johnnymk
02-23-2009, 05:34 AM
http://www.app.com/article/20090222/ENT01/902220316/-1/nletter02?source=nletter-news
BEVERLY HILLS — There's only one sure bet this Oscar season: Heath Ledger.
The Australian actor who broke out in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain" received his second Oscar nomination in January — a year to the day after he was found dead at age 28, the result of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
Executive-produced by Ocean Township's Michael Uslan, "The Dark Knight" opened in July. Ever since, Ledger's vivid turn as the villainous Joker was pegged as a near certainty, and now he's seen as destined to win for best supporting actor when trophies are handed out tonight.
The other nominees are Josh Brolin in "Milk," Robert Downey Jr. in "Tropic Thunder," Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Doubt" and Michael Shannon in "Revolutionary Road."
"Heath has always been the runaway favorite, from the moment the movie came out, and maybe before," says Kris Tapley of the awards Web site InContention.com.
And because "The Dark Knight," the year's most popular film, was overlooked in the categories of best picture and best director, its sole chance in a major category looms even larger.
"It would be a real shock if Ledger doesn't win," Tapley says. "There appears to be one choice."
That's not the case in the other races, though.
BEVERLY HILLS — There's only one sure bet this Oscar season: Heath Ledger.
The Australian actor who broke out in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain" received his second Oscar nomination in January — a year to the day after he was found dead at age 28, the result of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
Executive-produced by Ocean Township's Michael Uslan, "The Dark Knight" opened in July. Ever since, Ledger's vivid turn as the villainous Joker was pegged as a near certainty, and now he's seen as destined to win for best supporting actor when trophies are handed out tonight.
The other nominees are Josh Brolin in "Milk," Robert Downey Jr. in "Tropic Thunder," Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Doubt" and Michael Shannon in "Revolutionary Road."
"Heath has always been the runaway favorite, from the moment the movie came out, and maybe before," says Kris Tapley of the awards Web site InContention.com.
And because "The Dark Knight," the year's most popular film, was overlooked in the categories of best picture and best director, its sole chance in a major category looms even larger.
"It would be a real shock if Ledger doesn't win," Tapley says. "There appears to be one choice."
That's not the case in the other races, though.