'Dark Knight' Will Include Classy Dedication
Filed under: Awards, Newsstand, Obits, Comic/Superhero/Geek
I'm sure everyone expected The Dark Knight to close with a Heath Ledger "in memoriam" after the fade to black. So it will. Warner Bros. has released the text of the dedication that will accompany the film, and it reads: "In memory of our friends Heath Ledger & Conway Wickliffe"
Wickliffe (the IMDb has him as "Comway" but other sources, as well as the dedication, say "Conway") is the Maori special-effects technician who was killed in a stunt car accident last September. He was on a camera truck following the Batmobile around a racetrack when the truck spun out of control and crashed into a tree.
It's very classy of Chris Nolan & Co., I think, to tribute Wickliffe in the same line as the far more famous and publicly-mourned Ledger. Their whole handling of Ledger's death has been on the money; they haven't shied away from showcasing his performance in the marketing, but nor have they given the slightest indication that they're attempting to exploit its profile. The result: going to see the movie doesn't feel the least bit skeevy or off, at least for me.
I am a bit concerned about the possible posthumous Oscar campaign though, especially after Peter Travers semi-officially got it off the ground last week. Since Ledger almost certainly wouldn't have had a shot at it for this role were he still alive, I'm afraid the notion of the "posthumous Oscar" would overwhelm his actual performance, which looks fantastic.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-27-2008 @ 1:33PM
Jimmy said...
I have to agree on the posthumous Oscar. This is not a role anyone would have received a nomination for in the past. Ledger should have been honor by the Academy for his performance in Brokeback Mountain, which was truly his best work. If it turns out Ledger had the best performance of any actor this year, this sure, but if the only reason to give him an Oscar is because he gave a haunting performance right before he died, well, that's doesn't seem right to me.
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6-27-2008 @ 2:12PM
Stax said...
As someone who has seen the film, I can assure that he most certainly would have gotten a nomination for it if he was still alive. A remarkable performance is a remarkable performance regardless. If Johnny Depp can be nominated for Best Actor for the first Pirates then Ledger could have been for TDK.
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6-27-2008 @ 2:23PM
Kevin said...
Damnit Stax, you stole my point from me. I remember how much hype he was getting for his performance from the instant anyone saw any footage, and the academy showed they would nominate strong performances in blockbuster movies by nominating Depp. A nomination, even a win, would not only NOT tarnish his performance but, in my opinion, elevate it.
6-27-2008 @ 2:35PM
Eugene Novikov said...
It'll be REALLY interesting then if he doesn't get the nom despite having died.
6-27-2008 @ 6:52PM
Gary said...
Eugene, You were right on the money until your closing remarks. I agree fully with you that everybody involved with this movie have handled the whole Ledger situation remarkably well and should be applauded for that. In this trashy commercial day and age it could have been a total mess and like you I am really glad I am going to walk into the cinema and watch this movie without once feeling awkward about it.
But I would probably guess you have not seen the movie yet and if that is the case your assumption that Ledger would not have got an Oscar nomination had he been alive is a little off. Let us wait to see his performance, if it is anywhere near as good as is reported then I actually do not see why he would not have got an oscar nomination.
I am certainly not alone in thinking that Christopher Nolan's Batman films are more than a cut above the usual comic book hero movies that seem to be everywhere now. I certainly think that the Academy will do more to recognize this when nominations are being handed out.
After a run of Oscars that have been swept up by movies that while certainly the best movies made were not actually seen by the "general" movie going public the Oscars probably need to do something to redress the balance a little, for the sake of its own marketing if nothing more.
I would hope (and assume) The Dark Knight is everything it appears to be and we know it is much more than a simple comic book hero flick, Batman Begins worked on other levels and appealed to a much wider spectrum (I hate comic book films!). One would assume this would be the "peoples choice" movie that the Oscars will need to include in nominations and if Ledger really has pulled one out of the bag with this role then I for one will not be complaining.
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6-28-2008 @ 2:43AM
YouFaceTheTick said...
The whole concept is tacky and unwarranted. They are blowing this guy's death way out of proportion.
I'll wait for DVD now. I was all over seeing this film but all this unnecessary hype directed at an average actor - and mumbler - is totally sickening, reeking of exploitation. It's not like 99% of the population could even name 3 Ledger films, including this one...
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7-20-2008 @ 12:26AM
MariaB said...
I don't think a simple dedication at the end of the film for a deceased cast member is "unwarranted and tacky". The whole situation was handled with a lot of class; they could've easily used Ledger's name to boost opening revenue, but didn't. Of course, people went to see "Ledger", but that's because people are curious and prone to talk, not because he was portrayed a tradgey.
His performance was great in my opinion. I couldn't stop starring at the screen everytime he came on. And the best thing...you loose sight Heath Ledger, the person, and instead see only the Joker...I think that's what Oscars should be all about.
7-28-2008 @ 6:09AM
Richard said...
I don't think the posthumous Oscar campaign is off. It would have been even stronger if Ledger would have still been alive. His performance in the Dark Knight was the best I have seen in ANY superhero movie villain EVER! Alive or deceased, Ledger owns that Oscar spot.
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