Grappling with added darkness

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"Rebooting the Batman franchise may be behind him, but Dark Knight director Chris Nolan still has to improve upon it," writes N.Y. Times reporter David Halbfinger in tomorrow's paper. "Sequels are always trickier. And now he must also navigate the aftermath of the Jan. 22 death of Heath Ledger."

Nolan says he "felt a "massive sense of responsibility" to do right by Ledger's "terrifying, amazing" performance as the Joker. "It's stunning, it's iconic," he says. "It's going to just blow people away."

Halbfinger notes that "news that the prescription drugs that killed [Ledger] included sleep aids -- along with narcotics -- prompted internet chatter about whether his intense performance as the Joker, styled after Malcolm McDowell's in A Clockwork Orange, had been a factor in his demise.

While Ledger once called his Dark Knight experience "the most fun I've ever had, or probably ever will have, playing a character," his fatigue was "obvious" to costar Michael Caine, Halbfinge reports. "He was exhausted, I mean he was really tired," Caines says. "I remember saying to him, 'I'm too old to have the bloody energy to play that part.' And I thought to myself, I didn't have the energy when I was his age.'"

That sounds like disingenuous movie-set talk. Caine wasn't a sickly youth. When you're in your 20s you can do just about anything and then go out drinking with your friends. Anyone in their 20s who moans about being tired and drained from work all the time is lacking youth's natural constitution.

Dark Knight cinematographer Wally Pfister adds that Ledger seemed "like he was busting blood vessels in his head...it was like a seance, where the medium takes on another person and then is so completely drained." What is this? What's being said here? It's called acting, giving yourself over to the role, submitting to the spirit, etc. Why are these people characterizing Ledger's efforts as analogous to being flogged and nailed to a cross?

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 8, 2008 at 2:44 PM

comment #1

Dan Revill says ...

Maybe they're just marveling at his commitment. Meh, whatever. I can't wait for this flick!

Posted by Dan Revill at March 8, 2008 3:22 PM

comment #2

mrmystery says ...

Jeff
this is the second post in a row that is about movies rather than politics. PLEASE STOP THIS. we come here for incisive political commentary not information and reviews about film. i'm still trying to figure out if you're supporting the god-child obama or the dark queen.
thanks

Posted by mrmystery at March 8, 2008 3:28 PM

comment #3

Caustic712 says ...

Remember, all of you: Jeff's war against hyperbole started here.

Jeff, I only hope that you'll stay strong if anyone describes someone else as "wonderful" when they're only well-meaning, or a film that's "amazing" when it's only meh.

And please, apply this clarity to any political posts as well.

Posted by Caustic712 at March 8, 2008 3:41 PM

comment #4

MilkMan says ...

I'm going to spend the rest of my life periodically hearing what a great actor Heath Ledger was. Please. He had one good role. I saw his movies. The Patriot and Four Feathers and A Knight's Tale and Dogtown and Z-Boys. That last one was a joke of performance, although I don't know whether that had to do with the director's incomptence, complete with lurching camera work and wall to wall period music, with it's obvious editorializing of the on-screen action. Heath Ledger was a handsome young man, I guess, and he was lucky to get the role in Brokeback Mountain, a movie that showcased his ability to project wounded stoicism and a ridiculous Texas accent. People from Texas don't sound like that. They don't sound like they're from South Africa, or whatever it was that he was doing. Unless he was channeling Daniel Day Lewis during the filming of Dark Knight (and judging from the ethereal tones in which DDL was talking about Heath after his death, maybe he was), his Joker is going to be what it always is: another garden variety psychopath, compelete with absurd facial tics and off-kilter posture. The truth of the matter is that I am jealous of Heath Ledger, and his body of work does not give me enough to put that aside. He had sex with Lindsay Lohan and Naomi Watts and then he went to sleep, forever. Sounds like a charmed life to me. So how come he gets to have a charmed afterlife too? That's not fair. It's too much. I will not play a role in letting him have that legacy. And if some of you had any self-resepct neither would you. Just let him be dead. If you like him so much go watch Dogtown again. I dare you.

Posted by MilkMan at March 8, 2008 3:44 PM

comment #5

travis b says ...

while interested to see what ledger does with the joker, i'm even more intrigued by the things i've been reading about aaron eckhart's version of harvey dent/two-face. the character, to me at least, has much more potential than the joker, and with nolan behind the helm, it sounds like they're gunning for something a little more ambitious than what's expected from a comic book movie.

Posted by travis b at March 8, 2008 3:57 PM

comment #6

Filmsnob says ...

Hey Milkman, you would fit right in over on ONTD. There's tons of Ledger bashers over there. I'm sure they have room for one more jerk:)

Posted by Filmsnob at March 8, 2008 4:22 PM

comment #7

Mr. Gittes says ...

Huh...article really doesn't ask Nolan about Ledger's death; skirts around the issue. Perhaps Nolan and WB laid some ground rules before the interviews could take place.

Posted by Mr. Gittes at March 8, 2008 4:41 PM

comment #8

DotTheEyes says ...

The article Nolan wrote for Newsweek shortly after Ledger's death was rather poignant and interesting:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/105580

Posted by DotTheEyes at March 8, 2008 5:22 PM

comment #9

rocco says ...

It's called acting, giving yourself over to the role, submitting to the spirit, etc. Why are these people characterizing Ledger's efforts as analogous to being flogged and nailed to a cross?

Perfectly stated, Jeff. And it was a comic-book character to boot!

Posted by rocco at March 8, 2008 5:30 PM

comment #10

MAGGA says ...

Is two-face in the movie, or are they laying the groundwork for him becoming a villain in the third one? I hode the don't go for two main villains this time, that was the mistake of almost every comoc book sequel ever, so they must be wiser than that now, right?

Posted by MAGGA at March 8, 2008 6:06 PM

comment #11

Rich S. says ...

rocco beat me to it. Growing up I was a big comic book fan and as a result, I get a kick out of these comic book movies. But seriously, giving your life to play any role is pretty silly, but a comic book villain? Sorry, that's just ridiculous.

Posted by Rich S. at March 8, 2008 6:12 PM

comment #12

travis b says ...

(possible spoiler below)

MAGGA -

what i've heard is that they're building towards Two-Face throughout the entire flick and that yes, Eckhart does appear as him at some point, which I assume would be towards the end. As to your point, I agree that too many villains tends to hurt a comic book movie, but they managed to balance the Scarecrow and Ras Al Ghul in the previous film.

Also I have seen a couple of photos where the Scarecrow (or at least the cillian murphy as jonathan crane) is present. so, it seems as if instead of cramming a bunch of villains into one plot, they have numerous threads that form a tapestry, leading towards the third film.

Posted by travis b at March 8, 2008 6:21 PM

comment #13

MilkMan says ...

But I want to stay here with you filmsnob. You sound like you have large hands, which must be how you manager to write such muscular sentences. I look forward to you next written assault. Your first one knocked the wind out of me. Next time go easy on me. Treat me with some tenderness. Pretend I'm Jane Fonda and you're Kris Kristopherson and we're on the set of Rollover. I invite you back to my trailer for a glass of white wine. I want to talk to you about Pakula. There's something wrong with Alan. He's been drinking again. I don't think I like him. Everything I've heard about him seems to be untrue. That's when I want you to pull me into your hairy chest and tell me that Alan is a friend of mine and if I don't like him then why don't I just quit. Because they can find someone else. Maybe I should go and hang out with Bruce Dern and all his weirdo friends. By this point I should be soaking wet. That's when I want you to reach down and stick a finger in my panties. What you say next is really going to melt me. Just like I thought, you'll say, two fingers deep inside of me, cold as a dog. Oh, filmsnob, take me, ravage me, make me your slave!

Posted by MilkMan at March 8, 2008 7:07 PM

comment #14

RMBurnett says ...

Geez MilkMan,

ROLLOVER? What's next, THE FORMULA? SOMEBODY KILLED HER HUSBAND? SATURN 3?

No love for LORDS OF DOGTOWN? What, didn't you ever skateboard as a child...? While obviously not the documentary, Ledger RULES as Skip Engblom. What more do you want from the guy? Watching him smoke as he sands his fiberglassed surfboards totally convinced me. He really committed to that role. Since I do, in fact, own the unrated DVD, I just might have to put it in this evening. Heck, I might even make it a double feature...and follow it up with GLEAMING THE CUBE or Leif Garrett's master turn in SKATEBOARD. Or evolve to blading and watch PRAYER OF THE ROLLERBOYS for the thirteenth time.

Of all the fiercely dedicated actors working in Hollywood today, actually caring about elevating their craft, Ledger certainly didn't deserve what happened to him.

Who's Pakula?

Posted by RMBurnett at March 8, 2008 9:06 PM

comment #15

MilkMan says ...

I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to filmsnob. No one wants to talk to you. That's why you're sitting in front of a computer. Too bad your computer won't talk to you. Mine does. And it sounds exactly like Mark E. Smith. I'm guessing that your computer would sound like the lead singer of Collective Soul. Or maybe Flickerstick. You bought the Flickerstick CD? So did I. We have so much in common. Maybe we should meet the next time you're in my neighborhood. I know an alley next to a movie theatre where we can smoke a joint and wait for hookers. But I get the younger one. That's the reward for having home court adavantage.

Posted by MilkMan at March 8, 2008 10:00 PM

comment #16

foxnewsisfake says ...

Don't ever change, MilkMan.

Posted by foxnewsisfake at March 8, 2008 10:24 PM

comment #17

Edward says ...

Why is giving your all in a comic book role any different than another kind of role? If you love your work and want to do the best you can, you lay it all on the line and suffer for your art.

Posted by Edward at March 8, 2008 10:40 PM

comment #18

MegaGhost says ...

seems like most people feel implied to be either be dogmatically cynical of the career and death of heath ledger or whole-heartedly mournful and regretful of what he may have become.

nobody really knows what he was actually worth because he had very few genuinely respectable roles, in which he conquered the parts. do you think this is because he is a script slut, or because there is a preliminary curse on all young attractive actors to take upon superficial roles to establish themselves and pay the bills?

lets all admit that he proved that he could act exceptionally, regardless of his batting average. it's his own loss that he decided to neglect the instructions on the prescription bottle, not ours.

Posted by MegaGhost at March 9, 2008 1:43 AM

comment #19

Malone says ...

I'm diggin' on MilkMan.

He's laying the cut straight and that is not whack...

or is it wack?

I'm just a film geek from East Tennessee and I am "not down with" overglorifying the undeserved.

Posted by Malone at March 9, 2008 3:31 AM

comment #20

Malone says ...

And Mr. Burnett...

"Who's Pakula?" --?!

What, have you only watched like 57 movies in your life?

Posted by Malone at March 9, 2008 3:33 AM

comment #21

Rich S. says ...

As to "suffering for your art" in service of a comic book, Stan Lee is 85. 'Nuff said.

Posted by Rich S. at March 9, 2008 4:39 AM

comment #22

christian says ...

And the man, nay The King, who actually created 90 percent of the Marvel comic universe...dead.

Posted by christian at March 9, 2008 8:45 AM

comment #23

raygo says ...

Awesome thread. Perhaps my favorite thus far. It's like reading great poetry.

Posted by raygo at March 9, 2008 10:28 AM

comment #24

le corbeau says ...

"And the man, nay The King, who actually created 90 percent of the Marvel comic universe...dead."

Who dat?

Posted by le corbeau at March 9, 2008 11:34 AM

comment #25

christian says ...

Jack Kirby. But you know that.

Posted by christian at March 9, 2008 12:24 PM

comment #26

D.Z. says ...

I agree with Milkman about Ledger being overrated. In fact, why be in the business, if you're just gonna throw it away when you hit it big? At least when Dave Chappelle got out, he did it in a classy way, not in a dumb way. I also couldn't understand half of what was being said in Brokeback Mountain, because of both his and Jake's mumbling, and that was after catching at The Grove.

Posted by D.Z. at March 9, 2008 2:53 PM

comment #27

MilkMan says ...

D.Z. agrees with me. Great.
I want to grab those glasses out of Christopher Nolan's hand and stomp on them with my Birkenstocks. Nolan is Michael Bay had Bay spent a year in med school.
What's the difference between Brad Anderson and Nolan? Anderson doesn't have a brother who knows how to write.
Has there ever been a Brit who comes to Los Angeles and doesn't sell his soul by the end of the week?
The Prestige is underrated. Hugh Jackman was really good. Better than he was in the Fountain. Too much emotion. Aronofsky is a genius-style slice of cheese.
When I was a kid I used to read Larry King's column in U.S.A. Today while I ate cinammon Life.
Syd Barrett didn't lose his mind. He just couldn't handle being high. There is a difference. Burroughs could handle it. Burroughs needed it. William Burroughs without drugs is a serial killer.

Posted by MilkMan at March 9, 2008 3:06 PM

comment #28

raygo says ...

Or cereal killer.

Posted by raygo at March 9, 2008 6:36 PM

comment #29

Rich S. says ...

Yes, but Kirby lived to be 76.

And before you bring him up, Bob Kane lived to be 83. And he (co) created the friggin' Joker.

(And while I would never belittle the contribution of the King, it took Stan to unleash the genius. With Stan: Fantastic Four, Thor, Hulk, the Avengers, X-Men. Without Stan: New Gods, Captain America, Devil Dinosaur. Same thing with Ditko.)

Posted by Rich S. at March 9, 2008 6:59 PM

comment #30

christian says ...

But Kirby died suing to get his artwork back. Unfair. And New Gods is held in pretty high esteem. And you left out Kamandi, and Mister Miracle...and OMAC! I'm not undervaluing Lee's input (who I think was the better writer) but it was Kirby who unleashed the Fantastic Four and the majority of the early Marvel Universe.

Posted by christian at March 9, 2008 7:23 PM

comment #31

christian says ...

Posted by christian at March 9, 2008 7:23 PM

comment #32

Filmsnob says ...

I truly believe most of the people being critical of Ledger, just don't like the fact that he fuck some guy in some movie.

Posted by Filmsnob at March 10, 2008 9:56 AM

comment #33

ellenmiss says ...

Girls who like him be attention. I have seen his photo on a celebrity and millionaire dating site named " wealthydater. com". Seems he is a certified millionaire there.

Posted by ellenmiss at March 10, 2008 11:58 PM

comment #34