by Mark Murphy

Created on: November 11, 2008

To me, the mark of a great actor is the ability to disguise themselves in a role. In all honesty, there are very few who can do this with any consistency. In The Dark Knight, Heath managed to do that and more. I saw the movie twice and Ledger didn't just play the role of The Joker, he was The Joker. No longer was it a flat, predictable character, Heath transformed the Batman nemesis into a terrifying thrill ride. Everything he did and said drew the audience further into the story in a way no character had ever done. I studied the features and movements of The Joker. I watched his eyes, looking for some hint of the actor beneath and I couldn't find anything. Even his voice gave no clue as to who was behind the makeup. Had I walked into that theater with no knowledge of who played The Joker, I would have never thought it was Heath Ledger. With Jack Nicholson's Joker, everyone knew instantly who the actor was, and Jack is a world-class thespian. I watch well over 40 movies a year in the theater and at least a dozen more at home and have never been so caught up in a character as I was with Ledger's Joker.

Rarely has there been a movie wherein a single character has commanded the entire audience's attention during every scene they were in. In truth, scene's without The Joker were something of a letdown. The fact that Ledger is now dead should have no impact on any Oscar nods. However, I do believe his role in The Dark Knight was his finest performance ever and I doubt he would have ever been that compelling again. He did what every performer or athlete dreams of: he left at the top of his game. After his portrayal of The Joker, I firmly believe there will never be another who will play it as well. Like Anthony Quinn in The Fiddler on the Roof, history will show that Heath Ledger defined the role of The Joker and everyone that follows will simply be a pale imitation. Will he actually receive an Oscar for his role as The Joker? On one hand, it was a brilliant performance in a blockbuster film. Couple that with his untimely death and you have a very strong indication of an Oscar nod. On the other hand, films like The Dark Knight don't normally garner any acting awards. In the history of action films, awards are few and far between. As I mentioned earlier, I was not a tremendous fan of Heath Ledger, but I do feel this performance was well beyond what anyone else produced this year and he is highly deserving of an award

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