It's only July, most of the Oscar contenders come out in December, but I can't think of a better performance so far this year.

edit: yes I'm still pretending that Oscars are awarded based on how good of a job you did.

There should be a golden ascot award!

"In the morning I put on my tailored shirt, my spats, my top hat. Then I get my ascot."

horrified: "you get your ass caught?"

"I get my ascot"

"That must hurt."

I once did a musical with the line "You bet your sweet ascot I will." in it.

Oh jeebus, Ailleann. You are absolutely right. Thanks for catching that. I was so up in my uppitiness that it didn't even occur to me. Duly edited.

I think Ledger's performance is Oscar-worthy. I completely and utterly forgot that he was Heath Ledger, or even an actor at all. He completely drew me in, freaked me out as a psychopathic human in a way I haven't felt since Silence of the Lambs. In some ways, I actually think his performance out-classed Hopkins'.

We actually discussed the movie, and Ledger specifically, in my acting class today, focusing on the way he used his body. He leads with different parts of his body constantly, totally different, physically, in different cases. He actually made me believe that the Joker is a natural actor - witness how well the character emulated a thug in the first scene, the nurse, and so on, with completely different body language. But even when he was being "himself," the fact that he was able to move his limbs so fluidly without ever looking ridiculous, simply unnerving, is astonishing.

I definitely missed something huge in Ledger's performance that all y'all got from the movie. Interesting.

Once again, I completely agree with all of that Gris. So much of what he did was organic and perfect for the scenario.

I especially noticed the use of his tongue...consistent with someone with an injury and who is not in control if much. Still, I have to say, I noticed. I admired every part of the performance. But I never forgot who I was watching.

It would be interesting to know what my response to the performance would have been if the life story had been different.

By the way, speaking of Gary Oldman as Gordon - if he were given a bit more screen time, I'd totally be down with him getting a nomination too. I think his performance is nearly as impressive. It's just more relatable, so we forget about it.

If this were a TV series, I'd expect Oldman to get an Emmy nom, for sure. There seems to be a bit more respect in the acting world for that sort of supporting actor.

that sort of supporting actor

All things being equal, my favorite kind of actor...far and away above the hunky/gorgeous star.

For someone not involved in the industry, I have an inexplicable love for the character actor who keeps on truckin'.

Brad Dourif, Adam Baldwin, Walter Brennan, Frances McDormand, Julie Dench, Julie Walters. On and on.

I think Oldman deserved a nod for sure for BB. Oldman's excellent. I have appreciated him for over two decades!

Saw DK today.

The fascinating thing to me was how human, yet alien, the Joker was. There was no camp to the character at all. (Which is hard to pull off when he's wearing a nurse's uniform, I tell you what!)

I actually thought that the weakest link in casting this time around was Harvey. I wasn't totally sold by AE's performance. It might have been me, not his acting, as AE just looks kinda smarmy to me.