With Heath Ledger’s untimely passing, compounded by the icy throes of deep winter, my selection for the Weekend Rental, may indeed seem morbid. Marc Forster’s 2001 film, Monster’s Ball certainly isn’t for everyone–especially the throngs of teenage girls weeping under their Tigerbeat centerfolds of the fallen heartthrob; but if anyone is looking to uncover Ledger’s pre-Brokeback career, this is an excellent film with superb performances from Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thornton, Ledger, and even Sean Combs (P. Diddy). The film won an academy award — Halle Berry for best Actress and was nominated for best original screenplay–and rightfully so. It is a disturbing, complex story about two individuals full of self-loathing and pain, both who have recently violently lost their sons and how they somehow overcome racism and inner-pain and form a deep bond and understanding…sort of. It’s all very ambiguous and mysterious, in no way trite, and though tense; never tedious. Here Ledger, as Thornton’s character’s son (Sonny) gives a rather short, but harrowing performance–it may be the picture which made studios take the man as a serious actor, and in turn, landed him his Oscar nominated role in the acclaimed Brokeback Mountain. Meanwhile, we can all look forward to Ledger’s take on “The Joker” character in the upcoming batman film, The Dark Knight.
