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Christian Bale, who plays Batman in The Dark Knight, says it is inaccurate to blame co-star Heath Ledger's death on his role as the Joker. "Personally, I find it to be a complete lack of understanding of acting," the actor, 34, told Matt Lauer on Today Monday (Watch above). "I also found it very rude to try to create some kind of a sound bite for such a tragedy," Bale said. "The man was a complex man, he's a good man. I saw him as having nothing but the best time playing the Joker." Ledger- who died at age 28 of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in January - will be honored in the end credits of the film, which opens Friday. (See a photo retrospective of Ledger's life.) "He was somebody who immersed himself completely in his role ' absolutely," Bale said of Ledger. "But at the end of the day, he was having a wonderful time making this movie. I say he couldn't have been happier doing it." Michael Caine, who plays Alfred Pennyworth, believes Ledger gave an Oscar-caliber performance in the film. "I just watched him and talked to him for three days and I thought he was extraordinary," Caine told Usmagazine.com. "I think he'll get a posthumous Oscar nomination at least." Critics agree. Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers wrote that Ledger is "mad-crazy-blazing brilliant as the Joker. "If there's a movement to get him the first posthumous Oscar since Peter Finch won for 1976's Network, sign me up," Travers added. (See Us' photo tribute to stars who have gone too soon.) Tell Us: Will you see The Dark Knight?

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