Golden Globes

[alicelikesme]

Heath Ledger won Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, for his portrayal of the Joker obviously.

Though it should be mentioned.

[scoobydiesel]

Yep I'm happy now.

Given i also think Robert Downey Jr did a fine job in Tropic thunder. But Ledger had the stand out role IMO compared to the other guys.

Seeing Nolan give the speech was pretty crazy, i didnt know who would be the one to do so.

[crash1337]

well deserved, next up the oscar.

[terryscss]

I'm suprised that Doubt and Frost/Nixon didn't win anything. Also, Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire, didn't see that coming, ya' know, before all of its earlier wins.

[scoobydiesel]

I have not seen SDM yet...i did borrow it...uh from a friend... but yet to get to it.

But still didnt see it winning all the awards it did.

Very happy about Mickey winning as well.

[wideawakewesley]

Heath didn't deserve it for that performance, but I'm glad he won it because his body of work deserves to stay in the public eye and he deserves to be remembered. I don't think he should win the Oscar.

Stoked that Colin Farell won though, he was awesome in In Bruges.

Wes

[poltah]

Aaron Eckhart needs to win for best supporting actor for Towelhead. Loved Heath Ledger as the Joker, but to me Aaron Eckhart deserves the award.

[dolson]

Heath didn't deserve it for that performance

Really? His portrayal ruined every other joker for me. I can't go back to the older styles. I don't see any flaws in his role.

I'm not big into comics and super heroes anymore, mind you, but he made that movie, and that movie was excellent.

[taozoo4u]

Really? His portrayal ruined every other joker for me. I can't go back to the older styles. I don't see any flaws in his role.

I'm not big into comics and super heroes anymore, mind you, but he made that movie, and that movie was excellent.

I'm just wondering
what else are you comparing his role as the joker too?
Jack Nicholson's portrayal 20 years ago or Cesar Romero's joker 40 years ago?
I agree with Wes, while it was a good performance, Heath does not deserve golden globe for that one role nor does he deserve the Oscar, but his line of work should be remembered because he was a great actor.

and this is just my opinion but i believe that the only reason people believe that he should win these awards and why people are saying he was the best joker ever and no one can top that, is because he died.

[jonnywb]

Heath didn't deserve it for that performance

hmmm, I disagree, I'm the same as Dolson, I really think that he did 'make' the movie. He was by far my favourite Character in the film and I really enjoyed it when he was on screen. I don't think the fact that, unfortunately, he died has anything to do with it.

Just my opinion though.

[esophagus]

Unfortunately, no one will ever know how big of a factor his death was in this.

[smitten_lily]

I think that Heath Ledger was stunning in the Dark Knight. One of the best jokers ever in my book. I am sooooo happy that Kate Winslet won two awards. She definitely deserved it. I hate to admit that one of her speeches made me tear up.

[satori]

did anyone notice Colin Farrell bounce off Ralph Fiennes when he went up to get his award... I was all thinking they were going to throw down right there.

[esophagus]

My breakdown of the night...

Best Picture - Drama (Slumdog Millionaire)
Very happy! This had some stiff competition that I think should have included some different movies, but regardless this should have won.

Best Director (Danny Boyle)
See above.

Best Actor - Drama (Mickey Rourke)
I wasn't sure if I felt this should have gone to Mickey or Brad, and I'm still not really sure, but I'm far from upset about him. I was blown away by the acting in The Wrestler.

Best Picture - Musical/Comedy (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
This is what happens when there's bullshit categorizing like this. VCB was a good movie, but it wasn't the particularly funny. Still, it couldn't get into the drama character, so it knocks out any comedy that really deserves it.

Best Actor - Musical/Comedy (Colin Farrell)
I would have been happy no matter who won this, but Colin Farrell is definitely a head above the rest. In Bruges brought him up about ten notches in my books.

Best Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger)
We all knew this was coming. Every nominee deserves a bit of recognition, but Heath gave a mind blowing performance. Combine that with the amount of press he got (not necessarily his death) and it was a sure thing.

Best Television Drama (Mad Men)
Wooooo! This is an under watched show, so I'm always happy to see it at least well received critically.

Best Actor - Television Drama (Gabriel Byrne)
Booooo! Anyone else should have got this. Particularly Jon Hamm.

Best Television Musical/Comedy (30 Rock)
I don't think this is my favorite in the category, and I'm an avid watcher of all the nominees, but it's definitely amazing. Perfectly content with this.

Best Actor - Television Comedy (Alec Baldwin)
No one deserved this more. He makes the show.

Best Actress - Television Comedy (Tina Fey)
Probably deserved this out of the nominees.

[dolson]

I'm just wondering
what else are you comparing his role as the joker too?
Jack Nicholson's portrayal 20 years ago or Cesar Romero's joker 40 years ago?
I agree with Wes, while it was a good performance, Heath does not deserve golden globe for that one role nor does he deserve the Oscar, but his line of work should be remembered because he was a great actor.

As I said, I'm not big into comics or anything, but I've always liked Batman (moreso than the more over-the-top, unbelievable characters like Super Man who can fly, or Spiderman who can spin webs... Batman just relies on gadgets and gizmos, which, while still far-fetched, are much closer to reality, with technological advances and whatnot). When I say I liked the Dark Knight's Joker, I mean, yes, Jack Nicholson's version, as well as the Joker as portrayed in any comics I read as a kid, or any video games I've seen him in. That's what I'm referring to. The whole "hehehe I have a big evil grin, and I'm skinny" Joker as seen in MK vs DC is annoying. That's what I'm saying. It really has little to do with Heath Ledger, and more to do with whoever came up with the character, and directed him to act that way (which may have actually been himself, I don't know how much creative freedom they gave him). In any case, you seem to know more about comics than I do, so please take that into consideration here. I can't name any illustrators or writers, aside from like Stan Lee, and maybe a few recognizeable names (if I hear them). I am a TRS fan, but mostly for the games and movie recommendations. I'm by far not in the comic loop, and I mean no disrespect to you or anyone who gravitates towards the old-school versions of the Joker.


and this is just my opinion but i believe that the only reason people believe that he should win these awards and why people are saying he was the best joker ever and no one can top that, is because he died.

That's a pretty harsh thing to say. If you didn't like his acting or his version of the Joker, so be it, but I find it rather insulting that you insinuate that I would let his death cloud my judgement in such a way that I would see either his acting or that particular version of the Joker as my favorite just because he died.

I don't have TV service, so I don't watch the media and I don't have a sheepish mind like the people you're thinking of. I don't hang on the edge of my seat waiting to see what's happening with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, or if Britney shaved her head or had a baby or whatever. I don't read The Inquierer or whateverthefuck. If I'm at someone's house who has the TV on and I see commercials, I can actually feel and am aware of the brainwashing effect, unlike many people who are desensitized due to overexposure. I am not the type of person who would go into a movie like this, pre-judging and having my mind made up to love what I was about to see. I don't doubt that there are some people like that, but on the other side of the coin, I am sure there are people who pre-judged and decided to dislike his role due to the hype and because he died. Who's to say you aren't one of those? Who's to say that had he lived, you would have loved his performance and not be so negative about it? I'm not saying it's the case; I'm just putting that out there as a possibility, if not for yourself, then for other people. I'm on neither side of that fence, though.

In fact, I don't even know how he died. I'm sure I heard it from TRS (as that's about my only source of movie news), but I don't remember. Why? Because I don't care, and I can't even name any movie he's acted in before (maybe I've seen him, but I don't remember. I can't name many actors, because I don't care about most of them. I just watch movies and decide if I like them or not, and sometimes I see some acting that I think is very exceptional, and that's my own opinion).

Heath was just a person, and if his death was honorable, then it's tragic - for his family, and my condolences. I'm not related to him, and while I don't like hearing about people dying, regardless of cause, it doesn't concern me enough to illicit care. Further to this, if memory serves, Brad Renfro died as well, right? Well, just because he died doesn't mean I like his acting - anything I've seen him in (I can only think of two movies off hand) I found he did a terrible job. The fact that he died didn't affect me or make my change my opinion of his work. A shitty actor is still a shitty actor, dead or alive, and the only difference is that now he has no chance to get acting lessons. In fact, the only reason I knew who he was in those movies was because he did such a poor job, that when the credits rolled and I saw his name, I was shocked... I'd knew the name, heard it around, and figured he would be a better actor than that given the fact that I recognized his name.

But anyhow, I'm getting off track and ranty, so I'll stop now.

EDIT: by the way, I wouldn't say nobody can ever top Heath's performance, and anyone who does say that isn't thinking logically. I don't doubt that someone could do it better, but the actual character direction needs to keep going in this direction, in my opinion and preference. Saying something like that would be akin to me saying "There will never be a better game than ActRaiser, for it is the greatest game of all time and nothing can top it." While true that it is currently the greatest game of all time, that doesn't mean that there will NEVER be a better game, only that one has not yet come along. Some things are safe bets, but never say never (and mean it).

EDIT 2: I stand by what I said about him 'making' the movie, too. He did. Christian Bale was OK, and other characters were OK, but Heath outclassed them all. And I just looked him up on IMdb, and I see at least two movies that I've watched with him in them. A Knight's Tale, which I found to be utter garbage. We Will Rock You has no place in a movie like that, and nothing drew me in either, not the story, not the acting, not the cinematography... And the other, The Brothers Grimm. Didn't really like that either. It was OK, can't remember his actual acting, but I do recall falling asleep the first time I tried to watch it. Might not have been his fault, mind you, but I still wasn't blown away by it. But his Joker was great. In my opinion.

[esophagus]

Things by Heath Ledger you have to see:

1. The Dark Knight
2. Candy
3. Brokeback Mountain

Edit: And you need to watch interviews with him to see how intense he is with his method acting.

[wideawakewesley]

I'd rather watch a Knights Tale ahead of The Dark Knight any day!

Wes

[dolson]

Things by Heath Ledger you have to see:

1. The Dark Knight
2. Candy
3. Brokeback Mountain

Edit: And you need to watch interviews with him to see how intense he is with his method acting.

I might check those two out, and maybe I'll look at some interviews.

BTW, I looked into Christian Bale after watching The Machinist, as I thought his performance was amazing... In contrast to his Batman role, which is a tad... what's the word... rigid? Anyhow, he actually lost all that weight by eating an apple and a can of tuna for _____ days (I forget how long). I thought that was pretty impressive, though I admit I don't know much about other actors and whatnot.

And Wes, you're strange! ;)

[scoobydiesel]

Both Bale and Ledger have great movies in their past that people may have not seen. But they really should...

[jonnywb]

I'd rather watch a Knights Tale ahead of The Dark Knight any day!

Wes

I did like A Knights Tale, but i would probably rather watch The Dark Knight.
I'm not saying that The Dark Knight was the best movie at all, but Heath's Performance just made it. Christian Bale imo is a good actor, but other than the fact that all he really adds to his character as batman is some weird voice, I can't really rate him as much as I would in any other film.

As esophagus said, unfortunately, no one will really ever know how big a factor his death was.

As for the other golden globe awards, I think i'd be happy as they were.
I'm glad and excited that Slumdog Millionaire did as well as it did, and also that Colin Farell got an award for In Bruges.

[stubadub]

and this is just my opinion but i believe that the only reason people believe that he should win these awards and why people are saying he was the best joker ever and no one can top that, is because he died.

I see where your coming from, because people do have a tendency to do that. Brandon Lee was getting some of that praise after The Crow, and while I enjoyed him in that movie, I don't think it was a particularly acting performance. I also don't think that Tupac and Biggie are the greatest rappers to have ever lived (though I do enjoy me some Biggie). Those guys had respect before their death, but after the death the amount of praise magnified dramatically.

Having said that, Heath Ledger's performance was amazing. In a movie that was all around perfect, he managed to transcend everything else and embody the force that is the Joker as seen in the Batman books of the last 20 years or so. The only person to have come close was Mark Hammil in the cartoons. I have seen Heath Ledger in other movies, and if I hadn't known it was him I wouldn't have recognized him. Hell, I knew it was him and still managed to forget that it was him while watching. I don't know that it can't be topped, but I think it would be hard. I've spent a good deal of my life being a comic nerd, and the Joker has always been one of my favorite villains. In all the comic films I've seen I've never been as happy with any performance as I was with Ledger as the Joker.

I took my dad and my sister to see the movie, almost against their will. My sister enjoyed the movie more than she expected, and my dad found it to be way too dark to love, but both couldn't stop talking about how incredible he was. My dad is also not one to give a crap about these types of things, and he indicated many times that his suspicion had been that the talk about Ledger's performance were hype related to his death.

We definitely don't have to agree on whether the performance was award worthy. Even though I do think he deserves an award I realize that I'm too attached to the surrounding property to be anything but biased. I just think it is unfortunate that Ledger's accomplishment sometimes gets lost in the blowback from the success of the film.

[lordstandley]

I'm just wondering
what else are you comparing his role as the joker too?
Jack Nicholson's portrayal 20 years ago or Cesar Romero's joker 40 years ago?
I agree with Wes, while it was a good performance, Heath does not deserve golden globe for that one role nor does he deserve the Oscar, but his line of work should be remembered because he was a great actor.

and this is just my opinion but i believe that the only reason people believe that he should win these awards and why people are saying he was the best joker ever and no one can top that, is because he died.

Not even close, He should, and will, win the Oscar because he created a memorable character that will be remembered in cinema forever. You don't have to compare his Joker to anyone elses Joker to know that he did an amazing job. You just have to look at what he did with that particular character and how he made it work. You don't have to compare Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal to anyone elses Hannibal too know that he created a simply evil and scary character for the movie. It is the same with heath, he created a twisted and scary Joker and he should be commended for it.

[joeyrock]

Just watching this..

Jonathan from Buffy wrote Recount...

edit: Our thoughts go out to you Guy Richie :p...Sasha Baron Cohen is a legend.