The Dark, Dead Knight

The Dark Knight is getting mostly, excellent reviews. Apple Geniuses and World of Warcraft addicts everywhere are lining up for tickets. We’ll have to wait to see it until we can reserve Amanda the babysitter.

As much as I would like to see Heath Ledger’s performance, I think it will be difficult to throw myself into the movie without thinking about masseuses, Mary Kate Olson, cocktails of prescription drugs, and pathetic, boring self-destruction.

A few days ago, I watched "10 Things I Hate About You," which is one of my favorite teen flick. Great soundtrack, great Arts and Crafts house (I really have to refinish the hardwood trim in our house), great scenes with Allison Janney, great lines from the dad ("Kissing isn’t what keeps me up to my elbows in placenta all day long"). Ledger really does an outstanding job of going beyond the "bad boy with a heart of gold" role. He’s quirky and frizzy haired and awkward. More geeky than dangerous.

Leger had an approachability that makes his death more real than other icons that have kicked the bucket in recent years. He hadn’t been turned into a two dimension figure by the tabloids and publicists. He was fallible and sweet and uncomfortable. There was something fragile about his performances. This will be a hard movie to watch.