The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus trailer has finally been released.  The fantasy movie, better known as Heath Ledger’s last movie, is scheduled an October 16 release.  Because Ledger died during the first third of filming, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell were cast to portray Heath’s character as it morphs during travel through a dream world.  

Obviously, it will rake in millions due to the amazing cast and Heath curiousity.  Does the trailer pique your interest?

A new video was released this week for a song called “King Rat” by indie rock band Modest Mouse.  It probably wouldn’t get as much attention under normal circumstances, but it was directed by the late Heath Ledger and is believe to be his last piece of work.

The video is done in animation and shows whales fishing for humans.  Kind of deep, I guess.  I don’t know — it’s too early for me to absorb all this social message.

The film will screen at the end of the Cannes Film Festival, but this clip of Heath was part of Cannes’ opening-night montage.

Oh, man, this almost makes my cold, evil heart break a little bit.

Heath Ledger’s father, Kim Ledger, has flown from Perth, Australia to Los Angeles to attend the Oscars on Sunday, where Heath is by far the favorite to win Best Supporting Actor. Kim says that, if Heath does win the award, his family will be on stage to accept it. OMG this is totally going to happen and I will have to fast-forward through it. I will just cry WAY too hard if I have to actually watch it. Honestly I don’t think I’ll be able to handle the poignancy. I don’t like things that make me cry!!!

But Kim Ledger won’t be hanging on to the award that Heath is totally going to win. On Wednesay, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that if Ledger does win a posthumous Oscar, little Matilda, who is currently 3 years old, would receive the Oscar after she turns 18.

Heath Ledger’s Life Insurance company was able to reach an agreement with his estate and finally agreed to pay out his life insurance policy. Heath’s last documents were drawn up prior to his relationship with Michelle Williams, and so they made no provision for her, or the couple’s young daughter, Matilda. Heaths family pledged to take care of Michelle and the child, and the company’s initial refusal to pay out prompted several of the late actor’s friends to start a trust for the little girl.  

 

Since the 28-year-old actor died Jan. 22, 2008, Minnesota-based ReliaStar Life Insurance Co. had been balking (it’s an insurance company after all) on making good to Ledger’s sole heir, his 2-year-old daughter with Michelle Williams, Matilda Rose.

Even though the coroner labeled Ledger’s death an accidental prescription-drug overdose, the insurer  suggested Ledger committed suicide, voiding the massive payout.

But on Wednesday, one of the estate’s attorneys, William M. Shernoff, informed Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Luis A. Lavin that the two sides had hashed out an agreement. Eonline

 

 

I’m glad they were able to come to an agreement. Michelle and Matilda were obviously huge parts of Heath’s life before he passed, and I think he would have wanted them to be the beneficiaries.

Heath Ledger was awarded the Best Actor honor for his role in The Dark Knight at the Australian Film Institute’s awards on Saturday.

Guests at a packed awards ceremony in Melbourne’s Princess Theatre rose to their feet clapping, but with some in tears, to pay tribute.

“It has been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member,” said his sister Kate, fighting back tears. “We are so proud of him and humbly accept this award on behalf of his beautiful daughter [Matilda], whom we will cherish forever.”

Of course, Heath Ledger’s one of Australia’s sons, so he has a bit of an advantage here, but this could help Heath’s chances at the Best Actor Oscar?

For whatever reason, the DEA has ended its investigation into the death of Heath Ledger, so Mary-Kate will not have to testify before a grand jury. We’ll also probably never know how he got the OxyContin that contributed to his death, other than “illegally.”

Sigh.

Don’t take that kind of shit unless it’s prescribed by a doctor, kids … a doctor that you didn’t pay off! It’s very very dangerous!!!

As rumors swirled Monday morning that Mary-Kate Olsen was being uncooperative with DEA agents — and implying that she may have been responsible for selling him the OxyContin that contributed to his overdose (I like how I say this as though I weren’t one of the people spreading the rumor) — Mary-Kate’s lawyer was quick to fight back.

“Despite tabloid speculation, Mary-Kate Olsen has nothing whatsoever to do with the drugs found in Heath Ledger’s home or his body, and does not know where he obtained them,” said Olsen attorney Michael C. Miller.

So, um, why doesn’t she want to talk to the Feds?

What is she hiding?

The magazine Grazia is reporting that MK has confirmed to them that she was, in fact, Heath Ledger’s lover at the time that he died.

“I’m just completely shattered about Heath,” Olsen is quoted as saying in Grazia. “I loved him so much. We had this amazing connection and now he’s gone. I just can’t get over him.”

Eh, take this for what it’s worth. I, for one, am not sure I buy it. I mean, MK might have been hooking up with Heath, but she’s not gonna be admitting in to some two-bit magazine. I call bullshit.

Oh, and E!’s resident recovering addict Ted Casablancas had this to say about Heath today:

In all this glorious (and quite deserved) rediscussion of Heath Ledger’s passing now that the Dark Knight is out, no one seems to be mentioning what the ef killed the Aussie star, i.e., drugs…way too many of them. I mean, when Di got smashed up a decade ago in Paris, the world was out to kill the press corps, blaming our kind for destroying the princess, when in fact, it was a drunken driver who killed the poor gal. And now, nothing at all’s being blamed. It’s just being labeled “tragic” and “too soon” that Heath passed. Look, idiots, it’s called drugging yourself to death. Wake up. I exclaim this entirely respectfully, too, mind you—no one misses his über talents more than I. Superdamn shame.

Word up, Ted.

It “was an idea we discussed together and came up with… it was about how we all have different consciences and voices in our head that tell us what to do and how to react. They’re not good or bad, they’re just voices that we hear, telling us how to behave. That’s what the other figures are in the painting,” says the artist, Vincent Fantauzzo, who painted Heath just weeks before his death.

Something tells me this is going to end up as a poster on the wall of teenagers everywhere for many years to come.

It’s like Anna Nicole all over again.

I hope heads are going to spin.

While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath’s accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage.

Our family enjoyed an extremely happy two week visit with Heath just prior to the New Year. Those recent precious days will stay with us forever. We as a family feel privileged to have some of his amazing magic moments captured in film. To most of the world Heath was an actor of immeasurable talent and promise. To those who knew him personally, Heath was a consummate artist whose passions also included photography, music, chess and directing. We knew Heath as a loving father, as our devoted son, and as a loyal and generous brother and friend.

We treasure our beautiful granddaughter Matilda (to our dear Michelle) as well as an unbelievably wonderful network of close friends, forever, around the world. Families rarely experience the uplifting, warm and massive outpouring of grief and support as have we, from every corner of the planet. This has deeply and profoundly touched our hearts and lives. We are eternally grateful.

At this moment we respectfully request the worldwide media allow us time to grieve privately, without the intrusions associated with press and photography.”