He's Not Much Of A Joker

After Heath Ledger's shocking death this week, the first thing that went through people's minds was probably "Will this affect the new Batman movie?!?!" As sad as that is, it's only natural. From the previews, he looks like he poured a lot of himself into the role and, dare I say it, it may have killed him. That's no joke(r). (Too soon?) Anyways, many other people have died while promoting movies or after great performances. Some have even been nominated for Academy Awards after their death. Although it's bittersweet, it's better than nothing, I suppose. So here you are the 6 After-Death Academy Award Nominations and their Subtle Irony.

Jeanne Eagels for The Letter (1929)
Award: Nominated for Best Actress
The Oh-So-Subtle Irony: The Letter was a French crime-drama about a woman who killed her husband and tried to convince the jury of her innocence. Eagels probably should have won the award but there is only one surviving copy of any of her films, this is it. In the end, she has to live with the always growing guilt of killing the man she loved. In reality, Eagels died of a bad (not sure if there's "good") combination of heroin and alcohol. So, it's not THAT ironic but still, there's a little something there. Or is that a bit of a stretch? Give me a break, she died 80 years ago.
Here is the lovely Mrs. Eagels. No wonder they called it THE letter, Jeanne is a Must "C". (Get it?) Wow, even I'm shaking my head thinking "Wow, Mike, Just Wow."


James Dean for East of Eden (1955) AND Giant (1956)
Award: Nominated Twice for Best Actor
The Oh-So-Subtle Irony: Dean's tragic death at the age of 24 was a terrible car accident. After a head on collison in his Porsche, Dean was still nominated TWICE, the only person ever to do so. Dean was a hard drug and alcohol user on the set of the movie. Although he wasn't high/drunk at the time, Dean was notorious for his crazy driving. The irony in his death does not lie within his 2 Academy Award nominated films. He was only in 3 movies and the one he wasn't nominated for, Rebel Without a Cause, featured a "chicken race" in which the other character died.
Dean would end up being the one who got plucked. Let the bad puns continue.
Here's a little "Jimmy D" tribute video to the ever appropriate "You Sexy Thing" by Marvin Gaye.


Spencer Tracy for Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967)
Award: Best Actor
The Oh-So-Subtle Irony: Tracy is tied with Laurence Olivier for the most nominations ever, with 9, so it's not that surprising that he got a posthumunous nomination. His death wasn't that ironic, since he was dying during filming. His friend Katherine Hepburn (who won Best Actress for this film) and him knew, during the filming of the last scene, that it would be their last line on film ever. The tears they cried were genuine as genuine gets. Hepburn never watched the film, as it was too painful. The only real irony in his death is that Tracy would NOT be the one coming to dinner. I'm on a roll, play me off Johnny.
Here's a little video compilation of Hepburn and Tracy together, which will only remind you of one thing: you will never get within 10 feet of anyone as attractive as Hepburn (especially if your reading my blog) and Tracy got to sleep with her.


Peter Finch for Network (1976)
Award: Won Best Actor, the only Actor/Actress to WIN a posthumunous Oscar
The Oh-So-Subtle Irony: Finch's character, Howard Beale, in the movie dealt with depression and insanity. He was told he would be fired in two weeks, then on air announced he would kill himself on the air within a week. He's later given his own segment to rant about the meaninglessness after ratings skyrocket, but once his ratings decline, he's murdered on air by the television studio. Is THAT ironic? Finch died roughly a month after the movie Network was released, almost like the film killed him itself! What studio couldn't "network" that into an Oscar win? HA!
Here's the most famous scene from the movie in which Finch's character announces he's "MAD AS HELL AND I"M NOT GONNA TAKE THIS ANYMORE!" It's actually pretty damn funny, since Finch didn't have to "take this" anymore once he died. (Yeah, that might have been in bad taste)



Ralph Richardson for Greystroke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)
Award: Nominated for Best Supporting Actor
The Oh-So-Subtle Irony: How about this? Richardson played a character "The 6th Earl of Greystroke" then died of A STROKE a few months later. Even though I'm one of the only people on Earth that would even chuckle at that, it's still semi-ironic. Even more subtle is that his character was trying to convert an outcast into a different society, much like he was attempting to convert himself from a stage actor to a film actor. Other than that, I got nothing here.
There were really no relevant videos or worthy pictures, so here is a cartoon Tarzan.


Massimo Troisi for Il Postino (1995) (The Postman)
Award: Nominated for Best Actor
The Oh-So-Subtle Irony: Troisi actually put off his heart operation to finish this film. He died the DAY after filming the movie of a massive heart attack. He is killed in the film while trying to recite poetry to his love interest. In reality, he died trying to put poetry onto film. Please don't confuse this film with Kevin Costner's garbage film The Postman, as that would only be ironic in that while this film killed Troisi, Costner's film made me want to kill myself. Troisi's stubborn sacrifice for the film was a true example of dedication. Troisi truly "delivered" for this film. It's just too bad it got there just before his "deadline" on life.
Here's a nice little clip from the movie. No more puns, I promise. I wouldn't want to FedEx another bad line out there into cyberspace.


Now that you've heard enough of my bad puns and untasteful jokes, you can take a break from reading my blog for a little while. I'll be sure to grace you with my presence soon enough. Besides, this is some pretty important information your taking in here when you read this blog. What would you do without knowing this stuff? It's excellent part talk and very good to use as an icebreaker. "Hey, did you know Peter Finch is the only actor to win a posthumunous Oscar?" "No" "Well, I didn't until I just looked into your eyes."
Gold, baby, pure gold.