Oldman hails Ledger's performance

[knite16]

Source: MSN Movies - Hollywood Hitlist



Gary Oldman has a reputation for being somewhat cantankerous when dealing with the press, and while doing the rounds for "Batman Begins," he wasn't exactly a bundle of joy. However, the Oldman who appeared to promote the "Batman" sequel, "The Dark Knight," was almost a changed man. Before me sat a candid actor happy to talk about a movie he truly enjoyed making. More so, he seemed energized by the already acclaimed performance of his fallen co-star, Heath Ledger, as Batman's nemesis, the Joker.
"You'll get a movie like 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' or you'll get 'Dog Day Afternoon,' and actors like Nicholson and Pacino go through the sound barrier. They don't do it every time, but an actor in a career will do that, if they are lucky, if they're good," Oldman says. "And Heath has gone through the sound barrier with this. I think it's an extraordinary piece of acting. There was a frequency he was tuning into like a broadband or something; he was tuning something. He tuned into a station that none of us could hear."


As Lt. James Gordon, Oldman gives a superbly subtle performance in a role mightily expanded from the first film. Yet, on this day, he had no interest in taking congratulatory kudos from the press. He was much more keen on bringing up the big white elephant neither his co-stars nor director Christopher Nolan wanted to jinx: Ledger's Oscar chances.


Oldman says, "I think he's looking down from heaven saying, 'They're going to nominate me for an Oscar? You're kidding me! Bad timing!' But I think he will [get nominated] and the work will get recognized."
A critic's favorite who hasn't even received a Golden Globe nomination, Oldman knows Ledger's accomplishment will face hurdles because "Dark Knight" is considered a "genre" movie.


"I think the last time they did [it] was Tony Hopkins. They gave him an Oscar for a horror movie ["The Silence of the Lambs"]. So, I think that they will acknowledge this and take it seriously on the strength of the performance," Oldman says. "Not because it's a posthumous Oscar and it's a sympathy vote because he's dead. So, I'd like to see it. He's wonderful in it, isn't he?"
And then, quietly, Oldman sighs, "He's wonderful."

[Akaris]

Agreed. Even though I haven't seen the movie.

[VendorTrash]

Agreed
Ledger was a favorite actor of mine and just from watching trailers/previews of the movie the role he did with the joker simply looks amazing.

[XemnasXD]

i can't help but get the feeling that all of this is because heath died. Im sure its going to be good but, it better amazing come thursday

[solimor]

Originally Posted by XemnasXD

i can't help but get the feeling that all of this is because heath died. Im sure its going to be good but, it better amazing come thursday

I have a bit of the same feeling. But the trailers of Joker locks amazing so I hope its because his acting and not death that spot this things on.

and I must say of all Comic people Joker must be the hardest one to ever play. its a insane toon for god sake

[El Rodge]

Originally Posted by XemnasXD

i can't help but get the feeling that all of this is because heath died. Im sure its going to be good but, it better amazing come thursday

As much as people liek to says its not because they are dead, it is...not to downplay his performance, just that they;re are many good performances taht always get overlooked and never get the credit they deserve, and people shrug it off when they don;t receive it just because I would guess there is a general sentiment that if you did ebfore, you can do it again....when your dead people look at your last peice as if its your testament

[N0rdic Ninja]

I don't know if I completely agree, even before the news of his death, I couldn't wait to see the new Batman movie specifically because of Ledgers roll as the joker, it looked amazing! Would he have gotten as much attention if he didn't die? No. But this is looking to be his best roll he's ever done by far, so eh, who really gives a ****, let him hog the spotlight, it's his last chance.

[Anuxinamoon]

Our publishers took us out so we watched it last night as wednesday was totally sold out all over brisbane. Such a awesome performance as joker he did. Really just ... wow.

Best batman movie I have seen <3

[Tareith]

Honestly, best movie i've seen in years. The theater was packed and i'm pretty damned sure it was sold out. Hell, we couldn't even find parking. And yes, he did a perfect job with the joker. He was one of my favorite actors to begin with, tragic really; but if you're going to go out after creating some form of art, best be something as well done as this.

[Untrackable]

I was also amazed by his performance. It was everything i imagined the Joker to be: quick, energetic, and completely insane.