Heath Ledger's Golden Globe Will Go To His Daughter

Heath Ledger emerged victorious Sunday night at the Golden Globes, winning for his portrayal of the Joker in "The Dark Knight." While director Christopher Nolan accepted the award on the late actor's behalf, Ledger's daughter, Matilda Rose, will end up with the Globe, according to Ledger's mother.

Actually, Sally Bell told People.com that Matilda will get all of her father's posthumous awards.

"I should imagine that eventually it will be going to Matilda," Bell said in an interview from her home in Perth, Australia. "At this stage, she is only so young, but down the track, she will have all these things. It will belong to her, because she is part of him."

Bell said she and her family learned of Ledger's win before boarding a flight, and they were "bursting with pride."

"It is such a fantastic and wonderful legacy for his daughter," Bell said of the role her son "loved." "Matilda will have so many people who will be able to speak to her about her father's abilities and [the] respect he had in the industry. That is such a wonderful legacy to leave.

"There is a lot of emotion tied up in this, and we have to deal with that emotion first before we can relax and enjoy the moment," she added.

Ledger was found dead in a Manhattan apartment last January when he was only 28. His mom said the family is still trying to cope with his tragic death, of an apparent overdose from prescription drugs.

"[It has been] a bit of an emotional roller coaster," Bell said.

But she said recognition from Ledger's peers has been comforting. "That's what meant the most to him really," she says.

Heath Ledger’s Family ‘Overjoyed’ By Golden Globe Win
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Wrestling With Mickey Rourke

The buzz, now building to a roar, started last September, when a rush print of Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" won the Golden Lion for best picture at the Venice Film Festival. Then, last Sunday, the movie's star, Mickey Rourke — who might well have taken the best-actor award in Venice, if the festival's rules hadn't precluded it — won a Golden Globe for his performance in the film. Next up: the Oscars — and "The Wrestler" is looking good.

Could there be an unlikelier movie than this one? Made with French money — and very little of it — and shot in definitively unglamorous New Jersey in the grimmest depths of winter, "The Wrestler" is a raw, bloody character study of a faded pro grappler at the end of his ring career. And Rourke was a star so faded himself that when he took on the role of Randy "The Ram" Robinson, potential financial backers were scared away in droves. But it's the autobiographical resonance the 52-year-old actor brings to the picture that makes it so spellbinding — and so heart-rending.

Rourke and Aronofsky stopped by the MTV newsroom recently — the director in one of the trim-cut suits he currently favors, the actor arrayed in leather and cigarettes. Their relationship seems grounded in affection and respect and non-stop volleys of splendidly obscene wisecracks. They sat, they talked, and we poked into subjects ranging from the development of the movie's script and the surprising improvisation of its now-famous deli scene to Bruce Springsteen's contribution of a free song to the film's soundtrack (quite a story) and Mickey-fan Axl Rose's lowball fee for the use of "Sweet Child O' Mine." There were also passing shout-outs to Brutus Beefcake and Greg the Hammer, of course, and ... well, see for yourself.

‘Dark Knight’ sweeps People’s Choice Awards
(AP)
How Mickey Rourke Got Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Wrestler’ Song — For Free
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Golden Globe Predictions: Our Money’s On Heath Ledger, Brad Pitt To Come Out On Top

The Sundance Movies That Could Reinvent Their Stars

From the heyday of John Cassavetes through the movement forged by names like Soderbergh, Tarantino and Jarmusch, indie films have long provided a shelter for A-list actors looking to step outside the box.

Whether you're talking Bruce Willis ("Pulp Fiction"), Johnny Depp ("Dead Man"), Tom Cruise ("Magnolia") or Aaron Eckhart ("Thank You for Smoking"), some of Hollywood's biggest names have reinvigorated their careers at key moments with material that would make most studio heads cower under their desks.

Later this week, your MTV Movies team will once again hit the ground running at the 25th Annual Sundance Film Festival. As always, we'll be looking for tomorrow's biggest movies before the world has heard of them — as well as the star-transforming roles that could make an impact like those listed above.

Below are several well-known actors and the outside-the-box films that could have them leaving Park City covered in snow, awards — and buzz:

John Krasinski, "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men":
He's best known as that wisecracking guy from "The Office" and the star of such lightweight comedies as "License to Wed" and "Leatherheads." But by the time he gets back from Sundance, Krasinski could reinvent himself as a writing /directing / acting triple threat. "Hideous" was adapted by the actor from a novel by the recently deceased David Foster Wallace and tells the story of a freshly dumped woman (Julianne Nicholson) who begins interviewing men in an effort to understand what makes their behavior so, well, hideous. Could it become the sitcom star's "Garden State"?

Patton Oswalt, "Big Fan":
He's spent the past decade or so as the funniest stand-up comic who always seems thisclose to becoming a household name. Now, the savage, pop-culture-skewering comedian gets his first leading-man role in this provocative, quirky drama that sounds like "King of Comedy" meets "Straw Dogs." The plot kicks off with one simple question: If your favorite sports player beat you up, what would that do to your psyche?

Nick Cannon, "The Killing Room":
"He plays a homeless person, so he went and slept out on the streets!" director Jonathan Liebesman marveled over Cannon's dedication to his new flick, a government-experiment thriller that sounds like "Cube" meets "Firestarter." "He had no ego about who he was and what his audience was expecting and just wanted to do what's right for the film and push himself." For the third consecutive year, Mr. Mariah Carey is an indie darling at Sundance, and with Chloл Sevigny and Peter Stormare also in tow, "Room" sounds particularly intriguing. "He definitely has a drive to become a better actor and push his talent as far as it will go."

Sam Rockwell, "Moon":
OK, Rockwell has been an indie fave for years and has already gone to some unexpected places in films like "Choke" and "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." But we can't think of anybody trying anything quite like "Moon," a film about a hallucinating astronaut stranded alone for three years on the lunar surface. Directed by David Bowie's son, it might be the 21st century's first philosophical astronaut film. Ground control to Major Sam: Check ignition, and may God's love be with you.

Wesley Snipes, "Brooklyn's Finest":
Mickey Rourke just rose from the dead to win a Golden Globe by starring in an indie flick with festival buzz. Can the scandal-ridden "Blade" star be far behind? This cop drama pairs Snipes with Richard Gere, Don Cheadle and Ethan Hawke, and there are few things Hollywood loves as much as a comeback.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Mary and Max":
Although the plot sounds like the usual envelope-pushing fare we've come to expect from the "Capote" Oscar winner, "Max" uses claymation (!) to tell the story of an unlikely friendship between an 8-year-old Australian (voiced by Toni Colette) and an obese 44-year-old New Yorker (Hoffman). If it works, can a Pixar-fueled sequel be far behind? Actually, yeah, it probably can.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

‘Dark Knight’ sweeps People’s Choice Awards
(AP)
Lil Wayne Documentary, ‘The Carter,’ To Premiere At Sundance Film Fest Next Month

Clint Eastwood's 'Gran Torino' Makes The Box Office's Day

The Top Five

#1 "Gran Torino" ($29 million)
#2 "Bride Wars" ($21.5 million)
#3 "The Unborn" ($21.1 million)
#4 "Marley & Me" ($11.3 million)
#5 "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" ($9.45 million)

Neither the demonic unborn nor battling brides can defeat Clint Eastwood when it comes to the box office. His latest directorial effort (and second in a single year) gunned down all other contenders for the number one spot, bringing in a grand total of $29 million. "Gran Torino" has already been doing solid numbers in limited release, and can boast a total haul of $40.1 million. It's actually the biggest opening Eastwood has ever had as an actor or a director, which is fitting for what the acting legend has hinted may be his final starring role.

Though Eastwood's latest film did surprising numbers with female audiences (52 percent of the audience was female, unusual numbers for the alpha-male actor), it's probably not surprising that the #2 spot went to the female-friendly "Bride Wars," which earned a solid $21.5 million with the under-25 crowd. But Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway might have felt a cold chill coming up the aisle, as "The Unborn" fell just shy of the spot with $21.1 million. The debut of Sony's religious-themed drama "Not Easily Broken" didn't crack the top five, but it managed to come in at #9 with $5.6 million.

The specialty films that expanded their releases also did impressive numbers, though all three failed to crack the top 10. "The Wrestler" added 42 screens for a weekend gross of $874,000, bringing its total gross to $2.8 million from a mere 60 screens — Mickey Rourke's big win at the Golden Globes on Sunday night should give it a boost. Kate Winslet's dramatic pair of "Revolutionary Road" and "The Reader" also expanded, but only "Road" increased its box office take, bringing in $1.4 million from only 135 screens (ditto!).

Overall, the box office continued its hearty haul last weekend, and every debut actually exceeded its studio's expectations. It seems that a rough economy can put a dent in every industry but the movies, and that it takes more than a downturn to keep audiences away from Clint Eastwood or wedding catfights.

Upcoming Releases

Three major releases are poised for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend: Lionsgate 3-D horror film "My Bloody Valentine," DreamWorks' family-friendly "Hotel for Dogs," and the Paramount-Sony comedy, "Paul Blart: Mall Cop."

We've got every angle of the Golden Globes covered! Head to the Movies Blog to check out our live blog of the show as it happened. Plus, get a fashion flashback with our red-carpet blog. All the Globes glamour is here.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Golden Globes Nominations Honor ‘Benjamin Button,’ ‘Doubt,’ ‘Frost/Nixon’ — And ‘Tropic Thunder’!
Jim Carrey’s ‘Yes Man’ Outweighs Will Smith’s ‘Seven Pounds’ At Box Office
‘Dark Knight’ sweeps People’s Choice Awards
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The Killers slay at L.A. radio show
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Backstage At The Golden Globes: Kate Winslet's Secret Papers, Mickey Rourke's Dogs And More

BEVERLY HILLS, California — Sitting at home on your couch, you saw Kate Winslet pulling double duty, Darren Aronofsky flipping Mickey Rourke the bird and a touching tribute to Heath Ledger's legacy. Backstage at the Prop 8," the double-Oscar winner said of the bill that has banned gay marriage in the state. "In any given election in the state of California, you can put some commercials on the air and convince [the voters] of anything. But it won't last. Fear not; this is America. We are going to be OK, and we are going to do the right thing."

Asked for his coolest moment of the night, Tracy Morgan gave a typically unpredictable answer. "I shook hands with Tom Cruise during a commercial," the "30 Rock" star grinned. "Cool stuff!"

And for the dirtiest moment of the night, Ricky Gervais clued us in on the off-color Holocaust joke he barely held back while onstage. "I was going to say that when I got the DVD for 'Schindler's List', one critic said, 'You should have a box of tissues ready,' " he smiled coyly. "And I was going to say, 'That sounds a bit sick!"

For sheer infectious joy, however, it was hard to beat Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) winner Sally Hawkins, a new Hollywood star who was "Happy-Go-Lucky" in more ways than one. "I think I said too much; it exploded my head, to say the least," the 32-year-old British actress said of her win. Asked what Meryl Streep screamed to her on her way towards the stage, Hawkins revealed: "She said, 'Are you happy now?' And no, I had never met her before. But yes, Meryl, I am happy!"

We've got every angle of the Golden Globes covered! Head to the Movies Blog to check out our live blog of the show as it happened. Plus, get a fashion flashback with our red-carpet blog. All the Globes glamour is here.

Ricky Martin calls fatherhood a `spiritual moment’
(AP)
How Mickey Rourke Got Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Wrestler’ Song — For Free

How Mickey Rourke Got Bruce Springsteen's 'Wrestler' Song -- For Free

Finding music for a film isn't typically an actor's job, but in the case of Bruce Springsteen's theme song to "The Wrestler," which won a Golden Globe last night for Best Original Song, the Boss has actor Mickey Rourke to thank for adding yet another trophy to his collection.

In a conversation last month with Kurt Loder, Rourke and "Wrestler" director Darren Aronofsky shared how they convinced Springsteen to pen the tune — for nothing. (Head to the Newsroom blog to find out how Rourke got Axl Rose to give them a good price on "Sweet Child O' Mine.")

"Mickey knows the Boss from years ago," Aronofsky said, "but they haven't been in touch during Mickey's lost years. ... And Mickey wrote him a letter — a very long, heartfelt letter — and sent him the script."

Obviously Rourke — who also won a Golden Globe last night, for Best Lead Actor in a Motion Picture Drama — was willing to put his heart and soul into making sure "The Wrestler" would succeed. In what is being considered a major comeback for the once-forgotten actor, the role is now making him a favorite for an Oscar nomination.

Apparently his letter-writing skills are quite good, too. According to Aronofsky, "The Boss called Mickey in the middle of the night and said, 'I'm in Europe and I'm touring, and I don't know if I can do this, but if I can, I'll try something.' "

About a month later, the duo went to see Springsteen in concert at Giants Stadium. After Rourke introduced his director to the Boss, Springsteen picked up his guitar and proceeded to play the now award-winning tune.

"I literally got stage fright," Aronofsky said. "I never knew what stage fright was! My chin just went down, and I said in my head, 'Oh my God, I'm freezing up in front of Bruce Springsteen.'"

"Then he played the song," said Rourke.

"Right," said Aronofsky. "Then we started talking, and then he played the song, and it was amazing. And he's like, 'I don't know if it's good yet.' "

Apparently, the Golden Globe voters thought it was!

"Anyway, he's a normal guy," Aronofsky said. "And then he gave us the song for free."

Check back later this week, when we publish our full conversation with Mickey Rourke and Darren Aronofsky.

We've got every angle of the Golden Globes covered! Head to the Movies Blog to check out our live blog of the show as it happened. Plus, get a fashion flashback with our red-carpet blog. All the Globes glamour is here.

Bruce Springsteen “Working” on a new hit
(Reuters)
Backstage At The Golden Globes: Kate Winslet’s Secret Papers, Mickey Rourke’s Dogs And More
Springsteen explains quick turnaround of new album
(AP)

Heath Ledger's Family 'Overjoyed' By Golden Globe Win

Heath Ledger's family is thrilled that the late actor won a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for his work as the joker in "The Dark Knight."

"We are overjoyed for him," the actor's father, Kim Ledger, told People from his home in Australia. Ledger couldn't make it to the ceremony, citing personal reasons for missing his late son's win. He said "it's wonderful" that Heath was honored for his role in the action flick.

Ledger was up against veteran actors like Tom Cruise, Robert Downey Jr., Ralph Fiennes and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Accepting the award for Ledger — who died last January of an accidental overdose of prescription medication in his home in New York City — was the film's director, Christopher Nolan, who said that Ledger "will never be forgotten."

"After Heath passed on, you saw a hole ripped in the future of cinema — but with the extraordinary response to his work that we've seen all over the world, I, for one, start to be able to look a bit less at that gap in the future and a little bit more at the incredible place in the history of cinema that he built for himself with his talent and with his dedication to his artistry," the director told the crowd.

"For any of us lucky enough to work with him, I think for any of us lucky enough to have enjoyed his performances, he will be eternally missed. But he will never be forgotten."

We've got every angle of the Golden Globes covered! Head to the Movies Blog to check out our live blog of the show as it happened. Plus, get a fashion flashback with our red-carpet blog. All the Globes glamour is here.

‘Dark Knight’ sweeps People’s Choice Awards
(AP)
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