Heath Ledger - Dead!!

Source: http://metropoint.metro.lu/20080124_HongKong.pdf

Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment in New York on Jan 22.

Although "Brokeback Mountain" did not suit my taste, there is no doubt that both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal made a strong impression all around the world.

Having a bit of a connection to Australia, knowing a young Aussie star died such an untimely death is of course saddening.

There was a video clip in the news yesterday with his family in front of the media. His father, mother and sister certainly showed grief beneath the calm face they tried to keep.

May God console his family.
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Looking from a different angle, his death was alledgedly due to sleeping problems caused by the film - Batman, the Dark Knight. He played the character Joker, who is violent, merciless, and deranged.

Being a good actor, he must have been so submerged into the character that it would be extremely difficult to detached from it and carry on with his normal life. Taking the sleeping pills might be the only option. And when the emotions build up, so does the dosage.

That leads me to think, do we really want so many films portraiting the dark side of the human nature?

It projects the sense of hopelessness and derangement, not just to the actor/actress playing the part, but also the cinema-goers and perhaps the general public.

Another example is the Brokeback Mountain.

It was generally hailed as a celebration of Love itself, but what I see in the story is hurt and betrayal.

The character Heath played hurt his wife, disappointed his daughter, and most of all hurt his gay partner. But people still think this is a great love. How can it be? Love should not hurt like this.

Do we still call these art? Is it really worthwhile for us to pursue?