
Ty Burr says ...
Heath Ledger would take this category even if he was alive, and he deserves to: His Joker is the opposite of a standard superhero-movie villain, a figure of frighteningly private demons. Robert Downey Jr., though, may be the only actor smart enough to make his “Tropic Thunder” shtick work, as a character and as ruthlessly satirical Hollywood commentary.
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Will win
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight -
Should win
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
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Shouldn't be here
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt -
Was robbed
Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky

Wesley Morris says ...
It’s conceivable that mournfulness could have upgraded Heath Ledger to the other actor category a la Anthony Hopkins in “The Silence of the Lambs.” But his inventive, truly scary Joker doesn’t capsize “The Dark Knight.” He enhances it. Meanwhile, Philip Seymour Hoffman gives an outstanding lead performance that’s been stuffed here alongside Michael Shannon, who's the best thing about “Revolutionary Road.”
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Will win
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight -
Should win
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
-
Shouldn't be here
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt -
Was robbed
Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky

Robert Downey Jr.

Tropic Thunder



Heath Ledger

The Dark Knight



Philip Seymour Hoffman

Doubt



Michael Shannon

Revolutionary Road

