Michael Emerson is defiantly a better candidate for the riddler!
The problem with Emerson being the Riddler is that the role everybody has in it's too similar to Ben Linus. Cold, cerebral, manipulating, doing things for personal gain, trying to prove himself. And while I would love to see a Ben-Linus type character in The Dark Knight, I would actually prefer to see him do aother role. Most choices around here are based on the wish to see a repetition of a certain role: Hollander to see a Penguin similar to Lord Cutter... Hoffman has made penguin-like character in multiple occasions... and while I would love to see those, they wouldn't spark my curiosity. They wouldn't spark my imagination in the way the Ledger casting did. They wouldn't catch me off guard.
I'm not saying Emerson is a left-field cast. We're talking about an
extremely talented actor here, who has been on a show where he has played a treacherous vermin and a charismatic, calm, mastermind leader at the same time. And, most importantly, a guy who has proven to be chamaleon... a man that jumps in between characters he makes up with such a swiftness and a calmness that is unnverving. His lies are so convincing that sometimes an unnerving laughter comes from you as you're watching, because the ambiguity and the steadiness he displays have no peer. You can see much talk about Michael Shannon's work in "Rev. Road", but that pales in comparison to what Emerson has achieved in Lost.
That's why I know we can get more from him than just a repetition of his role. Emerson is too good for that. That guy has been robbed of his much deserved Emmy many times. And Nolan is known for hiring tv actors fo medium-to-minor characters. And discussin Lost here is not off-topic, not when it comes to talking about Emerson, isn't it? Lost is not your typical run-of-the-mill show, it's probably the best thing on TV right now, and can tackled too many films I've seen in the past years in terms of writing, acting and direction. It has an splendid cast, but if I had to pick only one actor, Emerson would be the man. He would be a terrific Riddler, but his Penguin would be better just because it would be fresh and exciting. Imagine him with mildly mannered demanor, a little fake over-weight, facial prosthetics and a british accent. Seeing a Penguin played by such an incredibly creative Penguin would ertainly spark my curiosity and my interest.
And about Lost, Jon Lachonis sums it best in a recent review:
"Refusing to succumb to accessibility, LOSTs writers have famously twisted the simple concept of survivors marooned on an island into a densely plotted piece of science-fiction fantasy that effortlessly balances heady excursions into existentialism, spirituality, and reason with an unmistakable authenticity that is at times intimidating even for the die hard viewers. The result is an audience that has been distilled into an intellectual acid bath. Love it or hate it, understanding Lost automatically gets you labeled as some sort of egg-head. LOST has transcended the pop-culture eco-system and become a sort of geek-chic milestone for its generation. As many will point out, LOSTs programming for smart people is merely a part of the modern marketing landscape nonetheless, LOST has become the thesis where others have tried, unsuccessfully, to ride the gimmick."
... and the Truth shall set you free.
these kids.
