the new james dean
So. I came on to say how sad an really unbelievable it is that Heath Ledger died. Then I realized, unintentionally, that not only is he in my icon, but that it even says "I'm Not There", from the brilliant poster of the brilliant film that will be forever the last of his films he got to see before he died. A role that was about the mystique of Bob Dylan. A role that was probably most similar to Heath himself. I'm gonna go see it again tonight, i decided, because, A) it's good, B) it's playing for 3 bucks near my house, but also C) that it would be a good memorial.
I was almost more shaken by the death of Brad Renfro last week. And what's crazy, of all the celebrities in hollywood, I've actually been at arms distance from both.
Four years ago when I worked for Ben Stiller's Red Hour, I had to make a run to the Chateau Marmont to deliver a package to Justin Theroux. The Chateau is the Celebrity hotel in hollywood. It was also the week of the Oscars, and as I waited near the front desk, Heath Ledger walked right in front of me. I assumed he was there because he was dating Naomi Watts at the time, who was nominated that year for "21 Grams". And I remember he turned to say one last thing to the person he was walking away from, and with a carefree smile. That moment has seemed quite haunting to me the past few hours. But then I'm like, who am I? In that moment, I was just a grunt delivering a package. But it's nice to know that I have that memory of him. A real moment, not a celluloid moment.
In the same way, a month ago Nirvana and I were at our bar, Tom Bergin's, and we went out for a smoke. Our friend Charlie who's one of the bartenders was also out there, and he was telling us about this short film he's writing and directing at the bar, and this kid and his girlfriend who were sitting there chime in. This kid tells us about a project he's working on, and how it's about a drug addict redeeming his life. Nirvana comments on a wound on his arm. He laughs. Says he had broken his arm and when into graphic detail about how they fixed it. Kid seemed like he had done way to many drugs in his life. Key word "had", not "does". When we go back inside the bar, Charlie tells us it was Brad Renfro. Me and Nirvana have a laugh about this for the next couple weeks. I also find out my friend Mark was roommates with Brad, and Mark tells us more about the "bad" times. It just shook me to the core last week, and is still bothering me, because in that moment, outside the bar, he didn't seem like some hopeless case. Rather, he seemed to have hope, and was looking forward to his future. And was really truly trying to get his life back together.
Both young guys were tremendously talented, and as Mel Gibson said yesterday, I'm paraphrasing, "It's a shame we won't be able to see what roles they could have played in the future." I keep thinking it's pathetic to think we can be sad, because we didn't really know them. However, that's the power of celebrity. Because they open their lives up to the world. Think about how terrifying that is. I'm not afraid to admit that a part of me really truly grieves.
Here's to Heath. Here's to Brad. They're Not Here or There anymore. It's really sad.
I was almost more shaken by the death of Brad Renfro last week. And what's crazy, of all the celebrities in hollywood, I've actually been at arms distance from both.
Four years ago when I worked for Ben Stiller's Red Hour, I had to make a run to the Chateau Marmont to deliver a package to Justin Theroux. The Chateau is the Celebrity hotel in hollywood. It was also the week of the Oscars, and as I waited near the front desk, Heath Ledger walked right in front of me. I assumed he was there because he was dating Naomi Watts at the time, who was nominated that year for "21 Grams". And I remember he turned to say one last thing to the person he was walking away from, and with a carefree smile. That moment has seemed quite haunting to me the past few hours. But then I'm like, who am I? In that moment, I was just a grunt delivering a package. But it's nice to know that I have that memory of him. A real moment, not a celluloid moment.
In the same way, a month ago Nirvana and I were at our bar, Tom Bergin's, and we went out for a smoke. Our friend Charlie who's one of the bartenders was also out there, and he was telling us about this short film he's writing and directing at the bar, and this kid and his girlfriend who were sitting there chime in. This kid tells us about a project he's working on, and how it's about a drug addict redeeming his life. Nirvana comments on a wound on his arm. He laughs. Says he had broken his arm and when into graphic detail about how they fixed it. Kid seemed like he had done way to many drugs in his life. Key word "had", not "does". When we go back inside the bar, Charlie tells us it was Brad Renfro. Me and Nirvana have a laugh about this for the next couple weeks. I also find out my friend Mark was roommates with Brad, and Mark tells us more about the "bad" times. It just shook me to the core last week, and is still bothering me, because in that moment, outside the bar, he didn't seem like some hopeless case. Rather, he seemed to have hope, and was looking forward to his future. And was really truly trying to get his life back together.
Both young guys were tremendously talented, and as Mel Gibson said yesterday, I'm paraphrasing, "It's a shame we won't be able to see what roles they could have played in the future." I keep thinking it's pathetic to think we can be sad, because we didn't really know them. However, that's the power of celebrity. Because they open their lives up to the world. Think about how terrifying that is. I'm not afraid to admit that a part of me really truly grieves.
Here's to Heath. Here's to Brad. They're Not Here or There anymore. It's really sad.