Heath Ledger is “100% supporting,” according to Entertainment Weekly’s Dave Karger. It seems Karger did what I was too lazy to do this week: call the studio and get the goods. I figured we’d just wait until an FYC site popped up, but for now, it seems to be settled.
The “Dark Knight” star has been batted around as a lead actor contender by pundits, including yours truly, but even with the news that “The Soloist” and (possibly) “The Road” have vacated the 2008 season — leaving two fresh holes in the lead actor gerby — Warner Bros. is going to be campaigning Ledger as a supporting actor.
Wise move. And truthful to both the performance and the material.
15 responses so far
1 10-17-2008 at 10:52 am
Seany P said...
I’m very pleased. Although he was the best performance in the movie, the best character in the movie, the most influence on the film’s success and substance, he is still a supporting character in the film
2 10-17-2008 at 11:22 am
Matthew said...
I hope they do a little campaigning for Gary Oldman too. Even just a little. At least to give him some props. Because he was fantastic in that movie. Easily one of the best performances of the year so far.
3 10-17-2008 at 11:47 am
JAB said...
man, oh well.
Somebody commented on that story that PSH was going lead for Doubt, any word on that? I kind of hope so, make it as impossible for anything to beat Heath as it can be.
4 10-17-2008 at 11:58 am
Casey said...
told-ya-so. good news tho. hate category fraud
5 10-17-2008 at 12:04 pm
Seany P said...
Honestly the whole cast deserves to be honored. Perhaps maybe Best Ensemble at the SAGs?
6 10-17-2008 at 12:12 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
Sean: I’m expecting that nomination. The film has been well-received at SAG nom-com screenings and a lot of the cast has participated in Q&As.
7 10-17-2008 at 12:18 pm
Casey said...
totally agree with the ensemble nod… cant say win quite yet based on the amount of films i have yet to see but i doubt i’ll see much better ensemble acting this year. Eckhart and Oldman should be in nom talks themselves and Bale has yet to dissapoint me. ever
8 10-17-2008 at 12:18 pm
Ivan said...
So
PICTURE
Australia
The Dark Knight
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle/Slumdog Millionaire
Jonathan Demme/Rachel Getting Married
Baz Luhrman/Australia
Christoher Nolan/The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant/Milk
ACTOR
Benicio Del Toro/Che
Leonardo DiCaprio/Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella/Frost-Nixon
Sean Penn/Milk
Mickey Rourke/The Wrestler
ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway/Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins/Happy-Go-Lucky
Angelina Jolie/Changeling
Kristin Scott Thomas/I´ve Loved You So Long
Meryl Streep/Doubt
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin/Milk
Robert Downey Jr./Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman/Doubt
Heath Ledger/The Dark Knight
Eddie Marsan/Happy-Go-Lucky
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz/Vicky Christina Barcelona
Viola Davis/Doubt
Rosemarie DeWitt/Rachel Getting Married
Marisa Tomei/The Wrestler
Debra Winger/Rachel Getting Married
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
Vicky Christina Barcelona
The Visitor
Wall-E
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Revolutionary Road
FILM EDITING
Australia
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
9 10-17-2008 at 12:33 pm
Aaron said...
Apparently, the Weinstein Co, today mentioned Winslet will be campaigned for supporting in The Reader. She has a better chance in supporting than lead.
10 10-17-2008 at 1:34 pm
Guy Lodge said...
“She has a better chance in supporting than lead.”
Kind of impossible to say without having seen either of the performances, isn’t it? Between Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet, it’s a bit unfair for the less starry contenders — Cruz may be genuinely revelatory, but too often the Academy uses this category to throw consolation prizes to leading ladies.
11 10-17-2008 at 2:04 pm
Patrick said...
Quite brilliant , however: I believe Heath will win regardless of category. Right on!
12 10-17-2008 at 2:08 pm
Aaron said...
What I meant was lead actress is packed and she has a better chance of a nomination and win in supporting. I agree with you about Cruz.
13 10-18-2008 at 12:20 am
moviegoer said...
Good move by WB to place Ledger in the supporting actor’s category.
14 10-18-2008 at 2:30 pm
Choua said...
Smart move. As good as Heath was as the Joker, trying to put him in the Lead Actor’s race was just pushing it for me. I think he’ll most definitely win, now that he’s in the supporting category.
15 10-18-2008 at 4:44 pm
Glenn said...
His rightful placement, so that’s good to hear.