Heath Ledger: Five Films for Newcomers
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
We remember the late Heath Ledger on what would have been his 44th birthday. It’s mind boggling to think that we lost him fifteen years ago, especially because he had so much more to give. You may remember him for a key role or two, but what gets lost in the memories is how versatile he is. I remember it like it was yesterday: he was bashed for being cast in certain parts because some viewers considered him a pretty boy or a rom-com sort of archetype. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Had we had Ledger for longer, I guarantee that you wouldn’t even be able to pick just one favourite performance. In fact, you may already feel this way. It’s been fifteen years, and his name is still discussed to this day. He is missed, but he is also adored and cherished as the face of acting in the late 90s and the majority of the aughts. If you somehow aren’t familiar with his films and performances, it’s never too late to get acquainted. Here are five films for newcomers of the works of Heath Ledger.
5. Two Hands
I feel like one entry spot should be devoted towards bringing up Heath Ledger’s career back home in Australia: he did start out there and have a few works throughout his filmography linked there (like the historical Ned Kelly and the romantic drama Candy). Of these films, I’m going to pick the fun crime flick Two Hands, where he plays Jimmy: a young adult that gets entangled in the mob underground. This film also stars another big Aussie name: Rose Byrne. I won’t pretend that Two Hands is a masterpiece, but I do think it’s important to connect with some of Ledger’s Australian works, and this film is definitely one of the better examples. You’ll have a bit of fun with this one.
4. A Knight's Tale
I’m not sure if it’s nostalgia or a looser grip on seriousness overtime, but I do find some films from the 90s and 2000s are getting a reappraisal. Perhaps we were being too tough on films that aren’t meant to change the world. For selfish reasons (because this was a huge film for me as a kid), I’m picking such an example: A Knight’s Tale. While getting a mixed reception upon its release, this underdog story is anachronistically rich, electrifying as a romance, comedy, and medieval action flick, and incredibly uplifting: it’s the kind of film you put on just to feel good and kill time whilst having a blast. All in all, Ledger is naturally loveable here, and much of A Knight’s Tale’s success depends on him turning this singular premise (a period piece with modern music, dances, and other phenomena) into something tangible: his charm keeps the film grounded.
3. 10 Things I Hate About You
This is a standard high school rom-com, but it is clear that casting truly matters: it is the pair of leads that elevates this picture. Ledger plays the mysterious bad seed, Patrick, who gets wrapped up in an awful ploy: he is hired to date the other main character, Kat. Kat is played by Julia Stiles, who works so well with Ledger’s Patrick. Kat is jaded and difficult but means well, while Patrick is misunderstood but introverted. While Stiles shines, I cannot help but feel that Ledger is flat-out irreplaceable here. While he isn’t only known for being a rom-com heart-throb, that’s not what this role calls for. It needed someone that was down-to-earth but understandably mislabeled as a dangerous teen, and Ledger knocks it out of the park in this breakthrough performance.
2. Brokeback Mountain
The greatest romantic film Ledger acted in is Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain, and that goes without saying. What is important here is how much Ledger’s character, Ennis Del Mar, represents more than just love. He is the face of grappling with conflict. Brokeback Mountain is a devastating film, and a big portion of its emotional success comes from the senses of loss, yearning, and both Ledger and co-star Jake Gyllenhaal embody these themes perfectly. They fall in love, but they also have their separate lives continue forth without one another, only to experience that separation and loss. It’s difficult to pull off the sensation of absence, especially in a romantic film (convincingly, anyway), but Ledger and Gyllenhaal have some of the best chemistry you’ll find in any film in the twenty first century. Brokeback Mountain is the Best Picture Oscar winner that sadly never was (legacy trumps annual awards, anyway).
1. The Dark Knight
It’s strange. When you ask “where does one start with the films of Heath Ledger?”, most people will tell you Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Really consider this, though. This may be the strongest Ledger performance, depending on who you ask (Brokeback Mountain comes incredibly closely in second, though), and it may be the character you associate with him the most. There aren’t really any similar performances in Ledger’s arsenal, so something this different representing his legacy is fascinating. That likely is because Ledger is unquestionably brilliant as The Joker in the kind of way that transcends the film itself, genre (comic book, superhero, and even action-thriller films), and era. With a thick, Chicago-esque accent, awkward mannerisms, and a thousand yard stare that darts around thanks to his short attention span, Ledger turns this DC icon into a pop culture icon that is referenced and adored to this day. He is hilarious and likeable, but also absolutely frightening. He is from another world, yet completely believable as a human being from our reality. Fifteen years later, I think it’s safe to say that Heath Ledger’s Joker remains one of the best performances of the new millennium, and it is the best place to start if you want to get familiar with his filmography.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Toronto Metropolitan University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.