Introduction to Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger is widely regarded as an actor of a generation. His versatility, range, and the roles he chose to play created a filmography that stands out from others. While most fans remember him for his iconic portrayal of the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, his roles in 10 Things I Hate About You, Brokeback Mountain, and other films are equally fascinating.
The Story of a Knight
One of his fan-favorite films, A Knight’s Tale, has found a free streaming home where fans can watch it. Written and directed by Brian Helgeland, A Knight’s Tale follows William Thatcher (Ledger), a peasant-born man who sets out to change his stars, find love, and rock his medieval world. With the help of his group of friends, he faces the ultimate test of medieval gallantry at a tournament and discovers whether he has what it takes to become a legend. The film’s blend of fictional storytelling with historical characters like Edward the Black Prince and Geoffrey Chaucer, as well as its soundtrack featuring 1970s music and epic action sequences, is a joy to watch.
Reception and Cast
Although the film received mixed reviews upon its release, it was a decent box office performer, earning $117.5 million worldwide. On Rotten Tomatoes, the critical consensus shows a divide between critics, who rated it 59%, and fans, who awarded the film a 79% rating on the review aggregation website. The film boasts an equally fascinating lineup, including Ledger as William, Mark Addy (Game of Thrones) as Roland, Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien) as Wat, Paul Bettany (Wall Street) as Geoffrey Chaucer, Shannyn Sossamon as Jocelyn, and Laura Fraser as Kate. Further rounding out the lineup are Bérénice Bejo, James Purefoy, Christopher Cazenove, and Nick Brimble.
Brokeback Mountain Celebrates its 20th Anniversary
Another fan favorite of Ledger’s, Brokeback Mountain, is a film that tells a tender and realistic story that can resonate with anyone. The cult classic is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a return to cinemas in a special screening in June. The film, which also stars Jake Gyllenhaal as rodeo cowboy Jack, explores the lives of two young men who meet in the summer of 1963 and unexpectedly form a lifelong connection. Things get complicated when Ennis (Ledger) marries his longtime sweetheart Alma (Michelle Williams) and Jack marries another rodeo driver (Anne Hathaway), while the two men maintain their sporadic affair over the course of 20 years.
Streaming and Cinema Release
A Knight’s Tale is currently streaming on Tubi, while Brokeback Mountain returns to cinemas on June 22nd and 25th. Fans of Heath Ledger can now enjoy these two films in different formats, reliving the magic of his performances and the stories that have captivated audiences for years.
