The Dark Knight is today receiving outstanding reviews, even in the British press and the film is still a couple of weeks off release here. It made the cover of the Independent, accompanied by a picture of the Joker and the eadline 'Critics hail Heath Ledger's 'brilliant' last role'. Inside, a doublespread suggests that this role is Heath's finest, repeating the statement of Heath's family after the NYC screening: 'The Dark Knight is everything we hoped it would be and more.'
While the article asks if Warner Brothers has had any choice but to put Heath first, it also states that there is no point even arguing the point of whether Heath would have received the same accolades if he had lived to walk down that black carpet - all those involved in the film and more agree that Heath was 'just a beautiful kid' (words of Gary Oldman) and his work here, now, in this film, is to be celebrated and commemorated and enjoyed.
The conclusion: 'So if you loved Heath ledger, do him a a favour when you see him in The Dark Knight. Mourn him for the first few minutes but then give in to his work and let him be the Joker. It will be less painful that way.'
A big thanks to Mr WDW for buying the paper for me, but here it is online. For more of Heath's Joker 'outscaring Lecter', in the words of Sir Michael Caine, visit here. And here, in the Telegraph, you can read a selection of the first reviews. Tonight Maggie is on The Late Show so here's hoping that, tomorrow, the rest of us can see that as well.
Includes pictures from Getty.
Never enough Jake in France...
With big thanks to Stephanie at IHJ, here are more pictures from Jake Gyllenhaal's walk around Paris on 14 July, a day that involved clothing changes, texting, eating out, texting, fireworks and a lot of texting. I love the pictures of Jake being rewarded with a doffed cap as he arrives back at his hotel.
According to People, Jake and Reese 'lunched at L'Avenue, a restaurant on Avenue Montaigne' and they later 'they met up again for tea at Mariage Frères before the light show.'
Includes pictures from IHJ.
28 comments:
I'd love to know what's on that iPod. :)
What strikes me most about all this Dark Knight coverage is that people are hailing Heath's performance as the best of his career. After what he did in BBM, that's high praise indeed! I can't imagine how his portrayal of The Joker will top Ennis del Mar, but I'm very intrigued now about a movie I had dutifully, but not particularly enthusiastically planned to see. In all honesty now, I'm flat out looking forward to this weekend.
Thanks for the update! :)
Maggie looked good in the clip (her hair is super cute) and Aaron seems to like and respect Heath very much. :)
Even as a straight girl I have to admit the nanny of Ava and Deacon is pretty hot (not only here in other pictures too). ;)
Sandy
O dear, cryin' already. I thot I was done with that. Never enuff, I guess, never enuff. Although I did like the suggestion that we do our mourning and then sit back and enjoy. Ive been doing that, actually, with Heath's other performances, and grief has not entered in; Ive been relishing them. Im Not There, Candy, and of course BBMt, Ive put BBMt on my computer to enjoy with my new BOSE headphones. The man is just effing good, that's all there is to it!
So glad we get to see the today show interview! o gosh why should I get a stupid tv, anyway. (fifty five dollars a month for HBO? forget it!)
No wonder we love our "actors" - even the nutty ones have "heart" and Maggie and AE were a treat to view.
Hats off, like the doorman in the Paris pap pic - all around. . .
p.s. I think that those who did not know Heath's work and gifts were not noticing of the quality of his work in BBMt -
And of course the emotional and cultural impact of this film was what put the buzz on this film. Annie P. "got it", though.
Hi there everyone and a big cheers to you all :D
I'd love to know, too, Ruby :) What a wonderful idea. You could tell more about me from my MP4 than from anything else I own and I love that Heath's friends can have this.
Hi JoeAnn - it is amazing high praise. I can never see any performance beating Heath's Ennis but I like that people see this as being on a par, although some may not have 'got' BBM like us. I can't wait to see it.
Thanks Sandy - I'm glad you liked the video. I love those Parisian pics :)
Hi Pia - I cried when I saw the video too - hearing Aaron talk about Heath. Also because I realise how scared I am to see this but how keen. I'm not used to such muddled feelings, not since after BBM, or seeing BBM with a theatre full of Brokies.
I love love the hats off pic :D
Hi Pia - posting at the same time :) One thing that occurs to me is that more people may now see BBM - I hope so. Just as many of us will see TDK who otherwise would never see a Batman movie (speaking for myself, obviously...)
Pia, I think his work in BBM was noticed widely, Nolan said that he casted him because of his work in BBM. He was nominated for every important award possible.
Sandy
WDW, wasn't the woman who accompanied Heath's dad his second wife, Heath's stepmother, the very attractive brunette? I think Heath's mother, Sally, didn't come to the US.
Sandy
Maybe, Sandy. But Nolan's a director.
Annie P remarked that Heath carried the film, as she anticipated, and Jake ran away with it - again, as she anticipated.
Anthony Lane in 2005 review says: the film belongs to Ledger.
David Denby, this issue, refers to "the great Heath Ledger" -
NY Times review (stephen holden) says "Mr. Ledger magically and mysteriously disappears beneath the skin of his lean, sinewy character. It is a great screen performance, as good as the best of Marlon Brando and Sean Penn"
Still, it was the subject matter that took hold and in my view the performances were not properly lauded. Also, in my own experience, in "liberal" western Massachusetts, USA, a helluva a lot people simply avoided seeing the film.
I feel that Heath's performance in TDK will re-call attention to his formidable gifts in earlier films. I hope so!
p.s. ny times review was about BBMt
sorry not to have made that clear.
I hope so too Pia! :)
Sandy
Hi Sandy - you may well be right. I haven't had the chance to read up completely - this was a quote from the paper.
Hey there Pia - I love that quote about Heath and Jake :D I agree that TDK will win over many to Heath's earlier films. A great legacy.
"p.s. ny times review was about BBMt
sorry not to have made that clear."
It was clear to me. :)
Y'know, I'm remembering sitting in that Multiplex eating Chinese noodles with about five other people for seven weeks -
BBMt was not exactly a blockbuster, at the time.
But the Asian guy at the Chinese take-out counter was a great fan and very proud of Ang Lee. lots of good talk with this man.
just rememberin'
What book is Jake reading? You only see the back side of the cover in a couple of pictures.
I remember having difficulty finding a cinema showing BBM, Pia, definitely not a blockbuster.
Hi Anon - it's TH White's The Once and Future King, about Arthur :D A very good book.
correction
O sorry it was Ang who said that he anticipated H would carry the film and J would run away with it.
shiraz time in the berkshires. all bets are off.
Arthur who?.....;)
Hi Pia - I'm drinking a Shiraz too while watching a ludicrous compilation programme of clips from the 'best disaster movies' - The Blob - what a classic...
Hi Anon - King Arthur and the knights of the round table :)
BBM was a huge commercial success by the standards of what it was - an inexpensively made serious indie film with controversial (and niche) subject matter. It made more than Crash and - I think - the other BP nominated films.
Obviously TDK will made 5x more; it's a different beast.
Hi Narcissa :) Certainly relatively speaking BBM was huge - round here it came back to the theatres once it got Oscar attention. Jarhead was in my local theatre a week and Proof not at all. As you say, TDK is a different beast entirely :D
Thanks for all the Heath links, WDW:) I haven't watched any of them yet but it's really sinking in that TDK is just around the corner and I'm feeling so mixed up about it at the moment. TL Jr really wants to see it and it's a 12A so I don't have an excuse not to take her!
Back to Jake,I'm getting bored with the beanie hat now - I want to see that hair flowing loosely in the wind!
Hello, Wet Dark!
Thank you for the information about TDK Batman!
I know that Heath is watching all this from somewhere and is happy to see that their performance is being recognized the way he always wanted!
Here in Brazil's film debut on friday. Already assured my ticket!
I will see the movie and its characters. If I cry, I am sure you will be after the movie.
I will see the movie Friday. I get that Heath gives the most amazing, incredible performance. I get that it's a terrific movie. I can't watch anymore talk shows or read anymore reviews. I'm a wreck. I've been crying off and on for days now. It is just so wrong, so outrageously unfair that he is not here to enjoy this. It breaks my heart. I've tried any number of tactics to assuage my pain and my grief and yes, my anger! Nothing is working.Ruby put it best of all. There is a Heath-sized hole in the universe. Nothing anyone can say or do will change that or make up for it. Nothing. He's gone. And he should be here. Thanks for letting me post this. I'd rather not sign my name. But thanks, WDW.
I like Aaron Eckhardt and Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Caine and Christian Bale. I would have gone to see "The Dark Knight" anyway because of their being in it. But watching Heath give a legendary performance will be a major pleasure. :-) I can hardly wait!
I'm glad you were able to get The Today Show Video.
Maggie just left David Letterman. He must be the Gyllenhaal's favorite late night host. She talked about breaking her toe, the movie, and Jake's response to her lingerie ad hanging in Heathrow.
She told Dave that Peter was really impressed with her toe fracture it's a break clean through--because he is a Soccer player.
She was beautiful and elegant as usual wearing very high--to me-- heels that she told Dave she wore for him.:)
I hope you can get hold of it.
I can't wait until Saturday night...I will enjoy the movie but who knows I may still cry...I miss him so much.
love
s
xoxoxo
sass
Good morning everyone! Clouds are so thick out there you could cut 'em with a knife.
Hi TL - sorry I missed you last night. It is round the corner, little chance of escaping it now. I don't want to delay it any more though. Funny about the hat! The new post has more HQ pics of Jake in the park and lots of hair flowing in those - gorgeous :D
Ola Monica! I'm glad you have your ticket. Not long for you then. We have a whole week or so to wait here.
Hi Paul - it's good to think how this performance is being received. I just want to see it for myself now.
Morning Sass (or night to you :D) - Thanks for the info on the Letterman Show, I do hope we get to see it over here. I've put some pics of Maggie at the studio on the new post.
(((Anon))), thanks to you for your comment. I am so glad you were able to share your feelings - you aren't alone - there are many people here who feel like that. It's the tearing up at strange moments when something reminds me of Heath, lots of things do. Lots of things make me smile about Heath too but there's no getting away from the tragedy and waste of it all. He should be here. Thanks, Anon and take care.
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