Ledger’s Family To Pay Tribute To Son

Posted on July 15, 2008 3:31am · Filed under: Awards Show & Events, Movie News

Heath Ledger’s family traveled a long way to come to New York for the premiere of ‘The Dark Knight’ to pay tribute to the Australian actor.

Heath’s dad Kim with his wife Ines, mother Sally Bell and sister Kate were all there to watch the latest in the Batman series and the last film Ledger completed, reported Daily Mail.

Michael Cane talked about Ledger, ” But when we were sitting down between takes, he was completely ordinary. He wasn’t preparing himself or saying ‘Please leave me alone, I’ve gotta do this.”

“We would sit and chat and have a cup of coffee, then suddenly they’d say, ‘We’re ready, Heath,’ and he’d go straight into The Joker.His energy was astonishing, he’s certainly the best villain I’ve ever seen.”

He added, “My favourite part is the opening monologue of Heath Ledger as The Joker, it’s one of the best close-ups I’ve ever seen in my life.”

He was a young actor and this is his moment. He did Brokeback Mountain which was fine and he never got the Oscar. He’s going to get the Oscar for this.”

Christian Bale, who plays Batman in the film said, “Working with Heath was fantastic. He steals the movie and I’m quite happy to say that.”

“He’s a hell of a talent and created a Joker that’s very iconic and one that will
become a classic portrayal of the ages.”

The verdict on Ledger’s performance:

The Sun: “Ledger seems to have got into the chaotic mind of the comic book character. And terrifying he is. He deserves all the talk of a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.”

Entertainment Weekly: “In this, the last performance he completed before his death, Ledger had a maniacal gusto inspired enough to suggest that he might have lived to be as audacious an actor as Marlon Brando, and maybe as great.”

The Mirror: “Heath Ledger is a dead cert to scoop an Oscar for his chilling portrayal of The Joker. Caked in mascara and with a horrifying maniacal laugh, the late Australian actor is the brilliant heart of a superhero movie that’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”

Associated Press: “Nolan was wise enough to give Ledger plenty of room to shine — albeit in the actor’s indelibly perverse, twisted way. There’s nothing cartoony about his Joker.”

Washington Post: “Audiences with high expectations shouldn’t be blamed — once they see Ledger’s mesmerising take on The Joker—for wondering why the whole movie couldn’t just be about him instead.”

Time:”Joker is simply one of the most twisted and mesmerising creeps in movie history. Echoing the sly psychopathy and scary sing-song voice of Anthony Hopkins in The Silence Of The Lambs, Ledger carries in him the deranged there.”