Spiritual Lessons From the 2009 Oscar Nominees

'The Dark Knight': We Need More Than a Hero

8 nominations, including Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger's Oscar-nominated turn as The Joker is as compelling a look at evil as you're likely to find on screen. Ledger's Joker is charismatic, convincing, and oh-so bad—the sort of person who, as Bruce Wayne's loyal butler Alfred, says, just wants to "watch the world burn." He's convinced that everyone else as rotten as he is, and he wants to prove that do-gooders are just wasting their time.

Batman isn't buying. He believes people simply need a reason to hope, a hero to believe in. And, when Harvey Dent, the guy dubbed Gotham's "white knight," tumbles from grace, Batman covers up Dent's misdeeds and takes the blame on himself. "Sometimes, truth isn't good enough," Batman says. "Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded." Is the statement true? False? Regardless, there's enough in it—and Batman's sacrifice—to keep pastors preaching for weeks.