ReelHeART Blogs

By Shannonn Kelly

Heath Ledger’s hauting portrayal of “The Joker” in the new summer blockbuster has every one talking.

“Heath was an incredible actor and he brought a very, very scary Joker to life. Heath shocked us as the Joker and his death shocked all of us.”, says actor Christian Bale who reprises his role as Batman in the The Dark Knight being released in July 2008.

Sadly, Ledger was discovered dead in his New York apartment on January 22 after an accidental overdose of where numerous drugs in his system.

The Dark Knight is the last feature film he completed before his death. He was filming Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus days before he died but wasn’t able to finish the film.

During filming, Ledger said the darkness of the role had troubled him. “He’s just out of control - no empathy, he’s a sociopath, a psychotic, mass-murdering clown,” said Ledger in his interview with New York Times writer Sarah Lyall

“Jack (Nicholson) was like a really scary old, nasty uncle with a funny face. Heath’s like the most murderous psychopath you’ve ever seen on the screen.” says Michael Caine who also stars in the film along with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman and Bale who reprises his turn as Batman.

Chilling promotional images of Ledger portraying the Joker from the upcoming The Dark Knight, have been released - nearly three months after the Perth-born actor was found dead in New York.

In one scene, Ledger is dressed in a white nurse’s uniform, wielding a gun and wearing a surgical mask. In another, his face painted with the Joker’s trademark evil grin in red, he points a gun directly at the camera.

These are just two of the many images film company Warner Brothers Releasing is using to promote The Dark Knight, to be released in Australia, Heath’s home soil on July 17, 2008

From the movie’s promotional material to the trailer, Ledger appears to be the main attraction, with Christian Bale, who plays Batman, taking a back seat. One poster for The Dark Knight features Ledger as the Joker, creepily peering through a frosted window with the catchphrase: “Why so serious?” written in blood.

To view the trailer for the upcoming The Dark Knight click here

written by RHIFF \\ tags: Actor, Heath Ledger, Joker, Shannonn Kelly, The Dark Knight

By Shannonn Kelly

Diagnosed with a neurological disorder with symptoms resembling Alzheimer’s disease, Charlton Heston died Saturday in his home in Beverly Hills, CA with his wife of 64 years, Lydia, by his side. Heston is also survived by a daughter, a son and three grandchildren.

At 6 foot 3 inches tall, Heston was large in life as well as on screen playing heros both fictional and historical on the big screen. “I’ve played cardinals and cowboys, kings and quarterbacks, presidents and painters, cops and con men,” Heston once said.

He played the lead in “El Cid” 1961 and starred as Michelangelo in “The Agony and the Ecstasy” (1965), Moses in the blockbuster 1956 film “The Ten Commandments”, and Roman chariot-racing epic “Ben Hur.”

Heston even had a cult following for his turns in memorable roles as a marooned astronaut in 1968 science-fiction film “Planet of the Apes” and a detective in another futuristic cult classic, 1973’s “Soylent Green”.

Even Heston couldn’t escape Michael Moore’s scrutiny when Moore ambushed Heston in his home for an interview in “Bowling for Columbine” on the topic of guns, showing Heston pictures of children killed by guns. Heston was often in the spotlight for his outspoken political views and his support and leadership of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

He achieved notoriety in 2000 when declaring at an NRA convention that his guns would have to be pried away “from my cold, dead hands.”…

written by RHIFF \\ tags: Actor, Blog, Charlton Heston, death, ReelHeART, Shannonn Kelly