It's a brutal reality how real-life tragedy magnifies onscreen success. Even Anna Nicole Smith's baffling last role as a pouty alien drew otherwise unneeded attention. But Ledger not only melts into the Joker, he elevates him into a complex and mesmerizing character that is as sympathetic as he is utterly terrifying.

True to his character, this Joker enjoys random acts of injustice. He steals from a mob controlled bank in the opening sceneshot in breathtaking IMAXbut he isn't motivated by money. He tells almost heartbreaking stories about the scars on his face, but he prefers the knife as a more intimate method of execution.