What is the cost of quality performance?

In its second weekend, The Dark Knight has surpassed $300 million at the box office - having been out for only ten days and is well on its way to becoming one of the top grossing movies of all time. (In case you are curious, click here to see the complete list.)

Not only that, but on The Internet Movie Database's (IMDB) top 250 movies (of all time), The Dark Knight is now rated #1. This surpasses The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather movies, Pulp Fiction, Schindler's List, Casablanca and even Star Wars.

My brothers agreed, hands down, Ledger made the movie and each time he was on the screen they didn't want the scene to end. (I have not seen it, so I cannot comment.) In doing some poking around online, I noticed a number of stellar reviews from users agreeing with my brothers saying, "what Ledger created was one of a kind" and Ledger gave "the performance of a lifetime."

A few weeks before his death, an interview was released saying Ledger admitted to locking himself in a hotel room for a month to get into the role of The Joker - who Ledger described as, "psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy."

This role was so disturbing it was rumored Ledger was unable to shake it after the movie was completed, leading to constant mental pain and an unshakeable sense of turmoil and ultimately leading to his death. Was the treatment worth it?

Critics and fans who have seen the movie will agree it was worth it to prepare for his performance as The Joker - but, it may have cost him his life. Does anyone agree THAT was worth it?

The begs the question, what would it cost you to give the performance of your life?

-K