Does Heath Really Deserve an Oscar?
February 22nd 2009 21:58
While I admit I'm simply your garden variety movie goer - his performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight is certainly deserving of nomination. He encapsulated so many facets of human emotion - that it would have been almost unthinkable NOT to have been a frontrunner for the award - but it's not like Heath Ledger's was the only award-worthy performance this year.
Josh Brolin, Phillip Seymour Hoffman also seem to be worthy of the win.
While I do think that Ledger deserves praise for his work in The Dark Knight along with Monster's Ball, etc would there be such a rush to give him the award if he was still with us?
Perhaps I'm being just a little hard - and perhaps tiring a little of bandwagon.
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Comment by Sara Dobson
My Turn
I am glad you brought this topic up, I have been wondering the same thing for months now,
I am not a batman fan myself so couldn't honestly sayt either way. He is probably great
I have wondered my self if though he would have been such a sure win if he were alive.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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Wasn't sure whether to or not to be honest.
Was in no way wanting to be either unpatriotic or disrespectful - but Hollywood being Hollywood - be it in life or the movies - there's always somthing going on behind the scenes.
Cheers
Comment by Teresa Ralton
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Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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Josh Brolin got a gong for Milk - others to receive noms for best supporting actor were
Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
So I guess I'm not the only one curious.
Guess we'll never really know huh?
Comment by Damo
It was good acting, but not great acting.
Then again I who else is there?
He may win out of default
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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So - I'm not out of step here?
It really is a case of 'if you build it (the sentiment and perception) they will come (the Oscar)?
Comment by Matt Shea
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I think Damo's right - he simply may win because despite the royal rumble going on for most of the awards, the Supporting Actor category isn't a super strong one.
It was definitely a great performance but it would be disrespectful to his memory to give him the gong simply on a sympathy vote, and Seymour Hoffman Brolin handed in bad-ass performances in Doubt and Milk respectively.
Ultimately I guess you'd have to say he's definitely a legitimate contender.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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. . . and as for Robert Downey Jr and Tropic Thunder - well probably says alot about this year's crop.
You just can't help but wonder . . . as you say - it probably ain't one of the biggies - and I guess you can't really award Heath for a posthumous Oscar for services to his trade - he simply (as tragic as it was) not with us long enough. So you just have to wonder if this is a 'Claytons Oscar'
Cheers big fella
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Comment by Lilla
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Comment by Dianna G
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In my mind Heath Ledger would still deserve the award if he were alive, for doing so amazingly well. The Joker's essence is not an easy one to capture and I can imagine the toll it might take on someone who wasn't prepared for it long in advance.
Heath Ledger was absolutely perfect. In my mind there will not be another Joker that will ever match him-and I'm sure there are dozens who agree. Of course, I am a big Batman fan so I am a little biased.
I didn't see the other movies-I don't get to go out to the movies very often-but I say that Heath would definitely be nominated if he were alive, and I would hope that he would still get the award.
However, the fact that he is no longer alive and will never get another chance to win one of these awards is even more reason to give the award, a last token of respect for his amazing work. Heath Ledger was an amazing actor in all of his roles and he deserves the recognition.
I missed most of the awards, only catching the last three, but my grandmother told me it was very touching when the award was given. I think that if I were in the position of Heath's family I would be very grateful, and I would take it not only as a token of respect for his career, but as a way of paying respects to the dead as well.
~Dianna
Comment by Morgan Bell
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i did however think Ledger performance was Oscar-worthy because it was memorable and thought provoking and as an actor he totally disappeared into the role
Ledger's Joker is one of the most compelling characters ive seen
so yes i do think the Oscar was achieved on merit and not just sentiment
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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I'm sure you're correct in your thinking.
I think Matt might be on the right track too - while it's certainly an honour - perhaps we've given it a little too much credence - after all - who won the best supporting actor's gong in 2004?
Still - it's a great tribute to someone taken away from us way too early.
I certainly feel for his family and little Matilda.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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Sentiment always seemed to follow each of his nominations (and laurels) - rather than glowing endorsement of the role - which must've irked the other nominees I suspect.
Sure - it's understandable - and it appears he made a huge impact (and alot of friends) in Hollywood - but tinseltown is known for both its embracing of favourites and shunning of those not in the 'click' (ie: Hitchcock)
Cheers
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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Touching yes. A testiment to his work - yes. But I thought there were special posthumous awards for those.
OK - so the other combatants were hardly up to the joust this year (in my opinion) so Heath's award was well deserved - but it should (and I'm sure it always is) judged on merit and not sentiment.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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If Robert Downey Jr's efforts in Tropic Thunder are anything to go by - it's no wonder Heath was a shoe in.
Vin Ordinaire field this year.
Cheers
Comment by Helen Randell
Rough Cooking
I'm not surprised he won, but by the same token, it was probably not his best acting. Personally I think he did a much better job in Brokeback Mountain - just depends who you're up against huh!
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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You're on the money on both counts.
Cheers
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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What are you trying to say . . .
Comment by RubySoho
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And I'm still pissed off that Waltz With Bashir didn't win Best Foreign Film. And then I remind myself that it's the Oscars for crying out loud.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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I agree. Robert Downey Jr is scary in Tropic Thunder as well - but for entirely different reasons
Cheers
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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Didn't Bette Midler used to sing "You've Got to Have Friends"?
In the end it all subjective - which movie house doesn't like who, which director/producer wants to woo someone to the next film and a whole lot of powerbroking.
Unless its blatently obvious - it's a bit of a sham at times I agree.
Stay well
Comment by RubySoho
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Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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Comment by Bryn
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Robert Downey Jr should've won for Tropic Thunder. Now, that was a performance.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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I concur with your sentiments about Brokeback - which co-incidentially I viewed for the first time on a trip to Canada a few years ago - then journeyed to the bar where they did quite a few of the pub scenes - before (believe it or not) spending three days camping in the Rocky's - having travelled on horseback.
Weird thing was that I then had to share a tent with another fella - boy - didn't we make sure there was plenty of distance between us in that little confine - we laughed about it later though.
As for RDJ - I don't know - jury's out (here at least) about the merits of that performance.
Cheers big fella
Comment by atula
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Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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Guess we'll never know . . . thank goodness the field for the plaudit wasn't that strong this year.
Cheers
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Michael Shannon was probably equally as deserving to win though.
And I do agree that Ledger's work in The Dark Knight takes on an extra dimension because of the actor's circumstances, but no more so than Rourke's work in The Wrestler.
and to the poster who was ticked off about Waltz With Bashir not winning... that was a great film, wasn't it? I haven't seen the winning Best Foreign Language film though so I guess I can't judge which was more deserving of a win. Sweden's 'Let the Right One In' should have been amongst the nominees though.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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I don't know that the field this year was as strong as in previous years - but I suppose that is all subjective.
Cheers
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Everyone used to talk about Nicholson's Joker. Heath certainly has taken this villain to a new level.
Josh Brolin, if he was ripped off this year will probably be repaid next year with his role at George W. in the best actor category.
Philip Seymour Hoffman has already won one.
Robert Downey Jr probably got nominated because his body of work has been good and this is the longest he's been clean that the Academy can nominate him with a clear conscious.
Michael Shannon I really didn't think he deserved a nomination. I felt his character was a cheap device to say what was 'supposed' to be unspeakable. Mr M doesn't agree.
Did Kate Winslet win this Oscar because she's had so many nominations with no wins? It's pretty much a sure bet that Meryl will be back again. Anne Hathaway is young (....which is probably what they said about Heath with regards to Brokeback Mountain....) Angelina's already got one and Melissa Leo...well... I don't know.
So it's unanimous. The Oscars are subjective and theories are aplenty.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
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Brolin won't get nominated for W next year... hadn't it already been released and put forward for consideration for the Oscars just gone? W got very mixed reviews all round, Stone has lost his touch.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Like Ruby said, we're all influenced by external circumstances.
I was just trying to illustrate that there are countless of reason why people vote the way they do.
Voting at the Oscars doesn't follow a rigid formula although it is somewhat amusing that Kate Winslet joked in the episode of Extras that doing a Holocaust film almost guarantees an Oscar.
As for Sean Penn winning another Oscar beating out Mickey Rourke, even Mickey Rourke on a red carpet interview said that you can't know how people are going to vote. If they do judge it on the work then he felt he was in with a good change. But... he trailed.
Kind of implying that there are many other factors that go into it.
And now that I think about it, biopics generally get a good run at the Oscars. PSH himself won his doing a biopic. And there's no doubt he'll be back for more Oscars before his days are done.
It's fun to sit and theorise as to who won or who lost and why. What backscratching, political and cultural agendas people subscribe to.
I didn't know that W had already been released in the US. If you're right about Stone then it's a shame. I've always enjoyed his movies.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
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Comment by Wynona Lavota
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Kinda makes me angry on behalf of all the living actors who were nominated in the same categories as him because they didn't have a chance, really.