The Dark Knight Who gave the best performance?

[Fenrir]

It's so hard to choose but if I must, I'd give it to Bale as the best one. Primarily because Gary was playing one character, Eckhart two and Bale three. They were all just awesome in their roles, but Bale gets the edge because he had to do a lot more compared to the other two actors to make his role completely believable. I mean, I still so giddy at the scenes where he just seamlessly transforms into Batman and back, even without the suit. Not to mention like the BBC review said, Bale's performance had the most subtlety.

Such as the scenes where you see that glimmer of hope in his eye, when Harvey is defending Batman in the restaurant he suddenly changes from playboy Bruce Wayne into the real Bruce for a few seconds as the camera focuses on him - that glimmer of hope in Bales eyes. At Bruce's penthouse, he is playboy Bruce when he arrives, the real Bruce when he talks to Rachel and then turns into Batman when he puts Harvey in the sleeper chokehold and knocks Joker's goon out. Another great example is the whole Lamborghini chase, in which while driving he is in complete Batman mode; when he crashes his ride he becomes playboy Bruce in front of Gordon and when he looks and nods at Reese, he's neither as steely eyed as Batman, nor as outlandish as the playboy Bruce, but the compassionate soul that is the real Bruce Wayne.

Of course, both Oldman and Eckhart knocked it out of the ballpark as well. So it's all good.

 

[DieSmiling]

I voted for Gary Oldman as Gordon, but count me in the camp of people who loved all three performances.

 

[November Rain]

Aaron acted his ****ing socks off, jesus, he pretty much held the entire film together with oldman.

 

[ABleedingCorpse]

I'm torn between Ackhart and Oldman. Both were great, but I feel that Oldman put a little bit more emotion into his character. He convinced me he was Jim Gordon. Ackhart did a great job too with his acting, but sometimes I felt he didn't convience me enough.

Now, as a side not, Nestor Campbell (?) as the Mayor. Wow...anyone could have played that role. I suppose they had spent a large amount of the casting budget on good actors that they were only left with enough money to hire some guy who plained a role on The Tick. Was John Stamos busy last summer?

 

[FCEEVIPER]

Best = Gary Oldman

Tied = Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart

 

[Two-Face]

Eckhart is second

 

[Golgo-13]

Oldman rocked in this. In my opinion, Gordon carried the movie. With the exception of Batman (Bale) if you minus Gordon from the film, it wouldn't be the same.

It's funny cause Chris Cooper passed on the role in BB because he felt Gordon wasn't given enough to do in Begins...bet he's kicking himself now!

 

[combusticator]

I'm glad you left Ledger out on this poll just for the sake that the majority (including possibly myself) would vote for him, and would make this poll pointless.

Overall I'd pick Oldman, but considering this was The Dark Knight, I'd give that performance alone between the two to Eckhart.

I really love all 3 though!

 

[Bim]

Tough one, but for me the ranked as follows:

1. Aaron Eckhart
2. Christian Bale
3. Gary Oldman

 

[Spider-Man '92]

All three of them are great, but Aaron's performance was very believeable, and effective. Definitly the best of the three.

 

[magicangel1989]

You know what, i would not be surprised if one of them got a best actor nomination. They all gave the best performances of their careers. So i will be pleased if one of them, and it does not matter who, gets a best actor nomination.

 

[Two-Face]

You know what, i would not be surprised if one of them got a best actor nomination. They all gave the best performances of their careers. So i will be pleased if one of them, and it does not matter who, gets a best actor nomination.

Oscar nomination is resevered for Heath Ledger as The Joker.

 

[The Caped Knight]

All Three were Incredible .

1. Oldman
2. Eckhart
3. Bale

 

[TLH]

Aaron acted his ****ing socks off, jesus, he pretty much held the entire film together with oldman.

Took it right out of my mouth.

I might be the only person out there who thinks that Aaron Eckhart stole the film. The character arc of Harvey Dent/Two-Face is probably the most well-known and engaging in all of the Batman mythos, and Eckhart brought it to life like few others could have.

I guess as a huge Two-Face fan I was eager to see what TDK had to offer in terms of Harvey Dent/Two-Face, and the fact that the film delivered what I wanted on every level and then exceeded my expectations with Harvey Dent/Two-Face was jaw-dropping. I might be the only one out there who thinks that Eckhart was *gasp* just as good as Ledger if not *bigger gasp* better.

 

[the GRIN Reaper]

Bale's perfromance is so getting slept on for The Dark Knight. He is the subtle anchor of this film. Just because beyond his scenes as Batman with his growling voice, he's never screaming "hey, look at me ... i'm acting."

His scenes as Bruce Wayne are so spot on it's ridiculous. The cocky half ass smirk after telling Dent he should know his jurisdiction. The "ballet" line, perfectly delivered. The sorrow and tears after Rachel dies, not doing it in an over the top "girly-ish" way ala Tobey McGuire in the Spider-man films. His comedic scenes with Alfred. He's just oustanding. He's got the most on his resume from ANYBODY in the two films. He carried the first, and while other characters got more screen time in TDK, or were more emphasized the heart of th ematter still lied with Bale's performance as Bruce Wayne.

With that said the other two were outstanding as well. The way Oldman delivered that final speech accomponied with the visuals put goosebumps on my arms. Oldman was the closest to the "every day man" in the script and as a character, so as a whole he's much more relatable.

 

[Two-Face]

What about Caine as Alfred? Scenes with BruceI loved "I did bloody tell ya"

He gave great performance in the movie.

 

[the GRIN Reaper]

Everyone gave great performances

 

[Greatwun]

All three of them are great, but Aaron's performance was very believeable, and effective. Definitly the best of the three.

Agreed

 

[the GRIN Reaper]

It's so hard to choose but if I must, I'd give it to Bale as the best one. Primarily because Gary was playing one character, Eckhart two and Bale three. They were all just awesome in their roles, but Bale gets the edge because he had to do a lot more compared to the other two actors to make his role completely believable. I mean, I still so giddy at the scenes where he just seamlessly transforms into Batman and back, even without the suit. Not to mention like the BBC review said, Bale's performance had the most subtlety.

Such as the scenes where you see that glimmer of hope in his eye, when Harvey is defending Batman in the restaurant he suddenly changes from playboy Bruce Wayne into the real Bruce for a few seconds as the camera focuses on him - that glimmer of hope in Bales eyes. At Bruce's penthouse, he is playboy Bruce when he arrives, the real Bruce when he talks to Rachel and then turns into Batman when he puts Harvey in the sleeper chokehold and knocks Joker's goon out. Another great example is the whole Lamborghini chase, in which while driving he is in complete Batman mode; when he crashes his ride he becomes playboy Bruce in front of Gordon and when he looks and nods at Reese, he's neither as steely eyed as Batman, nor as outlandish as the playboy Bruce, but the compassionate soul that is the real Bruce Wayne.

Of course, both Oldman and Eckhart knocked it out of the ballpark as well. So it's all good.

Thank you ... I agree.

 

[Ziggyman]

How about...All of 'em

...They were all great...The whole cast was!

 

[KSD]

I gotta go with my boy.

 

[siriusfan]

For me it has to be Gary Oldman - he was Gordon...

 

[p4poetic]

In general, or in the film? Their characters are so different, how are we supposed to choose? I'm not voting, as you can see, lol.

 

[SonikDeath]

I was surprised by just how good Eckhart was. Second best actor in the film right after Ledger.

 

[the_scream]

Oldman is one of the finest actors alive. Both Bale and Eckhart are excellent but Oldman disappears in the role.