J.B.’s Heath Ledger Oscar Nod Blog

Here are a list of readings you can take a look at.  These show a various number of opinions on Ledger’s role and a few reasons as to why he should receive an Oscar nomination.

 

1.        “Could Heath Ledger Really Win an Oscar?”  CNN.  2008. CNN.com.  14 Sep  2008

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/02/film.ledger.oscarbuzz.ap/

-           This article dances around the idea that Heath Ledger could earn an Oscar nomination on January 22^nd.  This would mark the one-year anniversary of his death.  If this should happen , he would become just the seventh actor in the history of the Academy Awards to earn a posthumous nomination.  I plan to use this article for statistical purposes.  It talks about the one-year anniversary.  It also talks about Peter Finch, the only man to win an Oscar after his death. 

 

2.        Karger, Dave.  “An Oscar for Heath Ledger in ‘The Dark Knight ?”  Popwatch Blog.  2008. 

EW.com.  13 Sep 2008.  http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/07/an-oscar-for-  he.html

-          Much like the afore-mentioned article, this one also dances around the idea of Ledger getting a nomination.  However, this one doesn’t just talk about just getting a nomination.  This one talks about him actually winning.  It also talks about the challenge Ledger might have against him, including many A-list actors who are also possibilities.  I want to use this article to show the challenge that Ledger may have with getting the nomination.  Not only is his role a comic book character, but he will also have esteemed actors as possible competition. 

 

3.        “History and Structure of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.”  Academy of         

Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.  2008.  Oscars.org.  13 Sep 2008.           

http://www.oscars.org/academy/history.html

-          I intend to use this website as a format to show how the Oscars are chosen.  There are various factors that go into a nomination.  This include the date of which the movie was released, genre, who qualifies as a member of the Academy, etc.  I can use this to show the process in which would happen should Ledger get the nomination. 

 

4.        Chadwick, Alex.  “Dear Oscars, Popular Movies are Good Too.”  Day to Day.  23 July 2008.

-          This newspaper article is written to argue that not every Oscar nomination has to go to a movie in which may not have been released to every theater.  This is often the case, which gets on the nerves of many moviegoers.  I want to use this article because I’ve cited the popularity of The Dark Knight and the Batman comic book series as an obstacle that must be climbed in order to have Ledger achieve an Oscar nomination. 

 

5.        “Ledger’s Role Reminds Us of Dark Loss.”  The Fresno Bee.  20 July 2008.

-          This article talks about how Ledger’s role as the Joker coincides with the way he died.  The role of the Joker is very dark and bitter role, which according to friends and family, was the  exact opposite of the way that Ledger was.  Ironically, he died of an accidental prescription medicine overdose, which is a dark way to pass on.  I want to use this to make the reader see the mystique that could go along with the possible Oscar nod. 

 

6.        Bowles, Scott.  “Ledger’s ‘Dark’ Joker Looks to be an Oscar Wild Card.”  USA Today. 

18 July 2008.

This article is much like the first two I mentioned.  It talks about the reasons in which Ledger could be nominated for an Oscar for his role.  One man even says that Ledger was on his way to be on the same bleachers as Marlon Brando…maybe even better.  It also mentions that comic book movies are thought of by many critics as a destination for kids on their summer break.  The Dark Knight turned that perception on its head.  That wouldn’t have been possible without Ledger’s Joker.

 

7.  Abaius, Cole.  “The Dark Knight Will Win Every Oscar.  Or Not.”  Film School Rejects.  2008.  12 Oct.

                2008.  http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/opinions/the-dark-knight-will-win-every-oscar-or-not.php

                - This internet article talks about the other awards that The Dark Knight may receive.  I think this is good food for thought to let my readers see that not only was Heath Ledger’s role more than just a comic book character, but the entire movie goes above and beyond what calls for a comic book-based movie.  The article talks about Ledger, screenplay, the score, and every award that TDK has a chance at receiving at the 2009 Academy Awards. 

 

8.  Wozniak, Adam.  “The Dark Knight Movie Review.”  Movies Online.  2008.  12 Oct 2008.

               
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-          I like to use articles like this to show use another fan’s point of view on the movie and, most importantly, Ledger’s Joker.  Wozniak has the same movie that I do about The Dark Knight being more realistic than the other Batman movies.  The others looked like comics, filled with bright lights and other flamboyant settings that made it look more like a circus than a dark, brooding Gotham City. 

 

9.  Bartyzel, Monika.  “New Image of Heath Ledger in “Parnassus” Hits!”  Cinematical.  2008.  22 Oct

                2008.  http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/22/new-image-of-heath-ledger-in-parnassus-hits/

 

-          I think that the brief description of what the writer was feeling after seeing this picture and the picture itself is important for one to realize the kind of mind frame Ledger may have been in after filming The Dark Knight and while filming The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.  I’m by no means saying that I agree that the role of the Joker resulted in his death.  What I am saying is that it adds a touch of mystique to the issue.  Even I, one who thinks the role had nothing to do with this death, will always wonder. 

 

10.  Greenberger, Robert.  “Spike Delivers Scream 2008 Awards.”  Comicmix.  2008.  21 Oct 2008

                http://www.comicmix.com/news/2008/10/21/spike-delivers-scream-2008-awards/

 

-          I used this brief review of what we might expect come this Oscar season.  Although the Spike Scream Awards are much less informal than the Academy Awards, The Dark Knight dominated, winning about half of the awards.   Of course, Heath Ledger won in every category he was nominated, which were “Best Actor”, “Best Villain,” and “Best Quote.”

 

11.  Campbell, Christopher.  “The Dark Knight’s Oscar Potential Goes Much Further Than Heath Ledger.”

                SpoutBlog.  2008.  22 Oct 2008 http://blog.spout.com/2008/10/20/the-dark-knights-oscar-potential-goes-much-further-than-heath-ledger/

 

-          Once again, here’s an article that talks about The Dark Knight’s Oscar possibilities beyond Heath Ledger’s Joker.  This article goes much more in-depth than the one supplied by Film School Rejects.  It explains that the movie is most likely to win in the field of special effects and cinematography.  He also believes that it deserves a Best Picture nod.  However, Ledger is the only actor in the movie who has a legitimate chance at an award for acting. 

12.  Brevet, Brad.  “Oscar Update.”  Ropes of Silicon.  2008.  18 Oct 2008.  http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/oscar_update_frosty_frost_nixon_reviews_and_my_early_best_pic_predicts_20081017

 

-          This article comes from a website that is a little more official than the others.  It talks about how The Dark Knight is just about a lock for a Best Picture nomination.  I know this isn’t a big deal to my particular issue, but I found it worth noting that Brevet spoke of this without even mentioning that it was a comic book movie.  This makes me think that the film and it’s cast is finally getting credit for its brilliance.