I just read that Heath Ledger has been cast as the Joker in the next Batman film.
Hmm.
I'm glad they didn't go with an actor known for comedy -- a Jim Carrey (who's too old by now) or David Cross or someone like that. Ledger, huh?
Yeah, I can see it.
Rob
Monday, July 31, 2006
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Yeah, I've read this too. I don't want to assume the worst -- director Christopher Nolan's had really good instincts so far -- but... huh. I can't see it yet.
Yes, Ledger was amazing in Brokeback, and pulled off a performance I (and many others) didn't expect from him. But it's at the opposite end of the emotional spectrum from the Joker. By the same logic, we might as well give Terrence Howard or Paul Giamatti a shot.
Myself, I would have liked to see someone who's shown a little more capacity for craziness... maybe Paul Reubens, once upon a time? (Richard E. Grant was practically auditioning for the part in Hudson Hawk, but that was a long time ago. Maybe not long enough for some people... )
Do you think if we started a petition for Christopher Walken as the Joker, we could sway some minds? (Actually, as long as it's not Robin Williams, I'll give it a shot. And I'm glad the world's stopped paying attention to Marilyn Manson... who would still be better than Robin Williams.)
See, I think most of those are neat choices, but they all strike me as too old for the part. I want a Joker who's around the same age as Batman. I would have loved Richard E. Grant to do it once upon a time, but that's quite a while ago. And Christopher Walken is a great choice in theory -- and I have no doubt that he could do a credible job -- but really, what fun is it to see Christian Bale beat up a guy who's twice his age?
The more I think about it, the more I think Ledger is a good choice. If he can pull it off, that is.
Heath Ledger, eh? Yeah, I can kinda see it. Truth is, I was sorta hoping they wouldn't get to the Joker in BatMovie2. I think it would be neat to build up to Joker, make him a third act climax sort of thing. Ah, well. I'll put that in the same curiosity bin as how things'll work with Venom in Spidey3.
Of course, the other question is: Will Nolan tap the undercurrent of tension that Grant Morrison saw between Joker and Batman, or Who's Heath Ledger going to assfuck in the Batman movie?
Yeah, I said it. I went there.
"-- but really, what fun is it to see Christian Bale beat up a guy who's twice his age?" I posit that it really depends on the guy. Christian Bale vs. Tony Snow? Come on!
Seriously, I agree that it would be nice for the adversaries to be contemporaries, and I know my suggestions fall outside Bale's age range. (Edward Norton, however... Or Tom Cruise. Seriously.)
My resistance to Ledger (and again, I'm trying to keep an open mind) comes down to two things: I have a hard time imagining him tricking someone, and I have a hard time imagining him unhinged. But obviously, he's convinced the people who are spending the money, so he's doing something right.
At any rate, I'm curious rather than upset. As long as they get Annette Bening for Marsha, Queen of Diamonds in Part III...
Edward Norton would have been an interesting choice. I'd steer clear of Cruise (or Johnny Depp, who might also do a good job) simply becuase they're more famous than the star. That's what got the first Batman films in trouble. Bale held his own against Liam Neeson fine, but as well-known as he is, he's not burning with the megawatts of a Cruise.
But Samuel L. Jackson as King Tut, I could totally get behind.
how about a "person of color," or if you prefer, black man? like chris rock or chris tucker? i'd like to see the rasta-fied JOKER like this:
http://tinyurl.com/jjwv8
I've got no problem with a black actor as the Joker in theory (although the "whiteface" angle seems a little odd to me), but of those choices, Rock seems too well-known for the part, and everything I've ever seen Chris Tucker in that I've liked, I've liked in spite of Tucker, not because of him.
I also have yet to warm up to the new Batman cartoons, where dreadlock Joker is from.
Also, both of those guys are best known for comedy -- part of the reason I think Ledger is such a good choice is that he isn't
ok, bad examples on my part.
seriously, though... are there no non-white actors who could handle the role and do it well?
I'm sure there are. I'll let that simmer in the back of my mind for a little while and see who I come up with.
One other thing: casting a black actor would really dictate a recial subtext to the movie that you'd have to want in order for it to work. Because, let's face it, he'd be a black guy in whiteface, killin' people. And no matter what your movie is supposed to be about, it'll wind up being about the feelings and ideas that that image inspires.
Not necessarily a bad thing, but maybe not right for a summer blockbuster.
Phil LaMarr might be a good choice. Sure, he's best known for comedy, but he's capable of other things and has an obvious love for comics and comics characters, as witnessed by his many Justice League voice stints (notably Green Lantern John Stewart, although I've heard in interviews that he's voiced more characters, many uncredited).
I agree with Rob's analysis of the subtext issue. Blade can kill a whole rainbow of bad guys, but flipping the script would make a lot of people uneasy.
That said, too bad Andre Braugher's got 12 years on Christian Bale... that's a Joker I would've liked to see.
Ooh.. don't tempt me with Braugher. But yeah, he's too old for it now, sadly.
On a message board I frequent, someone mentioned that Morena Baccarin is rumored to be Wonder Woman for Joss Whedon's film. And she's dazzling to look at, and I'd put up no argument if she were to appear in every movie I ever see again. But honestly, I'd rather have her Serenity shipmate Gina Torres in the role.
I'd love to see Gina Torres as WW. I'd believe this woman can deflect bullets with her bracelets. Hell, I do believe it. She might even get me to buy in to the Invisible Plane.
Frankly, apart from "tradition," I can see no reason why WW ought to be white.
On the Batfront, I'd really prefer that the new generation of Batflicks not go with celebrity casting at all. Cast the actor, not the celebrity. In some cases, the celebrity factor doesn't matter, but in others I could see it as an impediment to the character's credibility. Some Big Name actors (perhaps through no fault of their own) just cannot disappear into a role.
As for Andre Braugher, I think he'd be a perfect fit somewhere in the GCPD...
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