Heath and the Oscars
No sooner had I begun to rejoice that this year’s Oscars competition is one of the tightest and most interesting in years (Laura Linney and Viggo Mortensen. Yeay!), than news came saying Heath Ledger had died–and that overshadowed all. Just wanted to say how saddening it is that instead of seeing the talented, Oscar-nominated actor (”Brokeback Mountain”) honored with a second, third, or fourth nomination, all we’ll get now is his picture in the annual “people we lost this year” montage at the ceremony—way before his time. Heath was building an interesting and gutsy resume (”Monsters Ball,” “Lords of Dogtown,” “I’m Not There”) and from the trailers, his Joker in “The Dark Knight” looked to be a genuinely disturbing, disturbed villain. That we’ll never get to see him build on his talent is a tragedy that’s second only to little Matilda’s loss of her dad. RIP.
As for the Oscars, I’m gonna make a prediction right now, totally based on a vibe I got while watching the nominations announcement in my jammies and bedhead: “Juno” will win Best Picture, beating out fellow critics darlings “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood,” which will cancel each other out. My other morning breath predictions: Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor (duh); Hal Holbrook for Best Supporting Actor (sympathy-for-the-old vote-because-Javier-will-get-another-shot); Julie Christie for Best Actress; and Cate Blanchett for Best Supporting Actress).
I love heath and will miss him!
We need to STOP making demigods out of actors and actresses . . .
It is not that I deny Heath’s talents, it is just that the proof of what we (and Hollywood) are doing to those who live the life is in the tragic end to his (and many others who followed before him) young life.
Wake up America! You cannot love someone you DO NOT KNOW!
You do not have to know someone PERSONALLY to feel a connection to them. I DID NOT KNOW HEATH LEDGER, yet I can sympathize with his family and those that were close to him. He left an outstanding impression in my eyes as well as many others. And, for that HE WILL BE SURELY MISSED.
Whether someone is famous or not, an unexpected and tragic death is ALWAYS a sad moment in time, it is noticed more if it is someone in the public eye and who has grown up in the public eye.
It may not be love but it is about human connection, sadness and a terrible terrible shame. Big hug to his family, I actually do understand how they are feeling right now.
That’s right…you don’t have to know someone to feel a connection to them. It’s very easy to feel a connection to someone on the screen, especially when you can relate to the character they’re portraying.
I did have the opportunity to spend time with him and Michelle, on more than one occasion. They were two of the lovliest people that I’ve ever met. I felt Heath’s love for Michelle and his daughter just by being in the same room as them. I’m still in shock and feel such deep grief for Michelle and Matilda. It’s too bad that we’ve lost such a great actor, but much more tragic that a little girl has lost a father who absolutely adored her.