J.B.’s Heath Ledger Oscar Nod Blog

This week, my post isn’t going to be the usual update on Heath Ledger’s Oscar Nomination or an update on The Dark Knight, but more of a personal statement.  I have to express my joy to see all of the serious Oscar attention that Ledger is getting for his performance of the Joker.  It doesn’t really matter what website you go on, ropesofsilicon.com (the main updated new site for the Oscars), etc.  Everyone, despite the fact that he is portraying a comic book character, is saying that Ledger is an absolute shoe-in for the Best Supporting Actor nomination.

When I first started this class and chose the outside-the-box topic of the Heath Ledger Oscar nomination, I chose the topic at first for the sole reason that I’m a Senior at Pitt and have written about pretty much anything you can think of.  As a person who has worked himself to the bone for my first three years, I wanted to write about a topic that I was going to enjoy for this class. However, since I began writing, I have become semi-passionate about the topic.  It has forced me to view The Dark Knight a few more times, and I believe now, more than ever, that Heath Ledger deserves the Oscar nominaton.

For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to see The Dark Knight yet, I highly recommend you do, even if you’re not a comic book fan.  It goes so far beyond that.  Plus, you have the blessing of seeing Heath Ledger’s iconic portrayal of the Joker.  Believe me, if it wasn’t as good as I’ve claimed it is, I wouldn’t spend an entire semester writing about it.

As I’m sitting in my apartment watching a bootleg copy of The Dark Knight (don’t tell on me), I’ve realised something.  It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that TDK may take home more than just Heath Ledger’s much-deserved Best Supporting Actor Oscar.  Since I am doing the topic of Ledger for the entire semester, I have been forced to keep track on other movies that may have actors that could contend with Ledger.  First of all, there still isn’t an actor that can contend with Ledger’s Joker.  Secondly, there isn’t a movie that has yet to contend with The Dark Knight.

The critics seem to agree thus far. They and fans alike have praised TDK as being the best film of the year (it has been a weak year for Oscar-worthy movies).  There is also a chance that it could take home the Oscar for Best Score.  The music (done by Hans Zimmer) set the tone throughout the movie and provide and even more eerie feeling than director Christopher Nolan did.

As funny as it may sound, Christian Bale, the one who actually played Batman and Bruce Wayne, doesn’t have much of a chance to win Best Actor.  This isn’t because his role wasn’t good or because his gravel-like voice was criticised.  Ledger simply overshadowed Bale.  His portrayal of the Joker was so praised that people were going to see the movie to see the Villian instead of the hero.

According to Batman On Film, the third Christopher Nolan Batman installment is supposedly in the works.  For months, many of Hollywood’s top names have been thrown into converstation as to who will be taking part in the next movie.  Concern has especially been expressed as ato who will be the next villain…. or villains.  Michael Caine, while taking part in the Canadian Movie Festival, has already been quoted as saying that Johnny Depp will be playing the part of “The Riddler”, a homicidal maniac who lures in his pray through a series of riddles, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman will be playing “The Penguin”, a criminal mastermind who was left with deformities that made him look like a penguin.

IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE DARK KNIGHT, THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS

Here is my concern.  These two characters are obviously cemented in the history of Batman.  However, The Joker did not die in The Dark Knight.  The Joker is Batman arch-nemisis.  He’s a character that, if alive, that needs to be at least mentioned in the storyline.  Also, the detrimental effect he had on Gotham City has yet to be resolved.  He was responsible for the killing of cops, public officials, and Harvey Dent (who became Two-Face), Gotham’s District Attorney, or as Bruce Wayne called him “The White Knight.”

Here’s my opinion on the matter.  There are going to be other Batman movies after the third.  Some of these may even involve The Joker.  However, I believe that he won’t be involved in the third installment due to Heath Ledger’s performance.  Not only are all that took part in the filming of The Dark Knight still reeling from Ledger’s death, but Ledger has done such a brilliant job with the part that it may be hard for anyone to duplicate.  Fans and critics alike are going to be looking back on his portrayal of the Joker and realize that he just may be the greatest movie villian we have ever seen.  The process of bringing that character back into the mix is going to have to be handled gingerly.  Not just anyone can fill those shoes again.