The Dark Knight The Man Who Laughs: The Joker Thread 2.0

[I Am The Knight]

Nah, I think it was all Heath. Bale sounds truly unnatural for me in some scenes. But Heath's Joker was entirely his own I'm sure.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

yea i spose, but that "LOOK AT MEEE!!!" just sounded otherworldly, so major props to heath if that was his voice.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Oh yeah, first time I saw the movie I was like "Holy S***..!" when he said that. The whole video sequence was quite disturbing actually.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

yea in the cinema i could hear people laughing along when he was like "are you the real batman? no? hehehehe well why do you dress up like him? whoohoohoohoo!!" and then all of a sudden out of nowhere this demon voice comes in and the cinema goes completely silent!!! classic!!

 

[Banquet]

yea i think ledger improvised in a lot of his scenes, thats why i think he is deserving of so much praise. he didn't just follow the script word for word like most actors do.

The hospital scene was improvised and switched around a bit, too. The whole "...hi" thing was completely Heath, not in the script at all, and it was one of his most entertaining moments. I read that Eckhart thought it was amazing how he carried the scene, and went along with him... like when the Joker forgot Rachel's name, and Two-Face screams it at him... that wasn't in the script either. Then they re-arranged when the Joker spoke his lines. Originally he made his dog and cars speech while Two-Face was pointing the gun to his head.

I know other actors do this as well, it just depends on the director, and how much the director trusts that the actor can take the story to higher places with improvision. Heath was definately was one of those actors.

Man, I hate saying "was"...

yea i wonder if the digitally altered heaths voice in some scenes like they did with bales. the gambol scene and the fake batman tape "LOOK AT ME" just dont sound like they can come from a human being!

I wondered that, too. But I think it is his actual voice. The video scene is probably one of my favorites. It was so effing creepy I had to smile, because it was the Joker, on the big screen, effectively disturbing my senses. Life doesn't get better than that. t:

 

[regwec]

I find the hand-cam/torture scene very difficult to watch. It is The Joker's delight in humiliating Brian that makes it both nauseating and convincing. It works very well for the character, but makes for unsettling viewing.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

yea it shows how truly sadistic he is. that scene alone is what sold me on this joker being accurate to his comic book counter-part, joker always used to do stuff like broadcasting threats and torturing people on the news. i just can't understand how some people think he's nothing like the comic book joker.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

yea it shows how truly sadistic he is. that scene alone is what sold me on this joker being accurate to his comic book counter-part, joker always used to do stuff like broadcasting threats and torturing people on the news. i just can't understand how some people think he's nothing like the comic book joker.

 

[The Stranger]

Anyone know what scenes where exactly improvised? If I remember correctly, The scene with the gangsters was improvised, well the speech that is. Was that the only thing improvised, I hope the pencil trick wasn't, he hurt that poor gangster!

 

[jackjack924]

yea in the cinema i could hear people laughing along when he was like "are you the real batman? no? hehehehe well why do you dress up like him? whoohoohoohoo!!" and then all of a sudden out of nowhere this demon voice comes in and the cinema goes completely silent!!! classic!!

And that is why this Joker rocked!! He totally plays with your emotions and you are a prisoner of his during the entire movie. When he want's you to laugh, you do, but when he wants you to be creeped the f*** out, you are.

 

[Banquet]

I find the hand-cam/torture scene very difficult to watch. It is The Joker's delight in humiliating Brian that makes it both nauseating and convincing. It works very well for the character, but makes for unsettling viewing.

Actually, why would the police release footage like that? I mean, Gordon would be in charge of things, and he knows how to contact Batman. They didn't need to broadcast it on tv to let him know, and put the public on edge. It was bad enough Brian was hanging from a skyscraper.

 

[regwec]

Agreed, though I think it was all about the dramatic effect rather than realism. It also gave an opportunity to refer to the Abu Ghraib affair and some various real-world unpleasantness.

 

[jackjack924]

I doubt the police released. It. I got the impression that the GCM recieved it and they released it.

 

[Dark Globe]

Anyone know what scenes where exactly improvised? If I remember correctly, The scene with the gangsters was improvised, well the speech that is. Was that the only thing improvised, I hope the pencil trick wasn't, he hurt that poor gangster!

When he was clapping for Gordon. The look on everyones face was genuine.

 

[regwec]

Of course it wasn't. They were all actors, acting in a scene with another actor. In what way were their reactions "genuine" as opposed to "acted"?

 

[Dark Globe]

Of course it wasn't. They were all actors, acting in a scene with another actor. In what way were their reactions "genuine" as opposed to "acted"?

Heath's clapping was so unexpected. They all just began to stare at him, really freaked out. That wasn't originally apart of the scene.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I doubt the police released. It. I got the impression that the GCM recieved it and they released it.

Yeah...

 

[tuffenoughtoroc]

Heath's clapping was so unexpected. They all just began to stare at him, really freaked out. That wasn't originally apart of the scene.

Yeah. I read that too. Heath started clapping and Nolan liked it so much he just told everyone to go with it.

 

[The Caped Knight]

HOLY **** !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Beanjuice]

Faaaaaaakkkkkeeee

 

[Two_Face]

Yep, was already discussed in another thread I believe.

And when Heath said "Look at me" I got completely silent as well. But when he was taunting Brian that was damn funny.

 

[Doc Samson]

Actually, why would the police release footage like that? I mean, Gordon would be in charge of things, and he knows how to contact Batman. They didn't need to broadcast it on tv to let him know, and put the public on edge. It was bad enough Brian was hanging from a skyscraper.

I dont know, in real life America had no problem showing Saddam Hussein's sons shot to death, on daytime tv no less

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Anyone know what scenes where exactly improvised? If I remember correctly, The scene with the gangsters was improvised, well the speech that is. Was that the only thing improvised, I hope the pencil trick wasn't, he hurt that poor gangster!

Stranger you got banned, but for those who are curious which scenes were improvised here's a list.

Mob meeting

Spoiler

Joker clapping when Gordon is promoted.

Spoiler

The hospital not exploding and Heath went along with it pressing the button several times.

The crashing of Bruce Wayne's party. The drink and the slapping of the characters were all improvised.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

yea i spose, but that "LOOK AT MEEE!!!" just sounded otherworldly, so major props to heath if that was his voice.

Yeah, it was Heath's actual voice. Nolan said that they did nothing to Heath's performance and that everything you see and hear is all him.

I remember on opening night my date and I were watching the film when the video of the fake Batman transpired. Everyone was laughing getting a kick out of the amusement and the way the Joker toyed with his victim. I'll never forget it as people are laughing at the scene, Joker immediately yells 'LOOK AT MEE!!!" and I kid you not the theater got quiet. I even remember hearing someone whisper "holy ****...."

 

[CaptainClown]

Yeah, it was Heath's actual voice. Nolan said that they did nothing to Heath's performance and that everything you see and hear is all him.

I remember on opening night my date and I were watching the film when the video of the fake Batman transpired. Everyone was laughing getting a kick out of the amusement and the way the Joker toyed with his victim. I'll never forget it as people are laughing at the scene, Joker immediately yells 'LOOK AT MEE!!!" and I kid you not the theater got quiet. I even remember hearing someone whisper "holy ****...."

everytime Joker takes hold of the audience. I have never heard it that quiet in a theater. It was like getting in trouble and a normally calm parent screams at you and shows you a hint of the devil in them.