The Dark Knight Who gave the best performance?

[R_Hythlodeus]

Why is Michael Jay White not on the list?

 

[November Rain]

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.

Eckhart's performance was better than the joker's and if given enough time as a villain, people would have seen that.

The joker was actually quite simple in the film. He had his agenda, he knew exactly what he needed to do to get it and he mindscrewed everyone. There was no deviaton from that at all in any of his scenes.

with eckhart, you see his love for gotham, for rachel, his loyalty to bruce, his hatred of the joker, his realisation that everything he's worked for means nothing, the whole nine yards, rise and fall.

not only did eckhart show range but he's the only character to interact with everyone else, batman gordon, bruce, rachel, joker, maroni.

without that adhesive to hold hte film together, it would have been a mediocre film with some great scenes in it in stead of a great film.

 

[Drizzle]

Gary, followed closely by Eckhart. Bale was still great in this movie, but overall among the actors, he came in 4th.

 

[Laderlappen]

Eckhart. Mostly because compared to Oldman, he got more to do.

 

[Toxin72]

Oh god it's incredibly hard to choose. I think I'm going with Aaron but both oldman and bale gave great performances as well.

 

[Goodfellas]

The dude who played the Cheechen

And for some reason i really like Eric Roberts as Maroni.... i liked him more than tom wiilkonson as Carmine Falcone( not that he did a bad job)

And i agee i always thought Michael Jai White was just some guy who did stupid action /martial arts movies but he was good in this movie for the short time

 

[Fax]

is this for there career or just for TDK?

 

[youngavenger26]

I would have to say Eckhart. I've seen it 11 times, and each time I always look forward to the end with Two-Face, Batman, and Gordon. Eckhart made me really feel for Dent. His rise, his fall, his quest for revenge really hit a note with me. Eckhart's scenes are the most emotional in my opinion. His anger and sorrow when he realizes Rachel is dead while tearing off his bandages, his all-around good guy appeal as the DA, and the gut wrenching speech at the end about morality and how life is cruel.

 

[MMBATMAN]

Christian Bale!

After all it is good

 

[p4poetic]

I'm glad you didn't include Heath in the poll choice, because with all due respect, we all know how far people's head are in his ass.

Why is Michael Jay White not on the list?

Spawn couldn't make it in time.

 

[JP]

Oldman dammit.

 

[MrsJimGordon]

Best = Gary Oldman
Second Best = Christian Bale
Third Best = Aaron Eckhart

What he said!!

 

[HitMe]

OK, I was inspired by a thread I saw in the Batman Begins section to ask who you think gave the best performance in The Dark Knight. However, I'm sure it'll quickly turn into a "how much will Ledger win by" thread (for good reason) so lets say if you vote for Ledger in the poll, post with whoever you thought was best after that and why, just to make it a bit more interesting.

 

[ronny]

Aaron Eckhart as Two-Face. He made Harvey Dent truly likeable and then allowed the audience to really despise him. He goes from the White Knight to a whiny, pathetic misanthrope.
His Two-Face is not the cackling Joker-clone of Tommy Lee Jones but is instead something both original and faithful to the character.
His Two-Face stalks Gotham like a zombie, eyes glazed over and gun blazing, his voice devoid of any emotion until the Dent part of his personality, the furious and pissed-off part of his personality, comes roaring out.
Eckhart was fantastic, I cannot state that enough.

 

[Ryan]

I give my vote to Oldman. Sure people didn't show in droves to see Gordon, but he managed to give a performance that was held its own, scene for scene against the 'stars' of the movie. He also did this sans makeup or any other type of special effect. In fact, I was thinking a Gordon spin off dectective series would be pretty cool. I'd take out the comic book elements and have the movies resemble movies like Seven or Kiss the Girls type of stuff. I think Oldman could carry a series like that.

 

[Killer Queen77]

Heath of course will nail this, and quite rightly so.

But second after him - Gary Oldman, for me. He was so human as Gordon, so real.

As for Eckhart, I was kind of put off by the "oh woe is me" factor when Dent became Two-Face. I know he was supposed to be that way, but I found it a little irritating after a while. Eckhart is a fine actor though.

 

[Pennyworth]

Ledger's performance is landmark and instantly becomes the most memorable/best in the film, but, Oldman and Eckhart both deliver in a big way.
Caine and Freeman are great actors but their parts in TDK are too small to allow them to shine like Oldman and Eckhart. And while Bale is also strong, his time in the suit doesn't require as much effort and his turn as Bruce while good, doesn't resonate like Oldman and Eckhart. Oldman's Gordon and Eckhart's Dent get tons of screen time, and their characters twist and evolve with the story. At the same time feeling both fresh and ringing true to the ideals of the comics.

His Two-Face is not the cackling Joker-clone of Tommy Lee Jones but is instead something both original and faithful to the character.

exactly.

As for Eckhart, I was kind of put off by the "oh woe is me" factor when Dent became Two-Face. I know he was supposed to be that way, but I found it a little irritating after a while. Eckhart is a fine actor though.

Also agree. If Two-Face were to return for the 3rd installment (which, for the record I don't believe he will...) I would hope his character would be more rage and less woe...even though I understand it's part in the end of TDK, I just too find it a tad annoying.

 

[The Joker]

Ledger, Eckhart, and Oldman were the best, IMO.

 

[El Payaso]

Oh they all gave excellent performances, without exception. As one reviewer put it, Ledger's work, admirable and all, is inevitably to catch more attention since it's a "hey, look at me I'm acting" kind of performance, as it's supposed to be with Joker.

But for me the best acting is Eckhardt's Dent/Two-Face. Not only he did it brilliantly, but the story of the character was quite difficult to perform. From the natural hero to the man who hesitates to the bitter villiain and that anthological climax. Eckhardt truly had to make his character evolve a lot. It was perfection.

 

[Bim]

I think most everyone (except for Maggie, who sucked bigtime in my opinion) gave overall good performances. However, my favorites were Christian, Heath and Aaron. In the end though, my vote had to go to the Joker. Heath kicked @ss.

Second behind Heath? tough! between Aaron and Christian, i have to give a slight edge to Aaron. The man had me feeling Two Face's pain.

 

[Boom]

Lately, it's been a tie between Ledger and Oldman for me.

 

[Travesty]

I think Eckhardt by a land slide!

 

[voyzovrezon]

Weird. Ledger's winning the poll, but people are saying the other actors were the best. Now, if you mean another actor BESIDE'S Ledger, than it's Oldman.
But Ledger was definitely the best!

 

[Ryan]

In all honesty I didn't think Heath's acting was the best in the movie. I think he had the best scenes/lines in the movie. You knew everytime he appeared that something big would happen so of course you would wait with anticipation for what he would, er what the director would have the Joker do in those scenes. Begins had all the badass Batman scenes so I guess the Joker got them in this one. I don't think Heath did a bad job, just saying I don't think that he did the best acting. Someone on the board said it would be much more difficult for an actor to pull off the Riddler since he's a) not as violent and b) has less makeup/gimmicks, which I think is totally true. Bale was good, just didn't get the important scenes in this one (minus the batpod). Eckhardt was a million times better then Tommy Lee, just wish he would toned down the yelling in a few scenes (which have been cleverly parodied on youtube.) Oldman I think gets the award for best actor for being able to make all the other larger then life characters so believable. I think Joker or Two Face spinoffs (which won't happen) would grow tiresome fast (see Venom). Comm. Gordon though I think could pull it off under Oldman's watch.

 

[baronghede]

Oldman
Eckhart
Bale

Without a doubt.