VIdeo: Finding meaning in tragedy, or just a bad joke?

And I'm not talking about interactive midnight screenings of Showgirls here, but rather the death of Heath Ledger earlier this week.

Hard to argue that the actor's untimely-as-all-hell death qualifies as a true Hollywood tragedy (despite taking place in Manhattan): he was extremely talented, young, a father, and by all accounts a very nice guy. He also had a knack for challenging himself in his work, which is a rare trait these days for A-listers.

So one the one hand this video is a bit icky, as it uses a single shot of the actor's (covered) body being gurneed out of the SoHo apartment (not M-K's!) in which it was found. But on the other hand, the point made by the added audio is a hard one to argue with ... and given Ledger's own unease with his celebrity, quite poignant. Probably only one step away from gallows humor, but at least it's a step with a point.

Ten Things I Hate About Heath Ledger's Death

1. The Joker won't be back for another Batman movie, or they'll cast some shithead like Hayden Christensen to play him.

2. His daughter, Matilda, has no father.

3. Michelle Williams looks terrible in black.

4. No Brokeback sequel.

5. That he actually outlived Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan actually outlived him.

6. The fact that his body was discovered by a masseuse, which has a very Jackie Collins ring to it.

7. No more actors named "Heath".

8. He was a great actor.

9. He was a human being.

10. I'm going to cry even harder next time I watch Brokeback.

This is so fucking sad.

Okay, this is even sadder: I just had an accidental nap while watching I Know Who Killed Me (blame cold medicine, not Lindsay!) and I woke up convinced that Ledger's death was a brilliant viral marketing ploy by the Batman people.

And really, with shit like Cloverfield and all the Joker sites out there, can you blame me? Not to mention this:

Indeed.