Heath Ledger is the 'hands-down favorite' to win the Oscar for 'The Dark Knight,' insists Sam Rubin

Just after returning from a screening of "The Dark Knight," KTLA reporter Sam Rubin declared on his blog that Heath Ledger gives such "a blockbuster performance" as the Joker that he'll "absolutely be nominated for an Oscar, and at this point in the year, Ledger is also a hands-down favorite to win it posthumously."

Yikes! Slow down, Sam! Keep in mind that only one star has ever won an acting Oscar posthumously -- Peter Finch ("Network," 1976) -- who died of a heart attack just weeks before the awards gala, when Hollywood was still in shock and grieving over his loss.

It's possible that Heath Ledger, who passed away last January, may have more in common with another young heartthrob who died tragically after flashing early promise as a serious actor. James Dean was nominated twice posthumously -- for "East of Eden" (1955) and "Giant" (1956) -- and lost both bids.

Ledger was nominated by Oscar voters as best lead actor of 2005 for "Brokeback Mountain." Alas, he lost to "Capote" star Philip Seymour Hoffman.

When Jack Nicholson played the Joker in director Tim Burton's "Batman" in 1989, he was snubbed by Oscar, but nominated in the supporting category at BAFTA and in the lead comedy/musical race at the Golden Globes.

But Sam Rubin thinks this newest interpretation is special: "Ledger offers perfect pitch, perfect tone, his Joker hits all the right notes. 'The Dark Knight' is among the better super-hero movies of all time, and Ledger is the best villain in a super-hero movie of all time. Really. It will only add to the conversation of all that Ledger could have accomplished had he lived. Amazing work."

Photo credit: Warner Bros.