Ledger's Legacy: A new generation's James Dean?

It was a decade ago, and director Gil Junger was seeking fresh talent for his upcoming movie, "10 Things I Hate About You." He'd already seen 250 or 300 kids. In walked a young Australian TV actor looking for work.

After a quick line reading and a bit of improv, "I was stunned," Junger says now. Certain he was looking at someone with enough raw magnetism to be a movie star, he turned to his casting people. "Hire him immediately," he recalls saying of Heath Ledger.

Ten years after that teen flick launched his brief but hugely promising film career, Ledger is an overwhelming favorite to become, on Sunday, only the second actor to win a posthumous Oscar. If he does, the words "Oscar-winning actor" will doubtless precede each mention of his name forever.

But beyond that, what will his legacy be?

Will he be remembered by future generations simply as the talented, versatile young actor he was? Or will his sex appeal endure, lumping him with cinematic heartthrobs of the past? Will he be remembered for one role, his leering Joker in "The Dark Knight"? Or will his premature death be the defining memory, making him this generation's version of '50s cult icon James Dean?

It's easy to see why the Dean comparison has been so tempting. Both actors died in their 20s - Dean in a car crash at age 24, Ledger of an accidental prescription-drug overdose at 28. Like Ledger, Dean was known for a provocative kind of charisma, embodied in the famous photos of his misunderstood teenager in "Rebel Without a Cause."

Both were recognized with two Oscar nominations - Dean's were both posthumous, for "East of Eden" and "Giant." And both will remain forever young, with no inkling of how they would have aged or how their careers would have fared.

But in many ways, the two weren't alike at all.

"Dean was a whole different animal," says film historian Leonard Maltin. "He became a cultural icon because of the rebel role he embodied, and even the sort of glamorously grisly way that he died. I'd wager that many young people who have posters of him on their walls haven't even seen his movies."

Ledger, on the other hand, had no singular screen persona - it was in large part his versatility that set him apart. Imagine another young actor playing Ennis Del Mar, the taciturn, confused cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain," or the menacing Joker of "The Dark Knight," with the heartthrobs of "A Knight's Tale" and "10 Things I Hate About You" thrown in.

"There wasn't a Heath Ledger personality," says Maltin. "Ledger was a serious actor who will be remembered because he gave several indelible performances. He inhabited each role."

Maltin hopes Ledger will also be remembered for the creative risks he took - for example, taking a small role as a prison guard in 2001's "Monster's Ball," a choice that showed his reluctance to be typecast. "That sent a signal that this was a serious young actor, not a pretty boy looking to score points," Maltin says.

For some fans, it will always be Ledger's Oscar-nominated performance as the tortured ranch hand in Ang Lee's 2005 "Brokeback Mountain" that remains his defining performance, his diabolical Joker notwithstanding. Screenwriting professor Richard Walter hopes that role will be a central part of his legacy.

"He might indeed be a kind of James Dean figure, but I think he was a far, far superior actor to Dean," says Walter, who runs the screenwriting program at UCLA's film school. "Dean's whole persona was kind of a cartoon character." He predicts Ledger will remain a major name in cinema - "maybe not for as long as 20 to 30 years, but for a long while."

Ledger has now won a slew of awards for "The Dark Knight," including the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award, and it would be a surprise if he didn't capture the supporting actor Oscar. The award would be a fitting yet bittersweet bookend to his career.

"Winning an Oscar would go a long way toward solidifying the actor's legacy," says Todd Boyd, professor of popular culture at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts.

But will that legacy be one of an enduring cultural icon like Dean? "I think any time you have a celebrity who dies young while seemingly on the way up the ladder of success, comparisons to James Dean are inevitable," says Boyd. But Dean remains alive in our minds, he adds, because generations born after his death found his rebel image relevant to their own era.

"If future generations discover Ledger and find ways to make his image applicable to their times, then people may one day be asking whether a future celebrity who dies prematurely while on the way up is akin to Heath Ledger," Boyd says.

Ledger's family is celebrating his legacy in its own way. A dozen family members were in Hollywood this week, attending a party thrown by Australians in Film to honor the first recipient of the group's Heath Ledger scholarship, a 29-year-old Australian actor named Oliver Ackland.

It wasn't known who would accept the Oscar on Ledger's behalf should he win, but the Academy has said the statuette will be given to his daughter, Matilda.

For the many still aching to see more of Ledger, he has one movie yet to be released. He died in the midst of production on "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus," and director Terry Gilliam has salvaged the unfinished performance by enlisting three other big-name actors - Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell - to complete the part.

After that, Ledger's fans will be left to wonder what else this hugely talented actor might have had up his sleeve.

"The worst thing is we don't know what he would have done," notes Walter, the screenwriting professor. He points out that a similarly magnetic presence in his youth, Marlon Brando, is now remembered for a whole range of performances - the good, the bad, and the bizarre.

Junger, the director, now working on a TV version of "10 Things I Hate About You" for ABC, finds the comparisons to other actors, like Dean, of little value.

"I just think he was an extraordinary young talent whose life was snuffed out way too early," the director says.

"He would have had a shockingly good career."-AP

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Hugh Jackman promises a naked Oscars

Oscar host Hugh Jackman plans to reveal more than most at Sunday's awards ceremony.

"I haven't told anyone this, but we are going to do most of it naked and we're going to sing through the whole show," the affable actor joked during an interview backstage at the Kodak Theatre. "In fact, all the acceptance speeches are going to be sung. There will be some interpretive dance behind them, and I really think it will be beautiful and touching."

But don't expect People magazine's "sexiest man alive" to show everything.

"There will be a strategic leaf placed here or there," he said. "We don't want to be distasteful or anything. This is a raw night. This is the Oscars. Raw emotion, that's the quality we're going for."

The 40-year-old entertainer has hosted the Tony Awards three times, but this is his first time in the Oscar spotlight.

"If I hadn't done the Tonys, I think I'd be a lot more nervous than I am," he said.-AP

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TMZ posts photo it claims is a beaten Rihanna

A photo that purportedly shows singer Rihanna's face with bruises, scratches and swelling from an attack allegedly at the hands of boyfriend-singer Chris Brown was posted Thursday night by the celebrity Web site TMZ.

The image shows welts on the woman's forehead above each of her eyebrows, marks on her cheek and around her lips and general swelling. TMZ did not say how it obtained the photo, when it was taken or by whom.

Asked whether it could confirm the photo's origin, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Jason Lee said only that the agency hasn't released any images of the woman who accused Brown, and will not release evidence photos. A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney said all evidence related to the case against Brown is still with police.

Brown was arrested Feb. 8 and booked on suspicion of making felony criminal threats to a woman that authorities have not publicly identified. A person familiar with the situation, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and requested anonymity, confirmed that the woman was Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Fenty.

The person said some of the injuries shown in the photo — specifically the marks on the woman's forehead — were consistent with the injuries Rihanna sustained.

Prosecutors have asked police to provide more information before deciding whether to press charges against Brown. Police have said the 19-year-old singer could face domestic violence charges if prosecutors think they are appropriate.

The woman in the photo posted by TMZ has a tattoo of Roman numerals on her left shoulder; Rihanna was photographed by The Associated Press the night of the incident with a tattoo of the same numerals on the same shoulder.

TMZ had previously used its site to debunk a manipulated image that depicted Rihanna with a black eye.

No public statement has been issued on behalf of Rihanna, who turns 21 on Friday. Email and telephone messages left late Thursday with representatives for both Brown and Rihanna were not immediately returned.

Brown released a statement on Sunday, which read in part, "Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired." The statement, which did not mention Rihanna, said that Brown was consulting with loved ones, his mother and pastor.

Brown's arrest came roughly 18 hours after he and Rihanna left a pre-Grammy party honoring music mogul Clive Davis. According to police, Brown and a woman were involved in an altercation in a car traveling through the upscale Hancock Park neighborhood shortly after midnight. Police have said the woman had visible injuries, and that Brown was gone from the scene when they arrived. - AP

Photo courtesy of TMZ.com.
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Heath Ledger's family celebrates his Oscar nod

A dozen members of Heath Ledger's family have come to Hollywood, and though it's still not known whether any of them will accept an Oscar on his behalf, they're already celebrating the late actor's legacy.

The twelve - Ledger's parents, stepparents, siblings and cousins - were guests of honor at a party thrown by Australians in Film to recognize Aussie Oscar nominees and introduce the inaugural recipient of the Heath Ledger scholarship Thursday night at the Chateau Marmont.

Family members quietly greeted guests as they sipped sparkling wine in a corner, declining to talk to the press.

Scholarship winner Oliver Ackland, who cites Ledger among his role models, was humbled by the honor.

"The fact that it is in his name means the world," said the 29-year-old actor. "I admired Heath and I admired the work that he chose, the path he created for himself. It shows a lot of integrity on his behalf ... not just the choices he made but the way he went about it, in front of the camera and otherwise."

Ackland said was particularly nervous to meet Ledger's family Thursday.

"I think they could tell I was a bit nervous," Ackland said. "They just said, 'You'll be fine. Just be yourself.'"

Ackland shared e-mail addresses and a warm exchange with Ledger's sister Sally.

"She gave me a big hug and was just supportive," he said.

Australians in Film announced its Heath Ledger scholarship in June. Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman and Michelle Williams, mother of Ledger's daughter, Matilda, are among the benefactors.

Ledger died of an accidental prescription-drug overdose last year at age 28. He is the front-running nominee for the supporting actor Oscar for his role as the diabolical Joker in the Batman flick "The Dark Knight."

Other Australian nominees honored Thursday included Kirk Baxter, editor of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Catherine Martin, costume designer for "Australia," Lee Smith, editor of "The Dark Knight" and Ben Snow, visual effects for "Iron Man."

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Slumdog child actors will attend Oscars in LA

Fox Pictures executives say the child actors from "Slumdog Millionaire" will attend the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

The rags-to-riches story set in the slums of Mumbai has been nominated for 10 Oscar awards, including best picture and best director.

James Finn of Fox Searchlight Pictures said Friday that nine child actors will be flown to Los Angeles and put up in a five-star hotel.

Director Danny Boyle and his team plucked the child actors from one of Mumbai's teeming slums, where the gritty film was shot.

Finn says the company was making visa and travel arrangements for the children and their relatives until the last minute. - AP

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Writer: Some Oscar presenters have backed out

Anonymity has its perks — especially for celebrity Oscar presenters who might need to wriggle out of the gig.

At least some of the presenters who'd been in line for Sunday's Academy Awards show have backed out, said Bruce Vilanch, who is at work writing the revamped telecast.

"This year, since no one's names have been announced, they're all free to back out and nobody will know. And some of them have taken that option," he said Thursday. He didn't name names.

Laurence Mark and Bill Condon, who are producing the show for the first time, have promised sweeping changes but have been careful to keep many details under wraps — in particular the identity of presenters, many of whom won't be seen on the red carpet.

Joan Rivers, veteran host of pre-show arrivals telecasts of yore, said that's a wise idea.

"You want to see who are they wearing and what are they wearing," Rivers said. "And, if you're doing that on the red carpet, you don't necessarily have to tune into the show."

Rivers believes the red-carpet coverage has helped erode ratings for the Academy Awards.

"Of course, we took away," she said. "There's no question that these took away. I'm just surprised it took them that long to figure it out."

In past years, celebrity presenters have been a large part of the awards show's pre-publicity campaign — and that gives them incentive to stick to the job no matter what.

"Because when it's announced to the world that they're going to be there, they're not going to back out," Vilanch said.

"But now that nobody knows I'm doing it, and I already got the dress, I'll back out," he joked. "I'll back out, keep the dress and wear it someplace else." - AP

Shopaholic feels like a knockoff

Though the timing on "Confessions of a Shopaholic" couldn't have been worse — the idea of reveling in wretched excess when untold thousands are losing their homes, their jobs, their minds — there really is no appropriate moment for a shrill onslaught that perpetuates the worst stereotypes about female materialism.

To be fair, there are a couple of men at the shopaholics anonymous meetings Isla Fisher's character reluctantly attends, one of whom is played by former NBA star John Salley in one of many baffling casting choices. We'll get to those later.

First, we must address what an utter waste this is of Fisher's infinite likability. The effervescent redhead, who made a splash in "Wedding Crashers" but proved she could really act, too, in the little-seen noir "The Lookout," brings a bright energy to the role of compulsive shopper Rebecca Bloomwood but is too often trapped in hackneyed slapstick and cat fights.

There's something a little daffy and dangerous lurking beneath her perky cuteness, which this PG-rated, Jerry Bruckheimer-produced explosion of color and noise never puts to best use.

Instead, Rebecca comes off as a watered-down, latter-day Carrie Bradshaw, complete with a job as a journalist and a wardrobe designed by Patricia Field — even though the Sophie Kinsella books that inspired the movie, "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (2001) and "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan" (2002), came out right in the "Sex and the City" heyday. You know, back when it was still safe, if not glamorous, to consume frivolously. Rebecca even crosses a street in Manhattan wearing a pouffy pink dress that immediately calls to mind the tutu Carrie famously wore during the show's opening credits.

Homage or cheap-knock off? You make the call.

The plot — as if it matters, since "Confessions" is mostly about label worship — follows Rebecca's futile attempts at reducing her credit card debt of more than $16,000, even as she hypocritically writes a magazine column about smart shopping.

"A store can awaken a lust for things you never even knew you needed," she rhapsodizes in frequent voiceover (another Carrie tactic), cooing over the smells and feels of the overpriced goods at Barney's and Bendel's. Clearly, director P.J. Hogan is a long way from the delicate charm of his 1994 debut, "Muriel's Wedding."

At one rare low point, Rebecca is briefly honest about her shopping addiction: It gives her pleasure but afterward, she sinks into sadness; she must shop again to recapture the feeling. Then it's back to some frothy discussion about a scarf.

Hugh Dancy co-stars as the dashing British editor with whom she falls in love, which no one seems to think is inappropriate. John Goodman, Joan Cusack, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas and Lynn Redgrave are among the talents squandered in meager supporting roles. Redgrave gets maybe one line of dialogue and is credited as "Drunken Lady at Ball." Seriously.

Thomas fares vaguely better as the editor of Alette magazine, where Rebecca yearns to work. The fact that Thomas speaks English with a cartoony French accent only serves as a sad reminder of how convincingly she truly can act — in French, no less. Quelle dommage.

"Confessions of a Shopaholic," a Touchstone Pictures release, runs 100 minutes. One and a half stars out of four. - AP

Small fire at Tracy Morgan's NYC apt.; no injuries

Tracy Morgan says a faulty fish tank light apparently sparked a fire in his New York City apartment, but no one was hurt — not even the fish.

Firefighters were called to the comedian-actor's Manhattan apartment Wednesday morning. It's unclear whether the "30 Rock" star or anyone else was there.

In a statement, Morgan says the fire was contained to the area around the aquarium. He says sprinklers went off, and "even the fish are OK."

The Fire Department says the blaze was brought under control in less than half an hour.

The 40-year-old former "Saturday Night Live" actor is thanking firefighters for "their quick action." - AP

American Idol selects first 3 finalists

Tatiana Del Toro had something else to cry about. The emotional 28-year-old crooner from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was one of nine "American Idol" semifinalists sent packing Wednesday. Del Toro, whom judge Simon Cowell called a "drama queen" after her performance Tuesday, bawled after she wasn't selected to continue in the "Fox" singing competition.

"It's up to America," she told host Ryan Seacrest before the results. "It's up to the power of love."

No tears were shed by the first three finalists of season eight: Alexis Grace, the soulful 21-year-old single mother from Memphis, Tenn.; Michael Sarver, the beefy 27-year-old oil rig worker from Jasper, Texas; and Danny Gokey, the spikey-haired 28-year-old church music director from Milwaukee. The trio received the most viewer votes.

Recent widower Gokey overwhelmed the judges with Mariah Carey's "Hero" at the conclusion of Tuesday's ho-hum performance episode. They were also impressed with Grace's take on Aretha Franklin's "Never Loved a Man," comparing her to first "Idol" Kelly Clarkson. Sarver, who sang Gavin Degraw's "I Don't Wanna Be," received a mixed reaction from the panel.

"I think if you get through, it's because people like you," Cowell told Sarver on Tuesday.

Next week, 12 more semifinalists will vie for three spots in the competition's top 12, but Del Toro and the other dismissed semifinalists, such as Anoop Desai and Ricky Braddy, may have another chance. After the first nine finalists are selected by viewer votes, the judges will pick the last three finalists following a wild card round March 5. - AP

Usher's wife checks out of Brazil hospital

The wife of R&B singer Usher was released from a Sao Paulo hospital after spending 11 days recovering from a cardiac arrest she suffered shortly before undergoing plastic surgery.

A spokeswoman for the Sirio-Libanes Hospital said Wednesday that Tameka Raymond left the facility Monday night but declined to provide any details on Raymond's treatment at the family's request. The spokewoman spoke on condition of anonymity per hospital policy.

Representatives for Usher had no immediate comment.

Ellen Dastry, a spokeswoman for the doctor who was to perform the plastic surgery, said last week that Raymond suffered a cardiac arrest while being anesthetized ahead of a "simple liposuction" at Sao Paulo's Sao Rafael Hospital.

Raymond was revived in less than a minute with heart massage, and was placed in an induced coma before being taken to the intensive-care unit, said Dastry, spokeswoman for plastic surgeon Silvio Sterman.

She was then transferred to the posh and better-equipped Sirio-Libanes Hospital to recover.

Usher was supposed to perform at music mogul Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party, but backed out to come to Brazil to be with his wife.

The 30-year-old R&B star and his wife were married in August 2007. They have two young sons, 2-year-old Usher Raymond V and 2-month-old Naveid Ely Raymond. - AP