On the aniversary of his death, Hollywood today nominated Heath for his lauded performance in The Dark Knight. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/23/2472612.htm?section=world The Dark Knight was snubbed for Best Picture or Best Director catagories.
Yeah, I was glad to see him nominated, and believe he will win. Not because of his death, but because of the incredible performance and portrayal of the Joker. Talk about getting deep into character. I thought he was genius.
I am a long time Batman fan, and IMO he nailed the dark side of the Joker to a 'T'. The Joker, many forget, was a homicidal maniac who relished murder and mayhem.
When someone talks of NAILING a performance, look no further than Ledger and his portrayal of the Joker. That is NAILING it.
Great to see Ledger get nominated but I thought The Dark Knight was snubbed of a Best Picture nomination.
I agree. I thought, with certainty, that The Dark Knight would be nominated. There were a couple of inferior films nominated in it's stead. I thought it was BS.
Certainly a bittersweet day. Obviously it's great Heath was once again honored for his brillant work but it's also sad that his life was cut short so sudden. Obvious I'm extremely disappointed that TDK didn't get nominated for any of the other major awards like Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay. I'm not even saying it had to win but personally I think the awards board could have made a strong statement if they had nominated the film instead of taking all of 'safe' choices. Oh well. At least Heath will probably win the award and the lasting memory of him on film will be of him hanging upside down laughing like a mad man.
And to think some thought he was committing career suicide when he took the part of Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain. In truth, that part led him to be noticed by Nolan, and cast as the Joker.
About as surprising as Brett Favre throwing an INT. If he didn't get nominated, movie fans and comic book fans would freak out. Not really surprised either about Dark Night getting supposedly "snubbed". It was a fun, big-budget action flick. The Oscars don't reward those types of movies.
His interpretation was flawless. That can't be done from just reading a script. There are a few actors that post on this board, I am sure some of them will weigh in on this.
he did a good job, but point is the joker was already geared towards a more darker joke just by the events that take place.
I disagree man. Not sure if you read the script but Heath added so much more to the character than what was written. Just the way he walked, licked his lips and scars, and some of the things he ad-libbed such as clapping when the Mayor appointed Gordon commissioner and after he talks to Dent in the hospital he washes his hands with the soap on the wall. Little things like that. I mean obviously the script was very well written for the Joker but I'm not sure any actor would have done the same job with the role.
The script is only words on paper. Those words have to be interpreted and brought to life by the actor. If it were only the script that nailed it, then you could take any actor and put him in that role. Heath Ledger was incredible in that role because of what he brought to it, because of how interpreted it. It's like one of those movies where you can't imagine anyone else playing a character. Much like Forrest Gump - could you imagine anyone else NAILING that role like Tom Hanks did?
Im not saying he didn't do a good job acting, just saying, teh dark joker was basically given to him to play, not like he just drew that out of thin air.......... fyi I didn't really see the point to the lip smacking........
I've done stage acting, and I can tell you there is no way you can take just anyone and insert them into role, memorize a script, and go through the play. You have to make the character your own - "become" that character, think how he or she thinks, and bring it to life.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI6IlXfUdPE"]YouTube - Charlton Heston Owns Wayne's World[/ame] I believe this settles the debate.
I get what you're saying. The thing is the script is half the equation. Yes, the actions he took were dark, however, imagine how less dark the part would have been with say, Keanu. (Bro, why so serious?) The lip-smacking, posture, small movements, add to the overall dark feel. You need the script and the performance.
I think the script certainly helped the character but I don't think you're giving Heath enough credit for what he did. The script is just words on the paper, he had to walk, talk and make the character come alive. The script is just a basic blue print, it's up to the actor to take the role and make it theirs. I know personally I've read tons of scripts before the movies have either went into production or before I've even seen the movie and can tell you that there were many times when the script was great but the actor who played the character just fell flat and stunk. And on the flip side I've read scripts that gave the character nothing to work with but the actor just took hold of the role and was great in it. And as for the lip smacking I think it just gave the character extra creepy needs and just a small detail that added to the character.
but the character development in any story is in the characters actions. I'm sure heath added on to the drama around those actions but it is the writer who decides what the character should do or shouldn't in order to pervade that character and its development. I think often actors and actresses get more credit then they should. I am not saying heath did not do a good job through how he projected what the author wrote. I just do not think he deserves all the glory, instead of just some of it. and there has also been ****ty scripts an actor has turned into a descent piece of work, but if that character is not developed there is only so much an actor can do short of re writing the script. I suppose.
I do agree with that you said to an extent. I mean the script for Ben Buttons was pretty good especially with the character development but I think both Brad Pitt (who I like) and especially Cate Blanchett weren't very good in it and thus I felt like it hurt the film especially Blanchett's part. On the flip side the movie 'Batman and Robin' was beyond pathetic yet I feel like George Clonney did a pretty good job as Bruce Wayne when he was given nothing to work with. While yes having a great script with character development and a strong character works if you saw The Wrestler could you picture it being as good of a movie with Nick Cage as the lead instead of Mickey Rourke? I mean no matter who played the part as Randy Robinson the script still had the depth and development but if you get the wrong actor in the role it could be a disaster. With that being said I have a hard time trying to find someone that would have been able to pull off The Joker in TDK as well as Heath did. While I'm sure other actors could have done a good job as well, I think Heath went above what the character called for. The script for the original Batman had a pretty dark Joker and I don't think Jack Nicholson could have pulled of TDK Joker. But maybe it was due to the director involved as well.
