The late actor Heath Ledger's selfie videos—which he took obsessively—are combined with extensive interviews of friends, relatives, and colleagues in this revealing portrait of an extraordinary talent whose life was cut short. Ledger's career had already reached remarkable heights when he died at the age of 28—including performances in Brokeback Mountain and the posthumously-released The Dark Knight that were received with rapturous acclaim—but while filmmakers Adrian Buitenhuis and Derik Murray's documentary offers snippets from all of Ledger's film roles (including his 1999 debut in 10 Things I Hate About You), I Am Heath Ledger doesn't simply celebrate the breadth of the actor's talent, but also details his determination to improve and deepen his craft while also learning from costars like Mel Gibson. The film emphasizes the restless ambition that drove Ledger towards artistic expression not only through acting but also in collaboration on music videos, often with friends—some from his native Australia—who he invited to crash with him in his Hollywood home. But for all of the confidence that Ledger publicly exuded, coupled with his enthusiasm about becoming a father, there are brief glimpses of insecurity seen here, although the documentary does not delve too deeply into the circumstances of Ledger's death (which was ruled an accidental overdose from prescription drugs). I Am Heath Ledger includes heartfelt tributes from directors Ang Lee and Catherine Hardwicke, and actors Naomi Watts, Emile Hirsch, Ben Mendelssohn, and Djimon Housou, as well as others who talk about how Ledger touched their lives. Extras include additional scenes and a brief blurb about a scholarship created in Ledger's name. Recommended. Aud: P. (F. Swietek)
I Am Heath Ledger
(2017) 94 min. DVD: $19.99. Virgil Films (avail. from most distributors). Closed captioned. Volume 32, Issue 5
I Am Heath Ledger
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