The Dark Knight

Heath Ledger is an actor that has starred in many films.   The Patriot, Monsters Ball, and Lords of Dogtown are just of few of his films.  His all-time best role in my eyes was that of the Joker which he played in the batman saga The Dark Knight.  Sadly he passed away at the age of 28 shortly after finishing up this great movie.  His ability to become the character, add his own ability to become a truly good impersonator themed actor, and use his creativity to contribute to the film made it a $180 million dollar box office hit.

In the theory of using the inside/outside approach to becoming a character I feel that Heath did a little of both to become the joker.  I believe that he used the inside approach by doing a lot of research on the joker.  Looking into what had made this character so dark and evil. Looking at the abuse he suffered as a child and horrible things he had been through in life helped Heath to develop his own image of what the Joker would be like in real life.  Not a joker at all but instead a cynical lunatic.  He also used the outside approach in my eyes.  I believe that he looked at the joker’s appearance and took into play why he wore the makeup, had green hair, and of course the smile scar running across his face.

In the reading I did in chapter 10 it elaborated on the fact that there are three types of actors; Impersonators, Interpreters and Commentators, and Personality actors.  In the film The Dark Knight Heath Ledger most definitely took on the role of an Impersonator.  He used his ability to set aside his normal personality and with the help of costume and makeup immerse himself in a new character, the Joker.  Adding the raspy voice, awkward walk, and chilling laugh show Heath Ledgers true greatness as an actor.

The director of this film, Christopher Nolan, did an outstanding job of allowing Heath and other characters from the film to contribute their own creativity to this film.  I think that letting Heath add in his own voice chilling spin on the story of his scars and laughing in moments when he should of undoubtedly been in pain show a true cohesiveness between actor and director.  The Dark Knight was definitely one of Heath Ledgers top acting performances and will always be one of the favorites in my movie collection.