6/26/2008

in

After viewing "Dark Knight," Sam Rubin insists Ledger is the favorite to win the Oscar.

Marie J. Pellegrinom

A KTLA reporter, Sam Rubin, came back from a screening of *Dark Knight*, the next installment of the new Batman movies, and firmly believes that Heath Ledger will be the favorite to win the Oscar for his amazing performance as the Joker. Unfortunately, only one actor has ever won the Oscar after his death, Peter Finch (*Network*, 1976). The only other actor to have been nominated after death was James Dean for both *East of Eden* and *Giant*; he lost both times. Odds are not with Ledger.  
  
Three years ago, Ledger had been nominated for his role in *Brokeback Mountain*, but lost to Phillip Seymour Hoffman for *Capote*. Jack Nicholson, who played the Joker in Tim Burton's 1989 *Batman*, did not receive a nomination at all.  
  
However, Rubin views Ledger's performance as special because of his pitch, tone and how he hits all the right notes for the role and movie. Rubin goes on to say, "*The Dark Knight* is among the best superhero movies of all time and Ledger is the best villain in a superhero movie of all time," reported the *L.A. Times*.