BlackBook

It was bound to happen. The Dark Knight has garnered its first negative review and it comes from New York Magazine critic David Edelstein. The film was sporting a 100% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes until Edelstein came along and spoiled the party. He called Heath Ledger's performance, which has earned unanimous raves, "painful to watch," and wrote that "scarier than what the Joker does to anyone onscreen is what Ledger must have been doing to himself." As for the film's script, it's as if it was written by "Oxford philosophy majors trying to tone up a piece of American pop." And speaking of Oxford philosophy majors, it seems as though one of them eloquently responded to Edelstein's review in the comments section.

As the frenzy towards the July 14 New York City premiere of The Dark Knight continues to build (oh how I wish I could attend), Heath Ledger’s performance, and its posthumous status, are predictably overshadowing the film itself (although reviews have been rave). Will the premier proceedings pay tribute to the late actor, will his ex-fiancée Michelle Williams attend, and what of Ledger's family's attendance? For the record, Williams was never planning to attend, the premiere will not serve as a tribute, and Ledger's family aren't confirmed as guests. Williams’ rep says that the premiere "was never on her calendar and she’s not in the movie. This isn’t a press event for her. She’s not going, there is no reason.” Jake Gyllenhaal, however, will attend his former onscreen lover’s premiere as a guest of sister Maggie, who has a role in the film as Bruce Wayne’s love interest.

The first review of the highly anticipated movie The Dark Knight has showed up online over at RollingStone.com, and Peter Travers, their resident film guru, flips his shit. In his trademark hard-boiled style, Travers warns us that a “a thunderbolt is about to rip into the blanket of bland we call summer movies.” As for Heath Ledger’s final complete performance as the Joker, he calls the actor “mad-crazy-blazing brilliant,” and refers to his version of the Clown Prince as “all rampaging id.” Calls for a posthumous Oscar ensue, and Ledger’s status should grow to near mythical.

Who knew the ripple effects of Heath Ledger’s untimely death would make it all the way to the Toys "R" Us in Times Square? According to the New York Post, action figures modeled after Ledger’s Joker character in the upcoming Batman sequel The Dark Knight, have sold out. The dolls, which retail for $9.99, are going for as much as $60 on eBay. One of the dolls, an anime-inflected design for the kiddies, shares no discernible likeness with Ledger whatsoever, save for the shaggy locks. But no matter—his accidental death has launched him to icon-status. Mix that with the Joker’s canonical slot in pop culture mythology, and you’ve just made yourself a collector’s item.