Thursday, August 07, 2008

Why So Serious?


I saw The Dark Knight today. Like the press everywhere, I was bowled over by Heath Ledger's performance. He was the closest in true accuracy of the comic book's depiction of The Joker. I was truly unsettled whenever he was on screen. I never knew what he was going to do. He was amazing. I found myself thinking back to Jack Nicholson's performance, which I like as well, but let's face it - that was nearly 20 years ago. Times have changed, and this is definitely the definitive Joker for our times.
I found this fan video that intersperses Jack's Joker with Heath's. Unfair, to be sure, but still interesting.
Enjoy.

Ps...this is post 999.

2 comments:

Googla Monster said...

That is interesting. Two great actors. Not having seen the Dark Knight yet, it's perhaps unfair, but for me Jack Nicholson dominates the screen. I'll have to see Ledger's performance in context. My favorite Jack Nicholson performance was About Schmidt.

STEPHEN GREGORY SMITH said...

Googla,
I have to agree about 1989's Batman. But I have to also add that 2008's The Dark Knight is TOTALLY dominated by Heath. Whenever he is not on screen, the movie lags.
He is the oxygen of the film, and his performance is entrancing.