10 Times The Oscars Recognized 'Cool' Movies
3. The Dark Knight
Notable Nominations: Best Supporting Actor.
During the Joel Schumacher era of Batman films, the thought of any film featuring the Caped Crusader getting nominated for major awards would seem ludicrous. But that was before the world knew of Christopher Nolan. In his hands, Batman regained his dignity and kicked off an epic trilogy. However, it wasn't until The Dark Knight introduced Health Ledger's The Joker, that the franchise really came to life.
Fans were initially skeptical of Ledger taking over the role of the iconic villain, but he quickly shut down any naysayers as soon as he appeared on screen. His darker take on the character, presenting him as a demented anarchist only interested in watching the world burn, was a disturbing and undeniably entertaining. It's a performance that blew everyone away and will be remembered forever.
The performance was so amazing, Ledger swept up just about every award during the season. When it came time for the Oscars, his winning streak continued, making him the first Oscar-winning performance from a comic book film. Sadly, the Oscar was awarded posthumously as Ledger died shortly before the film's release.
Still, it was a fitting way to honour a stunning performance and a career that ended far too early.