ScreenCrave.com » Heath Ledger

Poll: Should DirectTV Use Dead Celebs in Their Ads?

Krystal Clark — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:55:42 +0000

When DirectTV first started airing television ads that featured actors reprising famous film roles and breaking the fourth wall it seemed like a cool concept. Especially, when someone like Sigourney Weaver would step back into the shoes of a character like Ellen Ripley 20 years after the fact. Since the beginning of this campaign, two controversial commercials have been produced by the company that include actors who have died way before their time.

One featured the young actress Heather O’Rourke who starred in the horror hit, Poltergeist and most recently the late Chris Farley appeared opposite David Spade in a recreation of a scene from their 1995 hit, Tommy Boy. Some people found the use of their images for the commercials in bad taste, especially when you look at the circumstances of their deaths. This has raised the question of how far is too far? Should DirectTV use dead celebrities in their ads?

Take a look at a few of the possibilities…

The people over at Landline TV put together this ensemble of DirectTV dead celebrity spoofs that are supposed to acknowledge how ridiculous the ad campaign is getting. The video features appearances by Heath Ledger, John F. Kennedy, and even Jesus Christ who actually takes a break during his crucifixion to discuss HD channels!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

For those of you who haven’t seen it, here’s the actual Chris Farley DirectTV ad below.

What do you think of the use of dead celebrities in promotions? Is it OK as long as they have the families consent?

AFI Festival 2009!

Tom von Logue Newth — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:44:15 +0000

It is finally upon us – as I type the crowds are thronged outside the Grauman’s Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard for the American Film Institute Film Festival Opening Gala and North American Premiere of Wes Anderson’s stop-motion fable Fantastic Mr Fox (already covered by Screencrave from the London Film Festival – ahead of the game as usual).

Taking place all this week, largely at the Mann 6 Cinemas in the Hollywood & Highland Center, with special screenings at the Chinese and some in Santa Monica next weekend for the American Film Market, there’s plenty to see this year. But be warned – it’s going to be busy! Festival sponsors Audi have, remarkably, provided all tickets for free. Which means naturally that that they’ve all been pre-booked. But fear not, for there are standby lines opening an hour before each screening, and unclaimed seats are up for grabs fifteen minutes before the show starts. And this being LA how many people who pre-booked tickets are actually going to turn up do you reckon?

The full list is on the AFI website and it all looks pretty good, but there’s a handful of titles about which I am really excited (Sunday is a particularly good day):

Tonight at 9.30pm: Everyone Else, a German film that has gotten rave reports from Europe, exploring a young couple’s relationship in light of another couple they meet on holiday. Truthful and daring, it won the Grand Jury Prize at Berlin.
Saturday at 7pm: Mother, the latest from The Host director Bong Joon Ho continues to uphold the high reputation of contemporary South Korean cinema in a crime thriller featuring a mother as amateur detective, trying to clear the name of her son. More good festival reports, from Cannes and Karlovy Vary
Sunday 4.15pm (also on Friday at 1pm in Santa Monica): Police, Adjective seems to have been the most impressive film on the European festival circuit so far, a thriller of sorts, but also a philosophical examination of language. Romanian cinema is on a roll right now and if this is any indication, only getting better.
Sunday 7pm: White Ribbon won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and it looks for once as though Michael Haneke may be holding his haughty contempt for the audience in check (*he *calls it “respect”). Mysterious and sinister goings-on in a German village in the years leading up to WWI point fingers at the social mindset soon to be seduced by national socialism (but does not, non-spoiler alert, reveal the source of the aforementioned mysteries. He’s still got to piss some people off apparently).
Sunday 10.30pm: Castro is a short and fast-paced hunt through Buenos Aires for a missing person, described as a cross between Samuel Beckett and Mack Sennett, and reputed to be one of the best films from the very exciting alternative cinema scene in Argentina right now (I am still recommending Historias Extraordinarias to anyone who will listen. Or can find it…)
Monday at 7pm, Centerpiece Gala: The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus is the movie in the middle of making which Heath Ledger popped his clogs. So director Terry Gilliam replaced him with Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, playing alongside Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole (rather good, apparently), Verne Troyer and Tom Waits as the devil (excellent!). A traveling magic show features a magical mirror and lots of freaky stuff and no-one seems to want to come out and say if it’s any cop or not, just that it’s a Terry Gilliam film and that he’s back on top eccentric form. Which is good enough for me.
Tuesday at 7pm: I Killed My Mother generated loads of buzz at Cannes, in part because it was written, directed by and stars French-Canadian first-timer Xavier Dolan, who’s a mere 20 years old, and in part because it is actually rather impressive, a caustic and tender tale of familial and (homo)sexual relationships.
Tuesday at 10.15pm: Youth In Revolt. My sister said “I am so over Michael Cera” approximately 15 minutes before seeing the preview for this and her decision was instantly reversed. He plays a nerdy young man (you don’t say) who, to win the love of the girl next door, invents a smooth and unbridled (and mustachioed) alter ego whom only he can see. Much chaos and hilarity ensues; the trailer is, indeed, pretty funny.
Wednesday at 7pm: The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is not a remake of the Abel Ferrara film but does feature Nic Cage as a very badly-behaved police lieutenant, as directed with gloriously surreal touches by Werner Herzog. I got a screening of it last night and it is very funny, hugely enjoyable and Nic Cage is back on wonderfully insane form.
Thursday at 7pm: A Single Man is directed by ex-Gucci head Tom Ford (his first) and stars Colin Firth as a bereaved gay man in 60s LA. More terrific word of mouth from Europe and Oscar buzz for Firth, it’s reported to be arty (in a good way) and deeply moving.

But don’t take my word (entirely..) for it – take a look at the calendar, go stand in line, and enjoy high quality films from all over the world, many of which will never get near a North American release. And do it for free! Full details at AFI.com.

First Look: The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus

Ben McCarthy — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:02:41 +0000

Hello everyone in LA, it’s Ben here, reporting from London. Now as some of you already know, Terry Gilliam’s new film The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus is already out in the UK, and it will not be out in America until Christmas Day. So here is a ‘First Look’ of the film for all of you to have have to wait. Also, know that this piece is 100% Spoiler Free…

For those of you who don’t know the story it’s about a man named Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) who leads a traveling theatre troupe who literally transport audiences into a realm of strange wonders. But he risks losing the soul of his daughter in a bet with the devil that newcomer Tony (Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell) might help or hinder.

Good Points

The look of the film is utterly infectious, you get caught in the set design, Doctor Parnassus’s carriage, the costumes and the imaginary sequences. Even though is an independent production, it looks absolutely fantastic.
We all know what happened to film when Heath Ledger suddenly passed away in January 2008, which left the film in limbo for months. The film has come up with a simple yet effective way to carry on the story after his death, it has created three different versions of Tony depending on which side of the mirror he’s on. It is nice to see people like Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell turning up in the film to voice their support, not just for Heath Ledger but for Terry Gilliam, and they all turn in good performances, although they all try to channel Ledger’s original’s performance, which is more successful in some cases than others.

Bad Points

This might just be me, or possibly everyone else who has seen the film, but I just didn’t get the film. I was so confused by it that I just didn’t know what to think about it. This is a film that will demand its audience to see it numerous times just to find out if the story works or not.

Overall

This isn’t Terry Gilliam’s best film, due to the plot problems. But it is no less imaginative, and it is a testament to Terry Gilliam’s perseverance to overcome the tragedy that bestowed this production.

New Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Trailer

Krystal Clark — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:17:49 +0000

A new trailer has debuted for Terry Gilliam‘s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. The film stars Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell in the role of “Tony,” with legendary actor Christopher Plummer as the title character. Parnassus is set to hit American theaters this Christmas thanks to domestic distribution secured by Sony Pictures Classics.

Check out the latest trailer for Doctor Parnassus...

This movie looks utterly beautiful! I need the score to this film on my mp3 player asap. The music is just as epic as the visuals, and the cast does an excellent job of working with such mystical material. On a side note, is it just me or does Johnny Depp give off a Jack Sparrow vibe when he speaks towards the end of the trailer? Perhaps, I have Pirates of the Caribbean on the brain, but I was expecting him to follow up his line with, “saavy.”

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus hits theaters on December 25th, 2009.

What do you think of the new theatrical trailer for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus?

Official The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Poster

Krystal Clark — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:46:21 +0000

Over an Empire, they’ve got an exclusive first look at the official poster for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Like many of you, this film has been on my radar for a very long time. It hits theaters domestically this Christmas, and features the final performance of Heath Ledger. The poster highlights all four actors who carry the lead role of Tony the carnie, as played by Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell.

Check out the beautiful poster for Doctor Parnassus…

Isn’t this gorgeous? The only issue I have with this poster is Jude Law. In all the scenes of him featured in the trailer, he has a ponytail, but here his hair it cut short. Continuity issues? I will admit his ponytail looked a bit unnatural and this suits him better, but come on Jude take one for the team.

The poster also features co-stars Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, and Tom Waits. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is directed by Terry Gilliam.

What do you think of the first poster for the film?

New Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus Photos

Krystal Clark — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:55:41 +0000

The Terry Gilliam film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus won’t hit theaters until three months down the line on December 25th. The film features Heath Ledger‘s last performance, has been a hot topic ever since the actor’s unfortunate passing. Since the film has acquired domestic distribution, steady promotion of Parnassus has been under way. A huge batch of production photos from the film have just debuted online and we’re going to show them to you.

Here’s Heath, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and Johnny Depp on the set of the film…

To browse our gallery, select any photo and it will enlarge and then allow you to scroll through the photos…

For more on Doctor Parnassus, you can check out some photos, the international trailer, as well as a behind the scenes featurette that includes footage of Terry Gilliam directing a scene from the film.

The more I look at these photos from the film, the more I want to see it. I’m aware that the nature of the mystical storyline allowed Gilliam to incorporate the various actors. It would be interesting to watch how that all plays out. Farrell and Depp look like they fit into the ponytail wearing character of Tony a lot easier than Jude Law. I’m sure all their performances will be great but that’s just a little something I noticed.

What do you think about the latest photos from The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus?

Photos courtesy of IGN

Terry Gilliam Rejected Tom Cruise for Dr. Parnassus

Laura Aguirre — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:35:19 +0000

Terry Gilliam gave superstar Tom Cruise a thumbs down when his agents eagerly lobbied for him to appear in Heath Ledger‘s final film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. According to Collider, Gilliam was trying to keep it in the family when he chose Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and Johnny Depp to portray different incarnations of Ledger’s character, Tony.

“The thing is, I was only interested in people who were friends of Heath. Simple as that,” said Gilliam.

Gilliam also mentioned that Dr. Parnassus isn’t a Heath Ledger movie, but rather a fulfillment of the void left by his unexpected death. Cruise may be Mr. Hollywood or perhaps a bit less than that now, but Gilliam does have a point. Maybe, the relationship that the other actors had with Ledger was used to better their performances of his character.

Cruise’s last leading role was in the historical film Valkyrie, where he played a Wehrmacht Colonel with an eye patch. Frankly, the actor is far from his soaring days of Risky Business, but he’s still one of the biggest celebrities in the world. As for Parnassus, more than likely it will be a huge success due to its sentimental value among fans, and its A-list cast.

What do you think? Would you have liked to see Cruise next to Ledger?

Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Gets a Domestic Release

Krystal Clark — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:05:52 +0000

The highly anticipated last film of Heath Ledger will finally get a stateside release. According to FirstShowing, Sony Pictures Classics has acquired The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and will distribute it domestically. For months, rumors have been circulating about when the film will hit theaters, with the most recent theory pointing towards this December.

More on Doctor Parnassus after the jump…

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus centers on the mystical Doctor and his troupe of carnies who travel from location to location. He inspires and provokes people to use thier imaginations to their fullest potential, with the help of a magical mirror which allows them to travel through time and space. The film stars Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, and features Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell as Ledger’s replacement’s in the role of Tony.

I think its more than convenient that December is being discussed for the release of this film. The holiday season is always a great time to get in with Academy voters. Remember, the gentle treatment that last year’s Benjamin Button received? I’m not saying the studio would use this as a means to get Ledger another Oscar, but it could be a nice platform for director Terry Gilliam. If you’ve seen the trailer, you know this film is visually stunning. He does a great job with it. Whether or not the industry notices that, is up for debate.

Will you go see Doctor Parnassus in theaters?

Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus International Trailer

Krystal Clark — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:35:31 +0000

Finally the masses of fans who’ve been awaiting Heath Ledger’s final performance can see him in action. The international trailer for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus has been released. Those of us who were lucky enough to attend Comic-Con this year saw this footage a couple of weeks ago, but now everyone has an opportunity to experience it.

The film is directed by Terry Gilliam, and stars Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell in he role of “Tony.” After watching this video for a second time, I think it’s hilarious how the character is played by an American, Australian, a Brit and an Irishman. Oh the magic of movie making!

Check out the trailer below.

What do you think of the trailer for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus? What do you think of the blending of the four actors?

Heath Ledger’s Video For Modest Mouse Debuts Today

Kara Stanford-Jones — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:53:56 +0000

Before Heath Ledger’s death, he was in the process of directing a music video with indie rock group, Modest Mouse, for their song, “King Rat.” In 2007, Ledger and Modest Mouse singer, Isaac Brock, had discussed the idea of doing the video for the yet-to-be-released song. The purpose behind the music video is to raise awareness of illegal commercial whale hunting off the Australia coast.

At the time of Ledger’s death, the video was unfinished, but was planned “down to the last detail.” The animation was done by the film company, The Masses, of which Ledger was a partner in.

Early today we posted the video on BeatCrave with more information on the making of it, but you can check it out now below…

King Rat

It’s really nicely done. What a shame…

What do you think of the video? Do you think Ledger would have made a good feature film director?

Comic-Con 2009: The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

Krystal Clark — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:01:27 +0000

5:53: It’s finished! Terry and Verne have left the stage. Check back here for more panel updates, including exclusive photos.

5:31: We just saw the first official trailer for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and it looks amazing! Jude Law is rocking the ponytail!

5:28: Gilliam: “I love to use dead artists paintings [in my films] because since their dead they can’t sue.”

5:25: Gilliam: He just announced that they just got the rights to Don Quixote back after 7 or 8 years. “Jeremy Thomas is producing it, and I am now on the hunt for actors and money.”

5:24: Gilliam: He enjoys working with actors who can have a good time. Prefers to work those who “like to struggle in the mud with a smile on their face.”

5:22: J.K. Rowling wanted Gilliam to do the first Harry Potter movie, and he said if he would have done it, he would have made it closer to the third film that Alfonso Cauron did.

5:20: Gilliam: “Most of my inspiration comes from literature, painting, and music. Not so much from films as you may think.”

5:19: Gilliam: He was very old. I always thought he was 100 years old beyond his years. He was a great actor of his generation as well as for the generations for the next couple of years.

5:18: On working with Heath Ledger, Verne Troyer,”I feel lucky of having a brief moment of getting to know Heath.” He brings that feeling that you’ve known him for such a long time. That’s the way I felt, and I still feel. It was just an honor and a privilege.” I don’t regret being in the film. I regret what happened, but once you guys see the film, you guys will really enjoy it.

5:16: Gilliam: When he made Monty Python, he didn’t have any money so he went and looked at old artwork he did, to see what he could add to cut down the budget.

5:14: Verne Troyer just came out and introduced another clip from the film, but he’s not saying much.

5:12: They just showed us a short clip with Ledger. It is an extended version of the shot that has been on the net with him giving a monologue at a strip mall.

5:09: Gilliam: The character of Tony was based on the Prime Minister Tony Blair, because he’s like a chameleon. They didn’t write the part with Heath in mind, because he was working on The Joker at the time. But Heath sent over a letter where he asked Gilliam if he could play Tony and he said,”Yes!”

5:07: After his film Tideland failed, he got the idea for a film about man with a traveling show, who tries to encourage people to expand their imaginations, but no one wants to listen to him.

5:05: Terry comes out onto the stage and describes his latest film as “The most mature thing I’ve ever done, and the most juvenile thing I’ve ever done.”

5:04: Terry Gilliam just introduced a scene from the film where Dr. Parnassus meets the Devil for the first time.

5:03: The video package was full of clips from Monty Python, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Brazil, Fisher King, and Dr. Parnassus.

5:00: pm: Before Terry Gilliam will come out, they’re about to introduce a special video package that commemorates his career.

Terry Gilliam will be front and center at Comic-Con celebrating the 40th anniversary of Monty Python, as well as promoting his latest film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Gilliam has had his hand in some pretty unique films including Time Bandits and 12 Monkeys. The director will discuss his past projects as well as his highly anticipated film Doctor Parnassus, which starred the late Heath Ledger.

Terry Gilliam’s panel will take place on Thursday July 23rd, from 4:30 – 5:15 pm.

With so much news to cover, you can expect a lot of updates from us via our ScreenCrave Twitter or catch our live blog and videos on ScreenCrave.

Superheroes Win Big At Saturn Awards

Anet Hovhanesian — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:32:15 +0000

At the 35th Annual Saturn Awards held in Burbank, California, the Academy of Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films honored the best movies of the last year. The night belonged to the Superheroes. The comic book phase of 2008 was getting the appreciation it deserved. Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (how the hell is this film still winning awards?) starring the late Heath Ledger, who won the Best Supporting Actor trophy, took home five awards including Best Action/Adventure Thriller.

Check out the full list of winners below…

Iron Man took home three awards including Best Director (Jon Favreau), Best Actor (Robert Downey Jr.) and top honors of the night as the best Sci-Fi Film. Other winners included Hellboy II: The Golden Army for Best Horror Film and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button for Best Fantasy Film. They probably thought giving both Brad Pitt’s movie a trophy AND giving Angelina Jolie one for Best Actress in Clint Eastwood’s Changeling would mean the A-listers would show up to the Awards show.

IN FILM:

BEST SCI-FI FILM: Iron Man
BEST FANTASY FILM: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST HORROR FILM: Hellboy II: The Golden Army
BEST ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLER: The Dark Knight
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM: Let The Right One
BEST ANIMATED FILM: WALL•E
BEST ACTOR: Robert Downey, Jr. (Iron Man)
BEST ACTRESS: Angelina Jolie (Changeling)
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Tilda Swinton (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A YOUNG ACTOR: Jaden Christopher Smith (The Day The Earth Stood Still)
BEST DIRECTOR: Jon Favreau (Iron Man)
BEST WRITER: Christopher Nolan and Jonathon Nolan (The Dark Knight)
MUSIC: Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard (The Dark Knight)
COSTUME: Mary Zophres (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls)
MAKE-UP: Greg Cannom (The Curios Case of Benjamin Button)

Check out ComingSoon.net has a full list of TV and DVD winners.

What do you think of the films that won? Were they deserving? Who would be your choices for some of the bigger awards?

ScreenCrave.com » Heath Ledger

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