Heath Ledger

[fabrisse]

I saw Brokeback Mountain at an industry screening with my sister about a month before it came out. I walked out saying that I didn't care what other movies I saw, Heath Ledger deserved the Best Actor Oscar for the year. As much as I loved Good Night, and Good Luck, I never really revised my opinion. It's a brilliant and sensitive performance.

It felt so good because I remember insisting my sister see A Knight's Tale with me because I was so sure Heath Ledger would be good in it. And she said, "Who?"

Last year, I loved Casanova. I was, and still am, anticipating The Dark Knight more than any other movie this coming summer because Heath Ledger's Joker looks terrifying.

He was found dead, an apparent suicide, two hours ago.

This is hitting me not just because I have a weird synchronicity with actor deaths -- I was looking up films by him on Amazon about ten minutes before his death was reported and it's not the first time something like that's happened with actors or other artists I really like -- but because I'm approaching the twentieth anniversary of my suicide attempt this Thursday.

I've had days where I regret not going through with it. (For those of you who don't know the story, I called a friend of mine to say goodbye, without telling her that's what it was about, and she made me promise to talk to her when she called the next day. I have never before or since gone through a night so difficult. I finally had to leave my apartment so that I wouldn't break my promise.) In balance, I'm glad I'm still here.

And I'm so sorry Mr. Ledger won't be.

Comments

[gileswench.livejournal.com]

I was watching Casanova just a couple weeks ago and enjoying the heck out of it. I'd seen a publicity photo of The Joker and had no clue until today that it was Heath Ledger...but he's been in my nightmares just from the look. As much as I usually don't bother with superhero films, I was seriously considering going out of my way to see the new Batman.

While I hadn't seen very much of what Heath Ledger had done thus far, I fully expected that there would be lots of films and lots of chances to see him play a broad range of roles.

So far, the articles I've read say the evidence is inconclusive at this point whether it was suicide or an accident, but either way is equally sad in its own way. Either way the world has lost a talented actor and a very small girl has lost her father. Either way, this is a terribly sad thing and I grieve for those left behind.

And Twistie, I'm glad you're here, too.

(hugs you tight)

[randomposting.livejournal.com]

It's so sad. :( I feel terrible for his daughter.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

He was in some bad movies, but I never saw him give a bad performance. (caveat: I didn't see the one where he played a priest.) If you haven't seen Brokeback Mountain, see it. I loved 10 Things I Hate About You, and it has some good performances by other actors.

It will be tough on his daughter growing up not only without a father, but with such a public death. As for the "apparent suicide" that was supposedly a quote from the police, along with "but we are not ruling out any possibility." I don't know if the wording has changed.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Yes. I've been hit by this more strongly than I suspected I could be. How must it be for a child?

[randomposting.livejournal.com]

:*(

[rhiannonhero.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're here, too.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Hug Cecily tightly from me.