Spotlight: Heath Ledger
It all started with this smile =D
Mr. Ledger started off as a small time Australian actor who starred in small television roles in shows like Home and Away like many before him and even in a short lived TV show about teens in a sports school, Sweat. But for me the first movie that I remember seeing with him as the lead was a relatively little known movie from Australia was Two Hands.
I watched this movie when I was rather young and I remember thinking that it was pretty good movie for an Australian movie. I know that's sounds kind of mean but let's face there aren't that many actual good Aussie films. Two Hands was a blend of strange characters and an odd story. A young man (Heath) gets into some trouble with some gangsters and then romances with a young girl from country (Rose Byrne) and gets into some weird shit.
For me this movie was what started it all for him and it was the movie I started to be an actual fan. Yes I knew him before but not enough for me to really care. 10 Thing is a typical teen movie adapted from Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. Ledger plays Patrick the mysterious tough guy who tames the rebel Kat by the request of the dim witted Joey. Although not overly original 10 Things is extremely likable. And is carried by likable characters that was well acted by its leads and supporting cast including Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon- Levitt.
Based on Colonial times Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) is driven to join the army again against the British after his son (Ledger) is murdered heinously by a British officer. The Patriot had its good moments and is consistently engaging. And technically Ledger wasn't in the lead in this film but this movie is worth a mention.
A comedy based on medieval times with a modern twist, A Knight's Tale is about a drifter or squire who takes on a new identity as a knight to enter jousting competitions. But of course naturally there is a pretty princess to fall in love with. Again not an excellent movie A Knight's Tale was enjoyable and entertaining. This may be due to the likability of Ledger's presence which carries the film. And of course it doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes.
I have to be honest I have never seen this film so I can't tell you whether I liked it. But since this was one of the most talked about movies during it's time and was critically acclaimed. The story is well known and it is essentially about love. But it is unique that it’s about two cowboys that meet and develop a relationship but when returning back to their wives but realise that maybe their relationship is more than a fling during the summer of 1963.
Another movie that was slammed by the critics and rather forgettable. Grimm is about two brothers (Ledger and Matt Damon) who con people by claiming they can get rid of “enchanted” creatures. Again much like the other movies that have mentioned I really enjoyed this movie and although it may not be the best movie I have seen but still quite enjoyable.
A little known movie like many of the other movies that I have mentioned. And like the other movies it wasn't really well received by reviewers but I still really liked. Casanova played by Ledger is a romancing womaniser who has the Venetian women weak at the knees. Casanova is charming naturally but conniving and full of tricks to get what he wants. But being infamous does have some disadvantages for one thing he is chased by the church and is being threatened to be banished but what happens when he falls in love? Casanova is a story of multiple stories intertwined with lots of fun and comedy in between.
The movie that was going to make him big in Hollywood but tragically the last image we have of him. The movie that everyone will remember for his brilliant portrayal of a sociopath and although the villain Ledger's The Joker stole the show. Much credit does go to Christopher Nolan as the movie was brilliant and as good a performer as Ledger was as the Joker it was all brought together by the directorial excellence of Nolan. The movie in my opinion is a must watch. I didn't have any expectations going into the movie but I was like wow when I came out. Fucking AMAZING!
Well these are some of the movies that I have seen from the one and only Heath Ledger. Like I said in the previous post I never realised until recently how much I enjoyed watching Ledger on screen. He was good looking, charming and talented but never over exposed and slightly underrated by many people including myself. He had a presence that was that was never truly appreciated by the audience. And when he was just getting recognition for his talents he was so abruptly taken away. I remember when I woke up on the morning of his death when my father walked into my room and told me that Heath Ledger was dead. I was like yeah right dad why would someone who is so normal be dead? There must be a mistake right? Like I had not heard of a drug addiction or any other destructive behaviour. I mean if I heard Charlie Sheen had died I would not be surprised. I actually would have said, man I saw that coming. I wasn't even that shocked when I heard Michael Jackson died. But when I heard Heath had gone I was rather gobsmacked. I guess I will just have to live with re-watching 10 Things I hate About You every now and then and let it be.
