Without question, it is the most decorated performance in the history of comic book movies. Heath Ledger was the first and only actor to be nominated and win an Oscar for his work in a superhero film. Of course, the Oscar was just one of several awards with which Ledger was posthumously honored for his instantly iconic turn as The Joker in The Dark Knight. There are so many wonderful adjectives that can be used to describe Heath's performance as The Joker, but few, if any, feel sufficient. As a character, The Joker is expected to be a scene stealer, but Heath was so uniquely magnetic, commanding all eyes and attention when his character was onscreen. It all started before we even saw his face. The very first shot of Heath is from behind as he waits for his ride to bank heist. The men picking him up have no idea this anonymous, clown-masked henchmen is their undercover ringleader (and executioner), but it's obvious to those watching from the outside that something is different about him. They may not know exactly what just yet, but it does not take long for them to learn. As Heath made his fully-costumed debut in front of a bunch of mob bosses, a simple magic trick was all that was needed to convince the audience to sit back and enjoy the rest of the ride. The Joker was back, like you'd never seen him before and, tragically, will never see him again. He was funny in a way that inspired guilt for laughing, charismatic in a way that drew you in, and so disturbing that you know you'd never want to be in an interrogation room with him. Credit is due to Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan for writing great lines of dialogue, but Heath absolutely took over the film with his delivery. More than that, he gave a full-bodied performance that exceeded anything put down on the pages of the script. The walk, the lip-smacking, and the frequent tracing and retracing of his scars with his tongue were all Heath. He created a series of mannerisms that made The Joker a character someone the audience could not stop watching even when someone else was speaking. In truth, calling Heath's Joker the best performance in the history of the Batman franchise is easy. It is Ledger's place in the history of all cinematic villainy in every genre that calls for debate. Anyone participating in that discussion would be well served to avoid underestimating The Joker, as that mistake comes at a hefty price. Even Batman will tell you that. So there you have it, the 10 best performances in the history of Batman movies. Which inclusions did you agree with? Whom do you feel got snubbed? Let us know in the comments section below.
