Someone gave me the tip-off to this a while back but I kind of disregarded it. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe it, it was more that it was too early to be talking about it. And now it is big news.
Why? Because it’s a Drudge Page One. Drudge links to this blog post by Sam Rubin (who does the red carpet at Oscar time and was all over Juno last year – a lot of enthusiasm, not the best predictor – we love you, Sam!):
I just returned from a screening and I wanted to commit this to a public forum as quickly as possible. Heath Ledger gives a blockbuster performance in the new Batman movie. His work, as The Joker, will absolutely be nominated for an Oscar, and at this point in the year, Ledger is also a hands-down favorite to win it posthumously. Ledger offers perfect pitch, perfect tone, his Joker hits all the right notes. ‘The Dark Knight’ is among the better super-hero movies of all time, and Ledger is THE BEST villain in a super hero movie of all time. Really. It will only add to the conversation of all that Ledger could have accomplished had he lived. Amazing work.
And the AP’s David Germaine on Ledger:
The buzz over Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight” for the last several months was justified. With his final full film role, Ledger delivers what may be remembered as the finest performance of his career.
No Response for "Heath Oscar-Bound in Dark Knight"
People were buzzing about his performance while he was still alive…even whispering about an Oscar nomination. After his tragic death, I think it became a foregone conclusion that he, at the every least, would be nominated (assuming the perf matched the buzz). But when you think about it, IF he is nominated, would anyone else have a chance of winning? We may have a category on lockdown in mid-July.
There’s the buzz. But it’s really difficult to see a summer blockbuster be a winner for an Oscar. We’ll see, Jack Sparrow made it and could have won.
The trick is not minding. At all.
We may have a category on lockdown in mid-July.
Now that would be interesting, Ken.
Travers loves Heath as well and thinks he should win. As for blockbuster, even though it wasn’t a summer film (if I remember correctly) The Fugitive was a blockbuster action flick that got Tommy Lee Jones his supporting Oscar.
Ah, how did I know you folks would be on this? I just mentioned this, myself…
You also might want to add Peter Travers, from Rolling Stone. He also has nothing but raves for Ledger.
It’s not necessary a crazy dream considerate Heath Ledger as a pontential Oscar Nominee even winner… We have a few but important examples:
-Johnny Depp, “Pirates of the Caribbean”
-Tommy Lee Jones, “The Fugitive” (He won for a blockbuster action flick, wich release was in August 1993)
-Al Pacino, “Dick Tracy”
-Julie Andrews, “Mary Poppins” (She won for a child Disney Movie, wich release was in August 1962)
I also think that his tragic death was, unfortunally, a push on to the Oscars, but since we saw the trailer in past November… the buzz is huge to be ignored
Although I don’t buy the perception that Ledger’s win is some kind of a “lock” I nonetheless applaud this wonderfully touching development. I likewise am very thrilled about Sasha’s reaction to the performance, and of this incredibly prompt posting, which evinces a serious sense of excitement by the author.
This was admittedly a strong likelihood, in view of those very early and initial reports, but to hear it officially is truly terrific news.
It would be a fitting capstone to Ledger’s legacy to have a final triump on his brief but sterling acting career.
Don’t bet on it. Besides the summer movie curse. How many actors wo posthumus oscars?
Hoagln, you seem to forget that James Dean scored TWO posthumous Oscar nods after he got wiped off the highway.
As for Heath….why not? As others have stated, THE FUGITIVE was a hit that was a Best Picture nominee, and won Jones his Oscar….Peter Finch’s great work in NETWORK carried over in hype, and probably his death won him the Naked Gold Man.
Again, some people want to dismiss this Heath possibility simply because its a comic book movie, or an action movie, and I say FUCK THAT SHIT.
You know who should have won Best Supporting Actor for 1988? Not Kline, not Landau, not River Phoenix, etc….all were great, deserving of their nods, but you know what?
ALAN RICKMAN for DIE HARD should have won. I’m serious.
So yeah, Heath has a chance….and who knows, unless nobody worth a shit comes along between July and December to seriously contend with Ledger…..
The Joker will get away!
I guaran-damn-tee that Ledger will get at a minimum a Best Supporting Actor nod. ALL the reviews I’ve seen and reports from the screenings have said he’s that amazing in the film. It’s not just because he died, his performance in this film is legendary.
James Dean was nominated twice He didn’t win Only Peter Finch for Network won
Hoagln, thanks for repeating a fucking FACT I wrote in my own posting.
Since you’re good at being Xerox repeat this for me: RRA is Awesome.
That was out of line, RRA. There were only six minutes between your comment and Hoaglin’s, anyone could have done the same if they didn’t refresh the page before posting. Get over it.
RRA, y so serious?
Didn’t expect anything less….been following this movie for the past two years since it was announced.
On the heels of “Begins” and know the caliber of craftsmen: Nolan, Bale, Ledger, how could this movie not hit on all cylinders.
Heath supposedly gave his all to this character, which was hard to shake in his dreams….hence his insomnia. Rest well, friend; a job well done! Best Actor 2008!
You’re right Tara.
Sorry Hoagln.
If Al Pacino could get a nomination for Dick Tracy, why should I say it’s not possible. And seriously, I feel supporting actor is going to be a weak category this year too. Which leaves room for lots of surprises. Heath ledger could be one of them. It’s time for the academy to pull their heads out of their ass and have some fun.
SASHA put Heath in your list!!!!!!!!! everthing im reading is how he managed to tear jack nicholson performance to pieces.
Also Massimo Troisi was nominated for best actor (and screenplay) posthumously, but that must have been because Il Postino (1994) was nominated for best picture.
The Dark Knight has difficulties being nominated for best picture, of course. Batman Begins was awesome and it was nowhere near consideration.
I do believe that Ledger will get nominated, but I guess his chances of winning are slim. The film is already “half a year old” when voting takes place and it’s been a year since his death. People have short memories and I don’t think Academy members want to vote for someone just because he no longer has a chance to get a nomination in the future. That could be a “pity-Oscar”.
If he does win, I think he got an extra push from not winning for Brokeback Mountain…
There is no doubt in my mind that we would not be considering this a guaranteed Oscar nominee if it were not for his death. The performance is as good as you’d expect it to be but don’t, for one second, believe that come Oscar time there won’t be better performances up for the same award. It will be a nomination of goodwill and hopefully it will stay that way. He shouldn’t have won for Brokeback Mountian either, so I doubt those who predict he will win just to “right the wrong” that was his lost for Brokeback Mountain.
The Dark Knight is an excellent film though. His Joker is better than Nicholson’s by far.
I suspect The Dark Knight will be nominated for Best Cinematography (Batman Begins was, and from what I’ve seen of the upcoming sequel the cinematography looks even better, if anything; Pfister’s a strong DP and you can see why Nolan likes him so much).
The issue is not whether Ledger is nominated. I think at this point it’s inevitable. The question is, will AMPAS give him the Oscar? Sentiment may make him a lock by the end of summer.
I’m trying to think of guys who might contest Best Supporting Actor. Russell Crowe for Body of Lies? Maybe Robert Downey, Jr. for The Soloist?
And I agree with Tero–Heath not winning for Brokeback Mountain is reason #3 why AMPAS may very well think he deserves the first posthumous Oscar since Peter Finch. (See, the Academy loves actors playing crazy people.)
kc’s right, from what I’ve read, Ledger had nightmares/dreams about his character. He really dug deep. Kind of scary stuff. Rest in Peace, Heath, you were seemingly just getting started here.
joshua, that’s a good point… Weak cateogry, unleast right now in this supporting actor race. The principal question is how many IMPORTANT Contenders we have instead Ledger for, not the nomination, for the Oscar (And I also agree with reason 3#, Ledger didn’t win for BM and he deserves an Oscar for a short but fantastic career)
*Robert Downey Jr., The soloist: He’s the MAN of the year and the important comeback of this race, but at first view, it’s sounds a horrible or melodramatic film. Maybe I’m wrong.
*Liev schreiber, Defiance: Test Screeners results are positives and he’s steals the show even with Craig.
*Koby smit-McPhee, The road: This category is nice with child actors…
*Josh Brolin, Milk: Villains are in at Oscars
I think Ledger has a good shot for winning the second posthumous Oscar since another aussie, Peter Finch. And of course, Ledger has two iconic characters for the ages: Ennis Del Mar and The Joker
This is typically the time and place where someone needs to tell everyone not to get ahead of themselves — that we must be cautious and that we must wait to see how the rest of the year will shake out. This is not one of those times. Ever since he died, people have been wanting to recognize Heath in some way — and they’ve been waiting to see his performance in Batman. He probably could have recited the phone book and gotten a nomination. But of course, based on early reviews, he appears to be great in the role — great in a way that would have earned him a nomination and possibly a win if he were still alive. I don’t see how he doesn’t win now.
Yeah, I almost went with Liev Schreiber for Defiance, too, Xavi–for one thing, AMPAS seems to love supporting actor performances in Ed Zwick films, even if I don’t think they’re deserving. Denzel Washington in Glory (who won, deservedly), Ken Watanabe for The Last Samurai (deserving to be nominated) and Djimon Hounsou (who I love but his nomination for Blood Diamond after several great performances elsewhere still baffles me).
jims67, I agree with your points, though I’m not convinced Ledger will win yet.
some say is too soon to say if he will be even nominated, but javier bardem was already mentioned as the clear winner after Cannes last year, so i think he has a great chance… besides the fact that he was robbed in 2006, and the academy might wanna compensate that
Haven’t seen the film, but from what I’ve read Heath is amazing in it. So much that people say he would have received a nomination anyway. I think of another angle to add to the pot – Jack Nicholson. Jack’s Joker could hurt him or help him. I think the latter is more probable. If Ledger did indeed give a balls-to-the-walls performance and people could like it even knowing the amazing performance Jack Nicholson did way-back-when, it can’t hurt Heath’s chances. And we all know that the Jack made the original Batman…
I just think it’s too early to say anything. I think we’ll know more once the award season begins. If he’s on the lists then (and winning) then you can expect it. I just have a feeling that a lot of Academy voters may not want to have this one shoved down their throats too fast, too soon. I say let the situation breathe; smother the fire, kill the flame.
Oh and the summer shit I don’t buy… just because it’s earlier in the year doesn’t mean it can’t win. The ultimate champ of that happening is Silence of the Lambs, which was released in February and swept the Oscars. And I’m pretty sure with a February release date that it wasn’t considered “Oscar material.” Also see Crash (even though it should have lost to all four of the other nominees for 2005) and Forrest Gump, both of which won the big prize as well as others. I’m sure there are several films that got major nominations with early/summer release dates – I just don’t feel like looking for them right now.
Oh and I guess we won’t know what he’ll be up for – Lead or Supporting?
I say Supporting Actor.
Early releases (According to Kelly):
*Erin Brockovich: March 17, 2000
*Gladiator: May 5, 2000 (best Picture Winner)
*The Silence of the Lambs: February 14, 1990 (Best Picture Winner)
*La Vie en Rose: June 8, 2007
*Crash: May 6, 2005
*Braveheart: May 24, 1995 (Best Picture Winner)
*Forrest Gump: July 6, 1994 (Best Picture Winner)
*Annie Hall: April 20, 1977 (Best Picture Winner)
Kelly, I think heath has better chances for victory in supporting category because the lead category is tough and full for overdue actors (DiCaprio, Del Toro, Neeson, Mortensen, Pitt, Fiennes)
Me, I’m waiting to actually SEE the film and performance before announcing HL a nominee and a winner. If he wins, I just really hope that it a deserving performance. But then sentiment is not unknown to Oscar – hardly. And if it brings some sense of healing in Hollywood given the rash of celebrity deaths in the recent months, I say it’s a far better choice than say, Jennifer Hudson.
And if anyone’s reading this right now, Brokeback is on Bravo.
Why isn’t Heath Ledger’s name displayed in the Best Supporting Actor list?
And to think, Sasha, earlier in the summer, you said you weren’t too excited about seeing this, but you would see Speed Racer.
Free, I had a squabble with Sasha over that….and if I remember right, her problem with TDK isn’t disinterest, but trying to handle the last filmed performance of Heath Ledger.
either way Ledger should be on the list for supporting since he gives the first truly viable supporting actor preformance so far this year, put him up there sasha, if chiwetel ejiofor is up there for Redbelt, Heath should be up there too sinjce he has 100 x more of a shot than ejiofor
When I learned of Heath Ledger’s death, the first thought that came to my mind was, who is going to accept his Oscar in his absence for his role as the Joker. Maybe I am reading more into this than most, but if you did not know it was Heath Ledger playing the Joker, you would not know who is or be completely distracted during the whole film trying to figure who is. This film will take us all by surprise, in it’s direction, cinematograpy, casting, performances, it’s depth of the storyline, we will forget that it is a comic character film. The costumes of the super hero’s and villians are nothing more than window dressing for their souls as characters. This film will play more along the lines of the great personal struggles of a city’s chosen citizens dealing with what can become the blur of good versus evil. Lets hear it for BEST PICUTRE and BEST ACTOR. I will accept nothing less.
Leave a reply