A Look Inside Heath Ledger's Joker Diary From 'The Dark Knight' "A Whole New Level"

A Look Inside Heath Ledger's Joker Diary From 'The Dark Knight'

"A Whole New Level"

By Alex Burns

Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker in 2008's 'The Dark Knight' has already gone down as one of the greatest and most iconic in cinema, sadly Ledger never got to witness the effect his unique take on Batman's arch enemy evoked worldwide, he passed away some time before the film's release. Much was made about how it was Ledger's performance that contributed to his death but thankfully that was all just media sensationalism, what is clear however is just how much the actor dedicated himself to the role, how he didn't merely adopt the character he became it. A sequence from the upcoming documentary based on the life of Heath ledger (EW) has made it's way online revealing the actor's journal for his preparation and work on 'The Dark Knight'.

“He pretty well locked himself up in a hotel, in his apartment, for a month or so, to sort of galvanise the upcoming character in his own mind,” Kim Ledger, Heath’s father, says in the clip. “That was typical of Heath on any movie. He would certainly immerse himself in the upcoming character. I think this was just a whole new level.”

Film buffs will get a real kick out of seeing the images that adorn the journal's pages, photos of influences for the role of the Joker including Alex DeLarge from Stanley Kubrick's 'A Clockwork Orange' as well as comic book art, playing cards and hyenas. Director Christopher Nolan cited a number of anarchist characters for his take on the Joker and the director is a huge fan of Kubrick's movies so it's really insightful to see that those influences went past the directors chair and into Heath ledger's preparation. There’s also written dialogue of the  scene in which the Joker confronts Harvey Dent at Gotham General hospital, so much about 'The Dark Knight' gave me chills the first time I saw it but that scene is up there with the best the film has to offer. For a close look check out the clip below.


 

Ledger's outstanding work was recognised when he was posthumously awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor the year after 'The Dark Knight' was released. The film was a global sensation and remains one of the highest grossing movies of all time amassing $1,004,558,444  worldwide (without a 3D ticket bump as well!). The film also starred Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman. You know what that film is awesome, I'm gonna go watch it again!