 "Photo: Amazon.com")
Movies have the great cinematic power of drawing large crowds consistently. Actors are largely responsible for the captivation of the audiences. Big names such as Heath Ledger, Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac were such actors; however, after their passings, they attract audiences for different reasons.
Thomas Leitch, a professor of film studies, states in an e-mail message that posthumous performances may or may not alter a viewer's opinion of a specific movie.
"I can't imagine an audience being unaffected by their knowledge that its star died shortly after completing it," Leitch says. "Just how they're affected is harder to say."
Ledger received much critical acclaim for his role as The Joker in "The Dark Knight." Ledger, who died from an accidental overdose, may be nominated for an Oscar in January for his role, according to a July CNN article.
Mac, who was widely known for his comedic roles, acted in a number of movies, including popular titles like "Ocean's 11" and "Guess Who?" He died Aug. 9 due to complications from pneumonia. Hayes, who stars with Mac in their last movie "Soul Men," also died shortly after filming ended.
Since "Soul Men" is the last movie that both Hayes and Mac filmed, the reaction from prospective audiences is one of curiosity and overall praise for Mac.
Freshman Stacey Lipschitz became intrigued by the fact that it's Mac's last movie.
"I expect it to be funny with a funny and clever plot," Lipschitz says. "Everyone will be talking about it."
Freshman Paula Bonanno expresses different sentiments toward the movie. Bonanno is interested in the movie as a whole and enjoys watching both of the main characters.
"I expect it to obviously be comical and I'm excited to see if Samuel L. Jackson ever beats anyone up, because he always does," Bonanno says.
The comedic plot interests her, but the fact that Mac died won't affect her overall viewing experience.
"I think it will either be funny or not funny," Bonanno says. "It does not matter whether he's dead or not."
While the box office success of "The Dark Knight" was overwhelming and record-breaking, the ultimate success of "Soul Men" has yet to be determined. However, Leitch says as long as the movie's deceased main character was a star before his or her death the movie should do well.
"The ones I know about have done very well, as long as the dead star is a bona fide star and not, say, Vic Morrow, who died during the filming of 'Twilight Zone: The Movie,' " he says. As a result of this fact, a sizable amount of money is projected to be generated by "Soul Men."
BoxOfficeMojo.com reveals that both of Mac's movies did well on opening day, Nov. 7. "Madagascar 2" was No. 1 at the box office, raking in $17.5 million. "Soul Men" was also a success, coming in at No. 6 and banking $1.8 million.
Leitch thinks critics and audiences do treat posthumous performances somewhat differently. He uses the example of Rudolph Valentino and his last movie.
"Rudolph Valentino, who died at 31 during the first release of his final picture, 'Son of the Sheik' in 1926, set the pattern for the romance of the dead star," Leitch says. "One hundred thousand people turned out for his funeral. I don't know of any star since then whose death has succeeded in propelling him so completely as Valentino from top star to mythic figure."
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