The Dark Knight formed part of my Cineworld challenge and is reviewed here. I praised Heath Ledger in that review and I will praise him again here. His performance as The Joker is memorable for all the right reasons - a brilliantly concocted and delivered version of Batman's old nemesis. Heath's tragic death occurred just before the film's release. It didn't hurt the movie's sales, but it wasn't his death that had people coming back for repeat viewings or had critics and the public alike praising Chris Nolan's magnificent film. Amongst other things, it was Heath Ledger, at his acting best, delivering an amazing achievement in acting history. Oscar assured.
Robert Downey Jnr's nomination came as a complete surprise. The movie, Tropic Thunder, which I saw twice in Dubrovnik for less than a quid each time, is a complete pisstake of war movies, hardly a film that would cross the desk of those in The Academy as a consideration for an award. That said, Downey Jnr is the best thing about the movie and his turn as an Australian method actor who goes to great lengths to play an African American soldier is hilarious and absolutely brilliant. A performance that can be watched over and over again. If it wasn't for Heath Ledger, I would have loved to have seen Downey Jnr win.
Both these nominations indicate that the Academy are opening up to left of field ideas when it comes to nominations and awards, as opposed to sticking to the mainstream line. However, for every Downey Jnr nomination, there is a Best Picture snub, and this time it was for The Dark Knight. How that didn't make it to the final five, I have no idea. Anyway, that's a gripe for another post.
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