So, the real question…..was Heath Ledger a great actor, or was he controlled by an unseen force? Think about it, we knew his character. We knew his style. We knew Health Ledger. Who was the painted face and sadistic chuckle in The Dark Knight really?
Heath Ledger was both dark as well as the knight we all loved. We have all seen his acting from The Knight’s tale and Ten Things I Hate About You to the controversial movie Brokeback Mountain and finally the last movie he completed, The Dark Knight. Heath was an exceptionally gifted and unique young man as an actor as well as a father to his beloved daughter, Matilda. I have no doubt he wrestled with the decision to play the Joker in this film, but as destiny had it, Heath chose the dark side. I beg to differ though if Heath was only acting, or if the dark side had consumed him.
Jack Nicholson, of all people, warned him of the evil that awaited Heath in getting involved in the role of Joker. What all Heath contemplated, we may never know. But he gave it his all, and in the end, the dark side prevailed on January 22, 2008.
If anything besides his wonderful acting abilities, splendid performance and magnificent role playing were brought to the light for the world to see, was that a dark side exists, and it can prevail in our lives. If we think for a moment our goodness can overcome evil simply because it is good, we have another coming to us.
I challenge all who read this and loved Heath Ledger as I had, to dig deep inside and discover capabilities within, you never thought possible. Realize the goodness in you as we all witnessed in Heath during his short time with us. But do not be fooled. ‘Bad company corrupts good character’. (Bible, 2008) The evil character of the Joker that Heath so vividly played in The Dark Knight, had its way with Heath and transformed him into someone he was not. Let his life, his decisions and finally his fate be not in vain. Allow them to teach us a thing or two about ourselves, our limitations, and most importantly, about our future and what lies ahead for us in a world full of darkness.
I think the "Dark Side" as you call it might have been more his situation with his child. he was seperated from her with his shaky relationship. He lost sleep and was having problems before the Dark Knight.
Yes having toi act evil has a toll. but I don't think there was anything dark about his performance or his death. he was troubled in his life and maybe it helped him play the part.
I thought the movie was amazing and Ledger did a fantastic job. Personally it was a fantastic role to play and any decent actor would have grabbed it at the chance (i know i would beg for that part).
As for God i don't see it having that big a part in the whole issue
Saint O Nothin' Says
Always go FORWARD, going straight will get you no where!
-Greenday "Jaded"
Personally, I loved the movie and thought ALL the acting was exceptional. But I have to say, I did not see one ounce of humanity in the Joker. I did not recongize Heath at all, which I guess is a sign of good acting, but I just got a sense of psycopathic evil. Even the way he licked his lips every so often creeped the hell out of me. That one quote, "Some men just want to see the world burn" completely summarized this character. Perhaps Ledger went so far into this character that he came out changed, but I doubt it had anything to do with his death.
And, I'm sorry, but whenever you said "The Dark Side" all I could think about was Star Wars =)
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
- George Bernard Shaw
Whenever I hear the term "the Dark Side" I think of the bumper sticker I saw:
"Come to the Dark Side.. We Have Cookies!"
I agree with you that this role had nothing to do with his death. He imagined what his character should be like and he played a part. He was an actor, and he was exceptionally good at making people see a character, and not an actor playing a part. I don't really think the character of the Joker consumed his soul or anything.
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also the whole lip licking and breathing thing came from Jack Nicholson
watch the orginal and you'll see Jack do some of the same things
he just wasn't as awesomely creepy!
Saint O Nothin' Says
Always go FORWARD, going straight will get you no where!
-Greenday