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

[I Am The Knight]

Perfection indeed. That slow laugh is so great, I wonder who came up with the idea, Heath or one of the Nolans (is it mentionned in the script ?) I suppose they had to extend the laugh to give time to Heath to enter the meeting and maybe decided to slow it down instead of the more traditional Joker cackle or hysterical laugh (which we get perfectly rendered by Heath later on). Anyway, imo it's pure magic and really shows how the Joker is mocking these guys.

I don't think the slow laugh was in the script (At least the one that was posted here a few weeks ago) so it was probably all Ledger's

 

[Ace of Knaves]

yea Ledger improvised loads in this movie. Apparently the scar stories, or at least the way he delivered them were completely improvised aswell. The scene with Gambol is the scene Nolan mentioned where Heath wanted every one to stay behind late so he could perfect it.

 

[Byron Long]

I love how Joker's weapon of choice is a shank.

 

[johnlennon696]

Just heightens Ledger's genius in the role that a lot of the best scenes were perfected personally by him...

 

[gwynplaine]

yea Ledger improvised loads in this movie. Apparently the scar stories, or at least the way he delivered them were completely improvised aswell. The scene with Gambol is the scene Nolan mentioned where Heath wanted every one to stay behind late so he could perfect it.

And the one where he allegedly thanked each crew member individually for staying late (What a class act.) Cool, I always wanted to know which scene it was.

 

[gwynplaine]

I don't think the slow laugh was in the script (At least the one that was posted here a few weeks ago) so it was probably all Ledger's

Thanks for the info, I haven't had the chance to read the script yet.

 

[johnlennon696]

And when Gambol says "You think you can steal from us and just walk away?", Heath's "Yeah" was also improvised cos that isn't in the script either....

 

[Ace of Knaves]

yea its official, Heath was the Don. R.I.P

 

[Ace of Knaves]

haha that is pretty funny. that guy don't look good but he sure sounds pretty good!

 

[Anita18]

And when Gambol says "You think you can steal from us and just walk away?", Heath's "Yeah" was also improvised cos that isn't in the script either....

That's an early draft, so it's not known whether it was added later on.

And if some aspect of Heath's performance was improvised, Nolan and Pfister definitely had to plan for it. They obviously did the entire Gambol-Joker exchange with the camera on Heath pulling at the grenade string. Not to mention filming the entire Mayor-Gordon exchange with the camera on Heath as well to catch the definite improvisation of him clapping. They could have taken shortcuts and saved some film, but it would have been a bad choice come editing time, LOL.

But yeah. When you're an actor and you want to improvise on a movie set, it isn't like you can just start doing something and expect the camera to be on you and rolling. It can take hours to set up a shot, and they obviously gave Heath as much opportunity as possible to do it.

 

[agentzelda]

That's an early draft, so it's not known whether it was added later on.

And if some aspect of Heath's performance was improvised, Nolan and Pfister definitely had to plan for it. They obviously did the entire Gambol-Joker exchange with the camera on Heath pulling at the grenade string. Not to mention filming the entire Mayor-Gordon exchange with the camera on Heath as well to catch the definite improvisation of him clapping. They could have taken shortcuts and saved some film, but it would have been a bad choice come editing time, LOL.

But yeah. When you're an actor and you want to improvise on a movie set, it isn't like you can just start doing something and expect the camera to be on you and rolling. It can take hours to set up a shot, and they obviously gave Heath as much opportunity as possible to do it.

The "yeah" following Gambol's line is not in the published shooting script though the line itself is. Another bit of improv follows the Joker's announcement that he wants "half" (such lines are usually followed by the direction "jeers, laughter" or some such, indicating that the whole scene depended a lot on improvisation all around), when one of the mobsters says he's insane/crazy and he responds, quite slowly and twice, that he isn't.

 

[the GRIN Reaper]

The scene with Gambol is the scene Nolan mentioned where Heath wanted every one to stay behind late so he could perfect it.

Which one? The one in the mobster meeting or the WHY SO SERIOUS scene?

 

[the GRIN Reaper]

Hamill's Joker, and hell...the traditional Joker are all weak weak fighters. In the sense that they never fight fair and will almost always use cheap hits and weapons.

Even Ledger followed this.

I'd have to disagree with this sentiment, bro. Heath's Joker was alot more physical then either of those interps. Remember he was described by Nolan and co. as much more of a "street" Joker. This character isn't a trained fighter ala Batman in any sort of way, but he can handle his own physically. The magic trick for example. That takes some physicality. This Joker knows how to speak to mob heads who grew up in an enviorment where all they understand is violence and money. He's the ultimate salesman. If he was able to impress a room of the top gang heads in Gotham with his display of physical violence, it's obvious he can take care of himself. All those guys in that room grew up as alpha males. That being they physically had to put other people in their place to become heads of their respective gangs. Joker not only impresses a room full of these people, but he takes Gambol's hired body guard, and one can assume he would be an even better fighter than the criminal figure heads, and he bends his arm back then slams him into a pencil. This Joker was frightening on multiple levels, and one of them being that he can probably handle his own against anybody, Batman withstanding. But I mean Batman is the pinnacle of fighting tools, etc. So that's the only time Joker looks weak physically. And even then he got the best of him in their fight in the Pruitt building. Cheap shot or not, he wasn't afraid to take him on physically the way often times the character of the Joker was potrayed as a coward physically. I know they based alot of the Joker off the character's 1st appearance, and in that issue Joker had some physical fighting skills to him. Joker wouldn't be able to overthrow Gotham's gangland in some form or fashion without having to show physical skills at some point. That's what they understand. Like animals, the one who is last standing is the leader.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Which one? The one in the mobster meeting or the WHY SO SERIOUS scene?

the why so serious scene.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

A couple Joker pics that i havn't seen on here before.

 

[gwynplaine]

Great pics, thanks Ace. I have yet to see a Joker picture I don't like, even that first viral one "death mask Joker" I liked.t:

 

[johnlennon696]

A couple Joker pics that i havn't seen on here before.

I havn't seen the first pic either Not sure which scene it is from....

 

[fabman]

The first pic is probably right after he kills Gambol.

 

[gwynplaine]

I love how they treated the Joker almost as a supernatural creature.
How he seemed to appear, to quote Jonah Nolan "out of thin air" on that sidewalk in the beginning, how he looked to be the only one surviving the precinct explosion (that crazy shot with his head down and all the debris flying around him), or the way he sticks his tongue out like a snake (I suppose the most common representation of the devil). Any other example ?

 

[SimpleTastes]

I think, and I may be totally off base so please correct me, that the first picture is from the party crashing scene. I believe that is Wuertz's neck that his hand is on....Just what I always assumed about the picture. I love that picture more than I can describe in words.
The second is from everyone's favorite Slaughter 13 wheeler.
Yay for pictures of the Joker!

 

[Ace of Knaves]

I think, and I may be totally off base so please correct me, that the first picture is from the party crashing scene. I believe that is Wuertz's neck that his hand is on....Just what I always assumed about the picture. I love that picture more than I can describe in words.
The second is from everyone's favorite Slaughter 13 wheeler.
Yay for pictures of the Joker!

yea i think you got it! 10 points!! its when hes pushing wuertz out of the elevator.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

oh and welcome to the hype!!!

 

[Jonathan Crane]

A couple Joker pics that i havn't seen on here before.

First one is old. But I haven't seen the second. Thanks!

 

[SimpleTastes]

Thanks much! I am glad to be able to contribute something to the masses.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Thanks much! I am glad to be able to contribute something to the masses.

no worries man. nice name aswell