An Oscar for the Dark Knight, Zuma Ledger

Having watched The Dark Knight five times now I would definitely give Heath Ledger the nod for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Batman’s iconic archvillain, The Joker.

Batman is something I know a helluva lot about having studied the Caped Crusader since I was about six or seven years old. In the field of Batmanology there is a special section on Jokerology and I’m sure one could earn a doctorate in letters on the subject if you found a university courageous enough to let you research it.

The psychological nuances, narrative rationale, iconology, mythology and criminology underpinning the social phenomenon of evil masquerading as comedic vaudeville lie buried so deep in our souls that they probably resonate throughout history back to the days of the pharaohs. Few aspects of human nature are as profoundly disturbing as the evil clown, the embodiment of the schizophrenic court jester and pure wickedness of the grand vizier. The concept of a veneer of enjoyment, fun and entertainment concealing darkness of vile intent is deeply disturbing, because it severs the very instinctual, intuitive ties of trust.

Heath Ledger’s interpretation of the character uniquely captured that dualism, even to the smudged make-up hiding the hideous scars of a permanent “smile”, the slight hunch and limp, the cackle and original wisecracks and the projection of evil for evil’s sake.

The character is simultaneously seductive and repulsive, alluring and repugnant, amusing and nauseating. He is yin and yang taken to celluloid nirvana. I love him.

But I could never trust him — even strapped to an erect gurney or behind bulletproof lglass ike Hannibal Lecter (incidentally, another icon of pure evil for which Sir Anthony Hopkins indubitably deserved his statuette).

Jacob Zuma, the new/old ANC, with its attendant cronies — the same old vile SACP and same old clichéd Cosatu — and their new/old election manifesto are the real life schizoid dualities of The Joker/Heath Ledger and Hannibal the Cannibal/Anthony Hopkins.

Can we trust anything they promise? Can we credit them with a real plan that is pro-poor (whatever that means)? Are there any signs, any subliminal indications that they really mean it this time?

I have searched and I cannot see one. Not a single ray of honesty and integrity.

If you can find any, I’d welcome them being pointed out to me.

The “new manifesto” is not new at all. There is no road map with any measurable milestones. There are no statutes of responsibility or accountability entrenched in the vacuous rhetoric. And, worst of all, the same bunch of crooks and clowns is at the helm.

They put on a damned fine show, but when filming wraps, the make-up comes off, the costumes are returned to the wardrobe department and the special effects wizards pack up their lighting, their smoke and their mirrors; they’re the same old same old actors “who strut and fret their hours upon a stage and then are heard no more”.