Why Heath Ledger's Joker could be the best movie villain ever

When you think of the best movie villains ever, who comes to mind? Freddy? Jason? Anton Chigurh? Jaws perhaps? There are plenty to debate (except for Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor). But after the tidbits of clips and previews I have seen for this summer's sure-to-be blockbuster The Dark Knight, I think Heath Ledger's role as the joker has the potential to top them all. And the simple reason is because he's dead.

Anyone who has read Chuck Klosterman's Killing Yourself To Live or my previous post about the legacy of Barbaro, which - like most other elements of my writing - are taken from Chuck Klosterman, knows that the most influential thing a person (or horse) can do to preserve and enhance their legacy is die. Now that Heath Ledger has passed on, his role as the Joker will be forever remembered as his final (completed) role.

The circumstances surrounding his death only enhance the effect. With all the reports/debates about drug abuse and a wide variety of perscription medications, Ledger's condition in his waning days almost seem to reflect the disturbed, psychotic personality of the Joker. Couple that with a kick-ass makeup job and you have a seriously fucked up character. I know when I see the movie I will constantly be associating Ledger's fate with the Joker's antics and overall disturbed behavior. Needless to say I cannot wait for this movie. Too bad Katie Holmes crapped out and we have to deal with Maggie Gyllenhaal.