Manifesto Part 2

Heath Ledger on the set of The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus on 1/18/08. Credit:
Kavi/WENN

Heath Ledger died during the filming of Terry Gilliam’s film The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.  Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law were called in  to collectively play the role.  Since the movie is a fantasy piece, having one role played by four different actors isn’t much of a stretch.  Anywho, the three actors have decided to donate their salary to Matilda, Heath’s 2-year-old daughter.

This step is most likely being taken because Heath willed all of his money to his father.  His will of course was written up prior to Matilda’s birth and his dad, Kim Ledger has said that “Matilda will be provided for”.  But some are still unsure of the validity of that statement because Heath’s brothers contend that Kim is squandering the money he’s received from Heath’s death.

Here’s what Gilliam had to say about the gesture:

The great thing about it is that when Heath died, and we have a character that wasn’t finished in the movie, those three actors [Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell] came along and saved the day. And so the character is now basically four actors creating one character. And that’s . . . it’s very interesting, and maybe even more interesting than it would have been with one actor going all the way through. I’m still not the best judge, because I have in my head what the film was going to be with Heath all the way through, and now there’s a different film there. But all I know is, it’s very funny. 

The three actors were totally heroic coming in. This doesn’t happen very often . . . where there’s a tragedy like this, and very famous, very successful actors suddenly say, “Okay, we’ll do whatever it takes to help.” They came; they did the work; they allowed the movie to be finished; they didn’t take money–the money goes to Heath’s daughter. That’s extraordinary! And wonderful . . . and when you’re part of that, you think, “Ah, this is maybe why I went into the movies, in the beginning. I thought it would be full of wonderful people. And in our case, we’ve got a movie full of wonderful people, who did extraordinary things to help.
 

The film will be released in 2009. Source and Source via Source

Though Michelle Williams, Matilda’s mama, is an actress and no doubt has no problem providing for her, it’s a beautiful thing these men are doing.

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Mary-Kate Olsen is being forced to testify in the Heath Leger investigation.  The purpose of the investigation is to determine where Heath received the prescription medications that led to his death.  Though Mary Kate requested immunity she was not granted it and will not receive a lawyer when she testifies.  She is being sought for her testimony because she was the first person to be called by the masseuse that found his body. Source

Update: Mary-Kate Dodged Court

According to People, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has closed its investigation.  Mary-Kate no longer has to worry about the immunity for which she was denied since she won’t have to testify now. Source I don’t understand why or what they were really digging for except for a little drama and dirt.  Unless his family was seeking more information in the case they should just let him rest.   

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There’s an oscar buzz around Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone writes,

“I can only speak superlatives of Ledger, who is mad-crazy-blazing brilliant as the Joker. It’s typical of Ledger’s total commitment to films as diverse asBrokeback Mountain and I’m Not There that he does nothing out of vanity or the need to be liked. Ledger’s Joker has no gray areas — he’s all rampaging id,” the critic says. “He creates a Joker for the ages.  No plastic mask for Ledger. His face is caked with moldy makeup that highlights the red scar of a grin, the grungy hair and the yellowing teeth of a hound fresh out of hell. If there’s a movement to get him the first posthumous Oscar since Peter Finch won for 1976’s Network, sign me up.”Ledger’s death caused morbid scenes to be cut from the film and/or reshot.  The film will pay tribute to him during the end credits. Source

I would normally say that this Oscar buzz is attributed mostly to the fact that he died, and in such a tragic way; that the guilt of the living can only be appeased by paying homage to the dead.  But I don’t believe that’s the case here.  Ledger’s range of talent was being recognized long before his death.  It’s unfortunate that he’ll never be able to see the fruits of his labor.