by Jack Serapiglia

Created on: July 31, 2008

Heath Ledger gave by far the best performance of any villain in any super hero movie. His interpretation of the Joker as a dark, multi-layered terrorist was a far cry from the happy-go lucky enemy that the Batman TV show and Jack Nicholson gave us. To say he stole the show from Christian Bale is an understatement. The audience was literally WAITING on Heath to appear on screen. His performance vaulted The Dark Knight into arguably the greatest superhero movie of all time.

Yet despite all of that, I do not believe Heath Ledger merits an Oscar. His performance was great. But it was not greater then some other homicidal maniacs that have come across the silver screen in years past.

For evidence, look no further then Ledger's costar, Christian Bale. In American Psycho Bale played a character every bit as demented as Ledger's Joker. He had random acts of violence (including shooting a unnamed homeless man). He had concerted acts of violence (like murdering Paul Allen). And he had gruesome acts of violence (as when he killed a women with a chain saw from several flights up). Like the Joker he was sickened by the world he lived in. Unlike the Joker he also had to portray himself as a normal person during the day (kind of like a reverse superhero with a secret identity).

Yet Bale's performance was not considered epic, not considered Oscar worthy. Heck it wasn't until Batman that Bale was even on the American map. So what has changed? Unfortunately, it was Ledger's passing that gave rise to this feeling that he merited the Oscar. It is, after all, the American way.

The sentimental feeling for Americans is to praise too much in death. Abraham Lincoln was not even guaranteed a second term in 1864, yet after his assassination in 1865 was considered the greatest President of all time. James Dean is seen as one of America's best actors despite only appearing in 3 films. Everyone remembers Elvis as the hip shaking skinny kid from Memphis, not as the overweight crooner in his later years.

In America death is more then the great equalizer. It is the Great Exacerbator. We do not simply avoid speaking ill of the dead here in this country, we praise them beyond merit.

And that is what is happening with Heath Ledger. His performance in The Dark Knight was fantastic. He was dark, brooding, scary, and psychotic. But as foreboding as it was, the character of Joker was ultimately cartoonish. After all, he placed a bomb in a henchmen's chest. He easily killed a rival by slamming his head into a pencil. He burned hundreds of millions of dollars of money.

Oscars typically go to performances of more "real life" characters. Like people suffering with Autism (Dustin Hoffman). Or with greed (Daniel Day Lewis in There will Be Blood). Or grief and tragedy (Tim Robbins and Sean Penn in Mystic River).

Should Ledger be considered for an Oscar? Of course he should. But only because every good actor he performs well should. Does he merit one? Honestly I do not believe so. He played a cartoon character who acted the part. His performance was haunting. But then again, so too was Bale's American Psycho.

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