What They Didn't Tell You About The Joker

Everyone says the Joker sent Heath Ledger over the edge. I don't buy it. He was a working actor from the time he was a kid — he barely got a childhood before this business had him. That's what he brought to the role. The Joker didn't put it there. And if you want to talk about a part that actually costs you something psychologically, it's not the Joker. It's Brokeback Mountain. The Joker is a figment — he doesn't exist in the world. A man in love with someone he can't ever say it to? That's real, and people live it. We also get into Jared Leto, and why one of those performances feels like acting and the other one doesn't. 00:00 The Dark Knight and the myth about Heath 00:22 It wasn't the role, it was his life 00:47 Jared Leto and method acting for show 01:20 Why Brokeback Mountain was the heavier role 02:04 The Joker is a character, not a person #HeathLedger #TheDarkKnight #TheJoker #MethodActing #BrokebackMountain