I thought that he was decent in Monster's Ball and overall I wasn't impressed by Brokeback Mountain. It had nothing to do with the homosexual tones of the film, I just thought it wasn't a very good film, and was considerably overhyped. I thought Ledger mumbled his way through the role of Ennis del Mar, and the man just didn't do a lot of the types of movies I like to see. However, I was seriously on the verge of reassessing everything I knew about him after I saw the first footage of him as the Joker in the upcoming Batman film, The Dark Knight. Seeing him truly inhabit the role of the psychotic Clown Prince of Crime, I suddenly started understanding what the fuss was all about. Unlike Cruise, Smith, Schwarzenegger and others, here was an actor who literally disappeared into the parts he played, so that there would be no lingering traces of who he was as a celebrity, to betray the dutiful attention to detail with which he crafted each role. When Ledger was on screen, he himself ceased to be and became whatever character he was playing...and that is a rare talent indeed.

     Today he passed away, and it's a shame. Not just because of the fact that no one will be able to enjoy his work anymore. Not just because for us Bat-fans, he won't be in the third film(if there is one). Not just because I feel like I've joined the Heath Party too late...but because he was only 28 damn years old, and had so much potential left unfulfilled, not just as an actor, but as a father(he leaves behind a 2 year-old daughter) and a human being.

     Part of the tragedy in all this is that he was discovered naked in his apartment while waiting for a masseuse...and allegedly, there were sleeping pills all around him. Did he die of a drug overdose? Was he on drugs, and no one knew or kept it quiet? These explanations are possible, but the sad fact is that the local news where I live is covering the story as if Ledger were some hard-rocking Jim Morrison type, whose death by drugs or suicide was inevitable. The FACT is that this is simply not true, and it's a shame the news hounds--along with the biggest news vulture of all, TMZ--simply can't wait for all the facts to come out. It would be nice if, just for once, news agencies would have some patience and wait for a coroner's report to be finalized and issued, before jumping the gun and attempting to portray a celebrity death in a seedy light, when the facts could be something completely contrary to what is believed.

     It's possible the pills were for chronic insomnia. It's possible he was about to take some, and had a sudden and unpreventable cardiac arrest. No one will know the FACTS until the body is examined, and the report released. And yes...it's equally possible that Heath Ledger was a very secluded, quiet drug addict. Again, no one knows the TRUTH except his friends and Ledger himself...and of course, he's not talking at the moment. But it would be nice if everyone could just wait for it...just once.

     I might not have been a fan in life, but I will defend his honor in death, and say that I'm sorry for the loss and that I honestly do believe his greatest performances were yet to come. Take care, Heath...and God bless.
                                                                                   --1/22/08