Ledger poised for Oscar win
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 20, 2009 00:00
HOLLYWOOD - Heath Ledger is poised to become only the second actor in Oscars history to win a posthumous Academy Award on Sunday, a poignant final epitaph to a career tragically cut short just over a year ago.
Ledger, who died in New York in January last year aged 28, is the favorite to emulate fellow Australian Peter Finch Ğ a winner for 1976 classic "Network" Ğ for his performance as the Joker in Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight." One US bookmaker is quoting odds of 1/80 for a Ledger victory, meaning anyone wishing to bet on Ledger will have to place 80 dollars to win one. If the Oscar is confirmed, it will be the crowning accolade for Ledger, who has already been honored at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and British Academy Film Awards amongst others.
Buzz about Ledger's performance in "The Dark Knight" had been building even before his death, with interest reaching fever pitch in the months leading up to movie's worldwide release last July.
Gary Oldman, who plays Gotham City police officer Lieutenant Jim Gordon in the film, was among several who predicted an Oscar, saying he was captivated by his co-star as soon as he saw him on set.
Director Christopher Nolan said Ledger, renowned for taking on difficult, edgy roles during his career, was chosen for precisely for that reason. He meanwhile has discounted suggestions that the disturbing nature of Ledger's last role was somehow a contributory factor in his death.
"People want a dark story," Oldman said. "I thought he was just a beautiful kid, wonderful. Charismatic doesn't even begin to describe it. You need a whole new word for charismatic."
Buzz about Ledger's performance in "The Dark Knight" had been building even before his death, with interest reaching fever pitch in the months leading up to movie's worldwide release last July.
Gary Oldman, who plays Gotham City police officer Lieutenant Jim Gordon in the film, was among several who predicted an Oscar, saying he was captivated by his co-star as soon as he saw him on set.
Director Christopher Nolan said Ledger, renowned for taking on difficult, edgy roles during his career, was chosen for precisely for that reason. He meanwhile has discounted suggestions that the disturbing nature of Ledger's last role was somehow a contributory factor in his death.
"People want a dark story," Oldman said. "I thought he was just a beautiful kid, wonderful. Charismatic doesn't even begin to describe it. You need a whole new word for charismatic."