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After seeing “The Dark Knight” three times now, I am convinced that Heath Ledger was an actor of extraordinary ability who might have gone on to the heights of a Marlon Brando or Jack Nicholson. Sure, that is easy to say now that he is gone, but consider his all too brief filmography.
Ledger’s work in “Monsters Ball” was superb, a haunting presence through the film, while his performance in “Brokeback Mountain” was among the finest achievements in screen acting in the last 10 years. How in God’s name did he lose the Oscar? That last scene alone still breaks my heart, knowing Ennis will live out his days alone having lost the love of his life. Thank God for the New York Film Critics Circle, which honored him with their best actor prize in 2005.
As a drug addict in the little seen but powerful “Candy” he was nothing less than astonishing, and now we arrive at “The Dark Knight.” What is remarkable about those performances is that each is radically and wildly different from the other, bold and daring, taking performance art to the very edge.
Imagine signing on to play the Joker and knowing that not long ago Jack Nicholson knocked the role out of the poark and was adored by millions…my God…the pressure?? The dilemma for Ledger must have been similar to Robert De Niro portraying a young Vito Corleone in “The Godgfather Part II,” knowing that the eyes of the film-going world would be watching him closely after Marlon Brando’s Oscar-winning efforts two years prior.
And of course, Ledger is brilliant in the role, dominating the film in every way. The Oscar talk is moot. His performance will live forever and if the Academy has the courage to at least nominate him, I will be pleased.
Does it matter that the performance came in a comic book adaptation? For me, it’s all the more reason to nominate him and celebrate what he accomplished, because he took a role well known to millions and evolved it, made it his own, smeared it with a deeply psychotic spin that works to perfection.
I personally don’t even expect him to be nominated. Many great performances have missed Oscar’s call (as outlined in this space many times). But they still live on in history.
I hope I’m wrong.
15 responses so far
1 7-19-2008 at 11:53 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
I’m happy you’re staying grounded amid all the love for this film, John. I personally think Ledger will be nominated. But if he isn’t, it will simply make the Academy look foolish and we will all move on, just as we have year after year after year.
Nothing will dampen the audacity and control of this performance. It is — I truly believe, more and more — one of the all time greatest portrayals.
2 7-20-2008 at 1:29 am
Guy Lodge said...
Let’s not forget how terrific he was in “Ten Things I Hate About You” – we all knew right then that he had ‘it.’ (He’s also great in a tiny little Australian thriller called “Two Hands.”)
He was also my pick for the 2005 Oscar, though I’m a little sad that a lot of people are discounting Philip Seymour Hoffman’s winning performance. I think he showed wit and bravery way beyond the bounds of the rote biopic performance the Academy rewards year after year.
3 7-20-2008 at 3:13 am
Ryan Adams said...
Like I’ve been saying at AwardsDaily, if any actor thinks he can take the Oscar away from Heath Ledger this year, it’s sure gonna be thrilling watching him try. I’m dying to see the performance that beats this.
(My gut feeling: Not gonna be one.)
4 7-20-2008 at 8:40 am
Silencio said...
I don’t know, Ryan, Robert Downey Jr is having a banner year. And if he’s anywhere as good in Tropic Thunder as the trailer implies…there could be a race. At least in my head. The chickenshit Academy would probably go for The Soloist instead.
5 7-20-2008 at 9:25 am
Casey said...
nope. not gonna happen. we won’t see another performance of this caliber for some time
6 7-20-2008 at 9:27 am
Bing147 said...
Sorry, but its very easy to see why he didn’t win in 05, he was very good in Brokeback, but didn’t come close to Phillip Seymour Hoffman. For that matter, he didn’t match Joaquin Phoenix in my book, or the un-nominated Pierce Brosnan for the Matador.
I will say, I think his most underrated performance is in last year’s I’m Not There, outside of Blanchett, he was easily the best of the film, and he should have gotten more buzz. He makes my top 10 in supporting last year, not my top 5 but I have him above all but 1 actual nominee, my top 10 was:
1. Javier Bardem-No Country For Old Men
2. Chris Cooper-Breach
3. Tommy Lee Jones-No Country For Old Men
4. Robert Downey Jr-Zodiac
5. Ed Harris-Gone Baby Gone
6. Paul Dano-there Will Be Blood
7. Max Von Sydow-The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
8. David Straithairn-My Blueberry Nights
9. James Marsden-Enchanted
10. Heath Ledger-I’m Not There
7 7-20-2008 at 10:18 am
Blake Rutherford said...
It’s going to very difficult to top this performance. Looking at the list of anticipated performances, I’m not sure we’ll see something superior. As Mr. Adams notes, I can’t see another actor (or another studio for that matter) campaign against him.
8 7-20-2008 at 10:18 am
Guy Lodge said...
Agreed, he was quite stunning in I’m Not There – it’s a little eerie now watching him play such a self-destructive being. If only the film hadn’t been so sorely misunderstood.
9 7-20-2008 at 2:55 pm
Joseph said...
Yeah… as brilliant as Ledger was in “Brokeback Mountain,” Philip Seymour Hoffman deserved it 100%.
10 7-20-2008 at 3:40 pm
Jonathan Spuij said...
There’s no way he’s gonna lose it against a comedy-role from Downey. The Soloist is more likely than that but no way of knowing at this point.
I think the record-book entries with the gross will certainly heat the talk up even more.
11 7-21-2008 at 12:49 pm
Ivan said...
I have the feeling that Kodi Smith-McPhee will be the other main contender in the supporting race, but my guts tell me Heath Ledger will win not only the Oscar…
GG, BAFTA, SAG, and MTV Best Villain :)
12 7-21-2008 at 2:16 pm
R.M. said...
And let’s not forget, Al Pacino WAS nominated for “Dick Tracy”. Weirder things have happened. He hype is so strong, the is no WAY Ledger is not getting nominated. Who would dare NOT to write his name? (Unless everyone thinks he is a given and votes for someone else, but that seems highly unlikely). And poor bastard, if someone wins over Ledger. Who wants to be the one who took Ledger’s Oscar away from him. But I must say, even though it would be great to see Ledger get the Oscar, there is no way in hell he would win it if he was still alive. And this leads to the question: Is it really the right thing to give it to him then? I have always haded the “consolation” ascept of so many of the Oscar wins. Renée Zellweger, Nicole Kidman, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, George Clooney – the list goes on and on. They didn’t really win for the movies that ares engraved on their Oscars. Then won for losing out the previous year or for their career or because it was the only way to honor them in that year (Good Night, and Good Luck.).
Well, I could go on forever. Ledger was an amazing actor. No one can take that away from him. But seriously: Let the best man/performance win.
What if one of his fellow nominees, God forbid, also died before the ceremony? Were would we be??
13 7-21-2008 at 2:55 pm
Chad said...
I wouldn’t be surprised if Ledger gets nominated or wins. Why? Because his performance falls right in line with what they always honor in every category. MOST not BEST. Art Direction and Visual Effects are the biggest offenders but the Academy likes to vote for what they can see from a mile away in every category. Ledger’s performance is exactly that.
Don’t get me wrong, I thought he was fantastic. Truly. But Gary Oldman was better and he’ll never be nominated in a million years for his showless performance.
14 7-21-2008 at 3:28 pm
John Foote said...
And my initial comments were not to take anything away from Phillip Seymour Hofman’s superb work in “Capote”…though there were times when I wondered if it was more of an impersonation than a performance? Anyone see Toby Jones in ‘Infamous”…equally fine I thought. As for the comment about Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Walk the Line”…you are kidding right? No where in his performance, or film for that matter was the spiritual Johnny Cash, or true understanding of how he became the man in black. Now I will not blame Phoenix for the writing or the film…but I found his performance little more than whiny and forced( entirely one note)…hardly one of the best five of the year. He lacked the edge Johnny Cash possessed and thereby brought to his music. Do not even get me started on his co-star WINNING the damned Oscar!!!! In a year when Joan Allen blows all competition off the screen in ‘The Upside of Anger”…and does not even get a nomination????
15 7-22-2008 at 7:42 am
Joel said...
He’ll be nominated, he’ll win, and I’ll put it in Richard Roeper’s words: It won’t be a maudlin sympathy vote either.
Ledger was simply brilliant the whole freakin’ time, and the academy knows this, if they have any sense.
And for the record, no, there won’t be a better performance this year. If there is, I would love to see it.