The world was shaken when news of one of Australia's greatest export and bona fide actor, Heath Ledger's death spread like this year's Australian wildfire. People could not believe someone who was looking at a bright future ahead of him would be gone in the blink of an eye. Or more so by the cruel and unmerciful hand of Fate.
'It won't be long before one great loss would be followed by more.'
Last year alone saw many deaths of Hollywood big names and then some. Bernie Mac, whom most of us might remember as the 'guy who sold Bumblebee to Shia LaBeouf' in Transformers and in Charlie's Angel's big screen adaptation as Drew, Cameron and Lucy's lovable aide and confidante passed away from the world's unelusive number one killer- heart failure. No one saw it coming.
Earlier this year, hands down, Natasha Richardson's death was unequivocally the most heartbreaking. What made it painful was the fact that A) her death could have been prevented B) having to watch as Natasha was slowly slipping away from the world in three short days since her misfortune was announced to the public. (On a more personal note, I had also lost my grandfather during that period of time thus I felt more connected to her family in more ways than one.)
In eventual time, the forthcoming death to hit us once more was 72-year-old Hollywood veteran and was still going at it (at the time of his death, he was still filming a movie called 'Stretch' in Bangkok), David Carradine. He was found in a situation that most of us would never wish would happen to us. Somewhat humiliating and somewhat tragic altogether. The media was quick to pin 'A Sexual Act Gone Wrong' all over it. And it as usual got everyone talking. Give the dearly departed some credit here, will you? What are we to expect when you're a man working in the sex trade capital of the world? However, reports are still ongoing about an investigation into Carradine's death. Some believe that it may have actually been foulplay, especially for an actor who was regarded as someone who was so keen on life and his work.
'We are losing real talents while talentless people continue to slowly dominate Hollywood.'
In reference to an earlier post I wrote ( "Psychoanalyzing Speidi"), celebrities these days are now founded merely on reality shows or blown-up tabloid attention and a handful based on their own merits. Technically,if we drew a suitabe analogy, the Oscars this year got way less hype than the ongoing scrutiny on Robert Pattinson's love life.
'That is how dog-awful Hollywood,the land of dreams has become.'
Actors now who are aspiring youths dream more of becoming famous for other things than acting. Acting was merely a quick gateway to becoming instant celebrities. A quick gateway to becoming one of the most talked about person in Tinsletown and the most doodled on Perez Hilton's blog.
'Death and taxes may be the two things in life we cannot avoid, but preventing Hollywood from spiralling out of its main purpose can be.'
Set your priorities straight, someone should tell the media. But that would take years of undoing. These few actors I have mentioned in this article were only brought back into the spotlight after their untimely demise. If Heath Ledger hadn't passed, we might never hear of him in the tabloids for a long time. One might point out that his Dark Knight performance would have done just that. But as I have noted, The Oscars receive only a flicker of hype when the season rolls nearer but as it rolls away, the hype would recede quickly just as it came in.
'Fame may be build on talents but it isn't as easy as building it on notoriety.'
That's why reality shows and other mish-mash of pointless tabloid runs prove how Hollywood has turned more into the world's media circus rather than the epicenter of producing people who are actually famous for their hard work.
It's funny how this may be Hollywood's version of a recession.
Amanda.A talks to herself on Twitter too. Follow her here!
