Well, there it was this afternoon...Hey Heath Ledger is dead, on my MSN, I said what? Check online and sure enough...wow. That one is a shocker.
I have to say, though I haven't seen Brokeback, I was VERY eager to see him as the Joker, and I hate to say its going to be his last full role...
I'm not prepared to go to the instant comparisons with others who died young in Hollywood, but I've heard the James Dean comparisons...Those I would say probably have more to do with the untapped potential of all those years he won't be around for now. That he won't be improving his craft as he goes along.
He always struck me as a likeable guy though obviously thats just how one person's impression is. First remember seeing him in
10 things...wondering who that guy was. Remember thinking ok don't let him near Mel Gibson anymore in
the Patriot, and thinking, ok even though this is stupid I love this guy in
A Knight's Tale. I am now going to have to see I'm Not There, the Dylan movie that I wanted to already, and definitely the Dark Knight asap.
Sad more so b/c of a 2 year old daughter left behind...and all the speculation that will circulate and people who will swoop in on the story like vultures...
Brad Renfro died this week too, and most people were like...who? Ian McKellen wrote very fondly of their time together in
Apt Pupil one I still have to see, and the Client I remember seeing him in and thinking he's not bad, but other than that...can't say he left much of a legacy, and while his death is sad too, I don't feel as much since he was a common drug user, whereas even if Heath died from the same sort of thing I don't think he'll be recalled as a druggie.
SHould that lessen or take away from death/legacy? Do we expect the movie stars to be perfect? Do they owe any more than their best performance? Should I be any more sad about one or the other? or at all? I didn't know them, their death's won't affect me much if at all other than missing out on a good movie or so down the years...I don't know. I am more saddened by the fact that both of them were around my age and had lots more life left...but who's to say why shit happens...oh well.
RIP to both of you
