by T. Scott Randolph

Created on: October 20, 2009

This is the third or fourth time I have attempted to write this article. It is not that I question my decision. I voted no back in June. I have had a problem putting the pen to paper so to speak. I have no doubt that what I have to say will inflame an emotional response in the readers. This is a good thing. A very good thing. Even if you violently disagree with me, I have done my part if it has made you think about the topic a little bit more.

Let me start with the good part. I have liked Heath Ledger's movies throughout his career. Whatever the reason he always seemed to fit his parts perfectly. I don't ever remember saying "he was good, but so and so would have been better" about anything that he did. This could be that the parts were written with him in mind. It may be that he had a really good agent, or maybe he was exceptional in picking particular acting parts. I tend to believe that it was his ability to mold the character so believably that it seemed to be written just for him.

His portrayal of the Joker was no different. As much as I dislike to say it, I think he did a much better job than Jack did in the older version. This too could be that the overall movie was done in a much better way. I don't think that he played the best villain of our time. This isn't a jab against his ability, the Joker just isn't the "craziest" we have seen. Don't get me wrong, the character was definitely out there, but just wasn't the worst of the worst.

As far as an Oscar goes, I don't think that the part warranted that honor. Instead of the opinions being based on the acting and the character, I believe it was based on the fact that we lost a beloved actor at a young age soon afterward. That is a tragedy, it always is. There for a while there were all kinds of rumors going around. Things like he went crazy because he got too deep into the character. I don't believe this is the case at all.

The last time I checked, overdosing from partying like a rock star wasn't a category offered. I think that young Mr. Ledger got caught up all right, but not in the mindset of the Joker. He got caught up in the Hollywood crowd of young attractive people that loved to party. He just went that one step too far. It was everyone's loss. We lose another talented young man to the evils of drugs. That being said, it still doesn't grant him the right to have the golden statue.

I know that this isn't what people want to hear, but then again the truth is often the hardest to hear.

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