Robert Downey Jr. was great and really had me laughing my ass off on several occasions. At times, I actually felt I was watching a black man and not RDJ. Great stuff! He's finally getting the respect he deserves.
Michael Shannon surprised me in Revolutionary Road. I had seen him in Pearl Harbor and thought of him as the comic relief. After watching this, I was wrong. He stole every scene he was in with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. I thought to myself that this guy should get nominated and sure enough when I got home later, I was right. Unfortunately, he won't be winning it, which is a shame.
I can't comment on Phillip Seymour Hoffman, but can anyone enlighten me on his performance?
I saved the best for last. Heath Ledger was unbelievable as The Joker, but I'm sure most of you already know that. I was completely against this guy from the day he was cast. I remember I wasn't the only one, but there were few who believed in him. I am proud to admit that I was wrong. After seeing the trailer, I was sold. When news broke out about his unfortunate death, I just couldn't believe it. Luckily for us, he was able to finish this and deliver one of the best performances of his career. He went out with a bang! It's such a shame he never got to see it. Dead or alive, Ledger deserves the Oscar. His role as The Joker and as Ennis Del Marr made me respect this guy even more. With that being said, Ledger gets my vote.
