Christian Bale: A "Kindred Spirit" to Heath Ledger
Christian Bale wants people to know Heath Ledger’s work as the twisted and morose Joker in The Dark Knight was just thatwork!
“I hope in a small way that The Dark Knight can be a celebration of his work,” Bale says in the new issue of Parade magazine. “Not like the hideous circus after he died, which I felt was an invasion of a private life. This movie is not a personal home video. This is what he did. I hope people will embrace that in the correct fashion.”
Bale misses his late costar dearly. “He was a unique character, a very infectious character,” he says. “He was a good man, and I was glad to have spent time with him…He was something of a kindred spirit to myself.”
Bale also opens up about his own life, including spending much of his childhood on the road because his mother was a circus dancer. These days, he lives a much more stable existence with his wife, Sibi, and their three-year-old daughter (whose name Bale refuses to reveal publicly).
“There’s a hard line you find in yourself when you become a parent, an absolute belief that cannot be questioned,” he says. “It’s something that you will kill and die for in a way that you never experienced before. I’ve always enjoyed the gray in life. This is an area of total black and white. This is something that is unquestionable.”
Five greatest GOB moments (season one)
The segue. The illusions. The initials. The menacing raspy voice, calling “Michael.” GOB is my favorite character on Arrested Development. And this week, I will pay tribute to him by bringing you The Five Greatest GOB Moments, one list per season.
It’s gonna be good times after the jump!
Here’s something to start us off… Club Sauce
1. The Aztec Tomb
Michael: “So this is the magic trick huh?”
GOB: “Illusion, Michael. A trick is something a whore does for money…or candy.”
We first met GOB aboard a yacht at George, Sr.’s retirement party. Of course, he couldn’t help Michael pay for the party because he spent $18,000 on his new trick, er, illusion called The Aztec Tomb. Later on in the pilot, GOB tries to hide his father in the Tomb when the police crash the soiree.
2. I’ve Made a Huge Mistake
“Life, Dad. I killed a guy.” –GOB to his father when George, Sr. asks him what the heck he’s doing in prison.
But GOB’s not serving a life sentence in “Key Decisions,” which aired on November 23, 2003. In an effort to upstage his girlfriend Marta, an actress on a Spanish language soap opera called El Amor Prohibido, GOB stands up during her interview and announces that he’ll be escaping from prison: “No shackles can hold these hands. Say that for them in Spanish.”
After many attempts, GOB finally swallows the key but realizes once inside that he can’t pass the key. He needs a private bathroom to do so. This marks the first time GOB says, “I’ve made a huge mistake.” He says it again later on in the episode after he recommits himself to Marta.
3. Hermano
“You’re a good man, mon frere. I don’t know why I know that. I took four years of Spanish.” –GOB to Michael, thanking him for helping uncover the true identity of “Hermano.”
This joke about Marta’s secret lover started with “Marta Complex” and was continued on in “Beef Consumme.” After hearing his girlfriend on the phone with her mother, GOB realizes that she might be interested in another man. His only clue? The man’s name is “Hermano.” Michael, who is in love with Marta, agrees to track down Hermano and follows Marta to the set of El Amor Prohibido.
In the following episode, Buster also falls for Marta after breaking things off with Lucille Austero. Looks like three hermanos are in love with one girl. Buster also tells his hermanos that he’s always wanted to get hit in the face.
GOB: “Wait, you know hermano?”
Buster: “Hermano is brother in Spanish. As in, ’Hey, hermano.’”
GOB: “Hermano means brother? Well, sounds like Hermano is about to get his ass kicked.”
Buster: “Well, that’s exactly what I wanted. Alright Let’s get it over with.”
4. The Chicken Dance
The first chicken dance! I’m including it as one of GOB’s greatest moments because the chicken dance provided much laughter over the three seasons. In “Staff Infection,” aired on March 14th, 2004, the siblings all wanted their paychecks and Michael started cracking down. Lindsay had to answer the phones. Buster had to work in the copy room, but since confined spaces scare him, he was moved to construction. GOB joined him at the site but then got the rest of the workers riled up and tried to lead a mutiny. Buster disagreed with his brother, saying that work is fun. GOB called him a chicken and… so was born the chicken dance. The threat ended with the brothers facing off in a real battle of chicken… not with hot rod cars, but with slow-moving construction vehicles.
5. The Disappearing Yacht
“Any magician can make a Queen of Diamonds disappear. What about a whole BOAT?” –GOB during Spring Break, “Missing Kitty”
This illusion wasn’t an illusion at all. After announcing that he’ll make the yacht disappear at a Girls with Low Self-Esteem filming the year prior, GOB sinks the yacht. Hey, disappearing is disappearing, right? Michael, needless to say, is appalled that GOB sunk a $700,000 yacht. He’s even further scared when he finds out the George Michael could’ve been on the yacht. Thankfully, George Michael is safe. But poor Kitty isn’t. George, Sr.’s secretary and the cooler marked “H. MADDAS” was on the yacht.
Jessica Alba Can’t Get No Satisfaction
Jessica Alba Can’t Get No Satisfaction
When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping! At least, that’s the case for Jessica Alba. She was spotted out on a spree yesterday in Toronto, Canada, with her stunt double Taryn Dakha. And according to a recent interview, it may have been a form of retail therapy.
The Dark Angel actress told press that when it comes to dating, her status as one of Hollywood’s hottest hasn’t helped her in her quest to find a good man.
She said, “I think it’s probably the same as it is for anyone else.” Jessica also commented that guys aren’t the only wackjobs in the dating pool.
“All my girlfriends who aren’t actresses have the same problems finding a dude as anyone in Hollywood. Guys are a headache, but girls are headaches too. We’re all nuts!”
Zac Efron’s Doctor Checkup
Zac Efron’s Doctor Checkup
He was recently hospitalized with appendicitis, but you can’t keep a good man down! Zac Efron was spotted all over Hollywood, California yesterday attending to business as usual.
The High School Musical hottie was spotted on his way to a doctor’s appointment, at the Riverside Medical Building in Studio City. Afterwards, he stopped at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, as well as Jamba Juice. Talk about getting enough fluids!
Earlier in the day, Zac was seen chatting up one of his neighbors outside his West Hollywood Home. He was sporting a straw fedora, white t-shirt, and some super skinny jeans.
Efron has been keeping busy with his new flick “Seventeen,” and after that he’ll be filming the third installment in the High School Musical franchise.