Heath Ledger was found dead of an accidental drug overdose at a friend’s apartment on Jan. 22, 2008. On the first anniversary since his death, Ledger has been nominated to receive an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance as The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.
With Ledger’s death, many critics have questioned whether Ledger received this, his second Oscar nomination, because of his performance as The Joker or because he died.
I think any critic who questions whether Ledger should be nominated for an Oscar is an idiot.
Ledger has done well in every character he has portrayed and his fan base is huge. His roles at first were minor but then he starred in Brokeback Mountain and got nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Lead Role. I personally am not a fan of the movie, but that’s big time stuff. Ledger continued to progress as an actor and was reaching new heights, which leads to his best role.
In The Dark Knight, Ledger amazed viewers every time he took the screen. Everything about Ledger’s performance was incredible, he stepped into a role that no one imagined he would fulfill and he was terrifying.
I can’t explain it, I stood in line for four hours eagerly waiting to take my seat opening night, then I saw it again, and again. The nervous tendencies, the voice, the smacking noises with his lips, it was crazy. Each time I left the theater and even when I watch it now I think “that’s some pretty messed up stuff.” When asked about Ledger’s role and if it was Oscar worthy, a student at SHSU said “He was scary; he was funny; he was oddly lovable as a villain.” Another student said he was “sick and twisted.”
Whatever feelings you have for Ledger and his latest role as a madman, the talent he displayed can not be denied.
Another thing, The Dark Knight is the second highest money making movie of all time. People kept going back to see the best villain ever. Already 15 awards have gone to Ledger because of his performance as The Joker.
Feb. 22 is the big night. If he wins the Oscar, it will be his first. Ledger is only the seventh person in the history of the Academy Awards to be nominated for an Oscar after his death. Of those, only Peter Finch won an award. Thousands of viewers will tune in to watch their favorite celebrities gather in hopes to hold an Oscar by the end of the evening. Will Ledger receive the Academy Award? We do not know, but Ledger’s performance as The Joker will not be forgotten. The role is Oscar worthy. It seems only logical that we shall hear these words on Sunday night, “And the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role goes toHeath Ledger.”