleged drug overdose. The 28-year-old who recently split with his Brokeback Mountain co-star Michelle Williams, with whom he shared a daughter, was found dead in his NYC apartment this afternoon by his maid, naked and unconscious. While sleeping pills are rumored to be the culprit and foul play has not yet been ruled out (but most likely will be), police are awaiting a formal autopsy before they make an official call.

A bizarre twist on all this: The deputy police commissioner originally cited that the apt. Ledger was found in was owned by none other than troubled former tween queen, Mary-Kate Olsen - no stranger to emotional foibles herself. The commissioner later retracted his comment when Olsen’s publicist went on record denying the twin owned the apartment.

Ledger had been cast as The Joker in the upcoming Batman movie and was already filming The Dark Knight with former Brokeback co-star, Jake Gyllenhaal’s, older sister Maggie. No word on how/if this role will be recast.