Heath Ledger wins at Golden Globes
One year after actor's tragic passing, he is honored for The Joker
Jan 13, 2009
Ledger, who would have been 29-years-old, has been receiving a lot of Oscar buzz about his role as The Joker in the Christopher Nolan directed film, The Dark Knight. According to ComingSoon.net source Scott Huver, Ledger's The Dark Knight cast mate, Gary Oldman seems to think an Oscar win is fitting.
"I think [he'll be nominated]," Oldman said. "In this case I think the acting is so good, I think his performance is so good."
Bringing The Joker to life
In Brian J. Robb's book, Heath Ledger Holly wood's Dark Star, Ledger talked about how he was going about playing his iconic role and getting a feel for being The Joker.
"I didn't have to search. I had a plan of attack," Ledger said. "I feel it's something I know how to do."
After his untimely death, rumors swirled about how playing The Joker was starting to impact Ledger's sleeping habits.
Ledger said his experience was, "dark and sinister and exciting."
"He has no empathy. He's a sociopath, psychotic, mass-murdering clown," Ledger said of his character.
The Dark Knight adds up
According to Box Office Mojo, The Dark Knight went on to gross $158,411,483 during the opening weekend in the United States. The film then went on to gross $997,049,935 in movie theaters worldwide.
DVD sales of The Dark Knight did not disappoint. According to COMICM!X, the film sold over 10 million discs in the first week of release. The film went on to be the highest selling DVD of 2008.
Hollywood honors Heath
Ledger has won not only the Golden Globe for his performance in The Dark Knight, but was also honored at the Critic's Choice Awards. At both ceremonies, Christopher Nolan spoke on Ledger's behalf.
"After Heath passed, you saw a hole ripped in the future of cinema," Nolan said in his speech at the Golden Globes.
With the anniversary of Ledger's death coming up on January 22, he is highly favored at garnering an Academy Award nomination, as well as being honored by his fellow actors at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where he is a favorite to win.
It seems that Hollywood is making sure that Ledger's eclectic career in film ends on the highest of notes.
RollingStone.com writer, Peter Travers wrote in his July 18, 2008 review of The Dark Knight, "If there's a movement to get him the first posthumous Oscar since Peter Finch won for 1976's Network, sign me up."
Like the star of The Dark Knight, Christian Bale said recently in his speech at the People's Choice Awards, "Here's to Heath."
