Is Heath Ledger as the Joker the best acting job ever?

[brandonislegend]

I just re-watched dark knight, the dude played the role perfect there was literally nothing he could have done better.

[RedBlackAttack]

No.

[TheeBeast]

No

It's just a bias because his untimely death overshadows his performance in the movie.

[brandonislegend]

No

It's just a bias because his untimely death overshadows his performance in the movie.

It doesn't though, watch it, it's amazing. He got so into the roll and practiced so much he literally went crazy.

[TheeBeast]

He was a great method actor, one of the best.

But if we're talking all time, you should check out some Laurence Oliver movies.

[RedBlackAttack]

For starters, Daniel Day Lewis... Pick the movie.

Ledger was good and I don't want to diminish what was a fine acting performance, but best ever? No.

To be fair, I'm not sure any actor could turn in a "best ever" performance in a comic book movie. The Nolan Batman series was about as serious as any comic book movies can be, but at the end of the day it is hard to have extreme depth with those kinds of characters. At least, not the kind of depth you can have in the absolute, most serious film roles.

I actually thought Ledger's best acting performance was in Brokeback Mountain.

[JohnnySic]

Daniel Plainview

[iamgine]

One of the best. Up there with Christopher Waltz as Hans Landa and Forrest Whittaker as Idi Amin.

[andremiller07]

Shame he was not acting in Broke Back Mountain

[Jackass18]

No, but it comes down to opinion anyways.

De Niro in Raging Bull
Mifune in The Seven Samurai
Chaplin in City Lights
Lorre in M
Brando in On the Waterfront

Just to name a few.

[glidedrxlr22]

No

It's just a bias because his untimely death overshadows his performance in the movie.

Absolutely this.

[rufuspaul]

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/rufuspaul/jack-nicholson_joker.jpg

[HardwoodLegend]

Leandro Firmino in 'City of God'

[HardwoodLegend]

Not taking anything away from Ledger's performance (I was enthralled by it), but I feel like he benefitted greatly from the crazy make-up job too... it hid a lot of his face and just added more mystery to the role. I think a lot of actors could have pulled off what he did.

And, why are ony men being named in this thread?

Ellen Burstyn in 'Requiem for a Dream' was balls to the wall amazing.

[iamgine]

Leandro Firmino in 'City of God'
More like all of the cast of City of God was amazing.

[Loneshot]

He hardly played it perfectly when his portrayal had very little resemblance to comic Joker.

[HardwoodLegend]

More like all of the cast of City of God was amazing.

Indeed. The realism of that film blew me away.

Felt like I was watching a documentary. All of the acting was so naturalistic, and it probably helped that a lot of the cast had very little acting experience and were just in their element.

Lil Ze's performance was so intense and full of life though. Could have easily gone over-the-top but he nailed it just right.

[Just2McFly]

Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin has to be one of the most overlooked gems in the history of Cinema.

[Heavincent]

Christian Bale in American Psycho.

[Loneshot]

Yeah, Ledger's Joker is his own twist. Is Joker supposed to be really mad instead of being a smartass pretend to be mad?

He should be hilariously mad. The only thing that resembled the Joker in TDK was when he burned the cash or dressed up as a nurse. The Joker in the movie seemed more of a serial killer or someone who liked death, while the comic/toon Joker seemed to not think twice about why he killed, and just did it out of convenience to his situation.

Having watched The Dark Knight Rises for a third time, i enjoyed Hardy as Bane more than Ledger as Joker. Even if there were some speech recognition issues with Bane, it was still more pleasant to watch him act.

Ledger definitely held his own in TDK, i just didn't enjoy the overall movie as much as i did the latest movie or even Batman Begins.

[unbreakable]

daniel day lewis plays the same oldass characters in every movie.. has the dude ever done anything in a modern setting?

ledgers performance is legendary and IMO would be even more legendary if he was alive because he couldve carried that epicness into the dark knight rises w/ bane. wouldve been amazing.

ledger -> da acting gawd. :bowdown:

[AngelEyes]

Al Pacino as Michael Corleone and Robert De Niro as Jake Lamotta in Raging Bull are two performances that I would definitely put ahead of Ledger's.

[iggy>]

Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump ftw

[Patrick Chewing]

Two that were better


http://www.eatlocalmemphis.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/williambillthebutchercutting.jpg

http://annachristophernews.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/strudel-550x366.jpg

[AngelEyes]

http://www.starstills.com/product_images/t/ss2781025_-_photograph_of_al_pacino_as_don_michael_corleone_f rom_the_godfather__part_ii_available_in_4_sizes_fr amed_or_unframed_buy_now_at_starstills.jpg

http://www.ifc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/310x229_ragingbull.jpg

http://www.pitch.com/binary/c19a/therewillbebloodbaptism9.jpg

These three were better.

[BankShot]

He was a great method actor, one of the best.

But if we're talking all time, you should check out some Laurence Oliver movies.

It was a great role/performance.... but i'm sorry, what else has he done that would suggest he's "one of the best method actors"??

[DonDadda59]

As someone who loves Batman, TDK, and thinks Ledger's performance was deserving of all the praise and accolades he got (and he would've won that Oscar even if it wasn't posthumous)... No.

You need to watch more movies.

[AngelEyes]

It was a great role/performance.... but i'm sorry, what else has he done that would suggest he's "one of the best method actors"??

I don't know about method acting but I thought he was good in the Patriot.

[Lakers Legend#32]

Yes, Ledger gave the greatest performance ever.

[AngelEyes]

Yes, Ledger gave the greatest performance ever.

You never saw Godfather part II apparently.

[HardwoodLegend]

Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond in 'Sunset Blvd.'
Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly in 'The Devil Wears Prada'

[johndeeregreen]

No and not even close. Anyone who thinks that Deadger's performance was the greatest of all time is a dorky hipster doofus with zero experience, understanding, or appreciation of film over the years.

[AngelEyes]

No and not even close. Anyone who thinks that Deadger's performance was the greatest of all time is a dorky hipster doofus with zero experience, understanding, or appreciation of film over the years.

So, then you agree, Michael Corleone in Godfather part II.

[TheeBeast]

No and not even close. Anyone who thinks that Deadger's performance was the greatest of all time is a dorky hipster doofus with zero experience, understanding, or appreciation of film over the years.

Lets not give hipsters a bad name it's just the modern, mainstream cats.

[D-Wade316]

You never saw Godfather part II apparently.
Yet, I though De Niro was better than Pacino in Part II. Brando as well. It's all opinion dude.

[RedBlackAttack]

No and not even close. Anyone who thinks that Deadger's performance was the greatest of all time is a dorky hipster doofus with zero experience, understanding, or appreciation of film over the years.
Hipsters?

I think hipsters would name some obscure silent movie actor that most people have never heard of or seen on-screen.

Ledger seems like the default choice of people who just aren't all that into film... More of a mainstream, popular culture pick than a hipster pick.


Hipster: "Max Linder turned in the greatest acting performance ever in The Three Must-Get-Theres... You've probably never heard of it."

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b42/whobutdrew/Hipster.jpg

[johndeeregreen]

Hipsters?

I think hipsters would name some obscure silent movie actor that most people have never heard of or seen on-screen.

Ledger seems like the default choice of people who just aren't all that into film... More of a mainstream, popular culture pick than a hipster pick.


Hipster: "Max Linder turned in the greatest acting performance ever in The Three Must-Get-Theres... You've probably never heard of it."

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b42/whobutdrew/Hipster.jpg
Whatever, I'm not going to get into an argument about this; I've made my point.

[johndeeregreen]

BTW, it takes a special kind of bitch to anonymously give out insulting neg reps... on an already anonymous forum. Whoever that was, take a look at yourself, because you are obviously deathly afraid of any sort of social nonacceptance, criticism, or rejection, even online. I can't imagine what kind of sniveling cockmonger you must be in real life. In short, you're a ****ing *****.

[iggy>]

Why are people so obsessed with these new batman films?

[Jackass18]

Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin has to be one of the most overlooked gems in the history of Cinema.

Yeah, it was so overlooked that it 'won the Best Leading Actor award at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors' Guild and the BAFTAs, in addition to awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics' Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics' Association, the National Board of Review and many other critics awards, for a total of at least 23 major awards, with at least one more nomination.'

[HardwoodLegend]

Yeah, it was so overlooked that it 'won the Best Leading Actor award at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors' Guild and the BAFTAs, in addition to awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics' Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics' Association, the National Board of Review and many other critics awards, for a total of at least 23 major awards, with at least one more nomination.'

He probably means overlooked in the public eye. It doesn't really come up in many general everyday conversations or threads. Same with Colin Firth in 'The King's Speech'.

They could both end up being performances of the moment and not ones that will be discussed throughout the years.

[Tarik One]

Yet, I though De Niro was better than Pacino in Part II. Brando as well. It's all opinion dude.

The greatness of their performances was that their expressions (esp Pacino)alone spoke volumes of words.

Very few actors, even good ones are able to accomplish this.

[unbreakable]

BTW, it takes a special kind of bitch to anonymously give out insulting neg reps... on an already anonymous forum. Whoever that was, take a look at yourself, because you are obviously deathly afraid of any sort of social nonacceptance, criticism, or rejection, even online. I can't imagine what kind of sniveling cockmonger you must be in real life. In short, you're a ****ing *****.


http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m55lfzTnZI1qfl0ah.png

[johndeeregreen]

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m55lfzTnZI1qfl0ah.png
Typical internet rebuttal. Any sentence with profanity in it = poster foaming at the mouth screaming at the top of his lungs with tears streaming down his face. When in fact it's merely the truth, laced with some unfavorable adjectives.

And surprise surprise, Mr Tough Guy still hasn't shown his face in here. Figures.

[AngelEyes]

I would also put George C. Scott's portrayal of General Patton above Ledger's performance.

[unbreakable]

Typical internet rebuttal. Any sentence with profanity in it = poster foaming at the mouth screaming at the top of his lungs with tears streaming down his face. When in fact it's merely the truth, laced with some unfavorable adjectives.

And surprise surprise, Mr Tough Guy still hasn't shown his face in here. Figures.

http://wikicedia.net/images/e/e0/Umad.jpg

[TheeBeast]

Hipsters?

I think hipsters would name some obscure silent movie actor that most people have never heard of or seen on-screen.

Ledger seems like the default choice of people who just aren't all that into film... More of a mainstream, popular culture pick than a hipster pick.


Hipster: "Max Linder turned in the greatest acting performance ever in The Three Must-Get-Theres... You've probably never heard of it."

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b42/whobutdrew/Hipster.jpg

EXACTLY how I felt . Everyone knows hipsters are on a whole nother level

I'm not sure about that pic though :lol

[TheeBeast]

It was a great role/performance.... but i'm sorry, what else has he done that would suggest he's "one of the best method actors"??

I mean for the past 10 years he's probably a top 10. Or you aren't going to agree that his form of acting didn't lead to him having to take pills to sleep at night?

[AngelEyes]

I mean for the past 10 years he's probably a top 10. Or you aren't going to agree that his form of acting didn't lead to him having to take pills to sleep at night?

Did you see the Patriot? That was pretty good, I never saw the gay cowboy movie but from what I've seen with the Joker and the Patriot I thought he was a pretty good actor. I wouldn't put him in the class of De Niro or Nicholson but he's pretty good.

[TheeBeast]

Did you see the Patriot? That was pretty good, I never saw the gay cowboy movie but from what I've seen with the Joker and the Patriot I thought he was a pretty good actor. I wouldn't put him in the class of De Niro or Nicholson but he's pretty good.

They had their time, but I don't see em putting up those performances as recent as Ledger or Day Lewis have in the past 10. And yeah I have but I seen that performance as overly acted and sorta lame. Don't know how I'd see it now.

[BankShot]

I mean for the past 10 years he's probably a top 10. Or you aren't going to agree that his form of acting didn't lead to him having to take pills to sleep at night?

Is this a serious question??

I have no idea whether or not his "form of acting" led to his abuse of prescription narcotics. Neither do you. :no:

[TheeBeast]

Is this a serious question??

I have no idea whether or not his "form of acting" led to his abuse of prescription narcotics. Neither do you. :no:

He said it himself that playing the role led to sleeping problems. Did sleeping problems not lead to his abuse of prescription drugs :confusedshrug:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/jack-nicholson-warned-heath-ledger-joker-role-article-1.340786

[Jackass18]

He probably means overlooked in the public eye. It doesn't really come up in many general everyday conversations or threads.

Well, it wasn't a big blockbuster movie that people flock to the theaters to watch. It was only in like 500 theaters.

[Beatlezz]

:biggums:

He's not even the best Joker. :confusedshrug:

[KevinNYC]

No, but it comes down to opinion anyways.

De Niro in Raging Bull
Mifune in The Seven Samurai
Chaplin in City Lights
Lorre in M
Brando in On the Waterfront

Just to name a few.

Great, great list. I think Kurosawa said of Mifune that it would only take him him 3 feet of film to express what other actors took 10 feet of film. He also wasn't trained. He was looking for another job at the studio when they were having auditions.

[Lebron23]

Josquin Phoenix is as good as him. Anyway it's been 14 years since he passed away.

[Bronbron23]

I just re-watched dark knight, the dude played the role perfect there was literally nothing he could have done better.

Probably not but he did an awesome job

[AirBonner]

How is it the best acting job?

[Manny98]

Dark Knight to this day is the greatest movie of all time and so is Ledgers performance in that movie

I haven't seen the other Joker movie yet so I can't compare

[HunterSThompson]

not even close


its a good character but he isn't believable and he doesn't show any kind of serious emotions


the best acting ever is probably Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood by Daniel Day-Lewis

[Nilocon165]

Dark Knight to this day is the greatest movie of all time and so is Ledgers performance in that movie

I haven't seen the other Joker movie yet so I can't compare
Damn TDK’s become massively overrated

[HunterSThompson]

Dark Knight to this day is the greatest movie of all time and so is Ledgers performance in that movie

I haven't seen the other Joker movie yet so I can't compare

the movie.is kind of annoying to me. its like a nonstop commercial. begins is my favorite from that series