Yes, the new Batman movie, "THE DARK NIGHT" opens Friday. All the buzz is about Heath Ledger's incredible performance. But film critic Leonard Maltin says all this talk about Heath getting an Oscar for his performance as the Joker is the real joke... perpetuated by bloggers and chat rooms.
Only one actor has won an Oscar after death, Peter Finch for 1976's "Network."
"Dark Knight" is the type of comic book, action adventure that Oscar voters generally do not favour and there are many movies to see later this year, the experts said.
Still, Ledger's critically hailed performance may bring a nomination for the U.S. film industry's top award, to be presented next on February 22, 2009.
"All this Oscar talk is a phenomenon of the Internet age that I like to call 'a wish-fulfilment rumour.' If people say it often enough, they think it will happen," said Leonard Maltin, film critic for TV program "Entertainment Tonight."
"That's not to say it might not happen," he said, citing a "great performance" by Ledger. "But I assure you that the people who are spreading all this are neither Oscar voters nor (Hollywood) movers and shakers."
Iain Blair over at UK REUTERS has more on Heaths Oscar odds.