Ten Things I Hate About You: Sharp Shakespeare

Rated PG13

Ten Things I Hate About You delivers one of 1999’s big surprises. Promoted as yet another teen angst flick, director Gil Junger’s new movie proves to be a sweet, fresh-faced, altogether enjoyable reworking of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.

You already know the plot. Younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) can’t date before brainy older sister Kat (Julia Stiles), and free-wheeling Kat’s aversion to most of the boys in her class guarantees that won’t happen anytime soon. Enter Bianca’s classmates Michael Eckman (David Krumholtz) and Cameron James (Joseph-Gordon Levitt). They hire the school’s most dangerous character and man of mystery, Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger), to charm and “tame” Kat and, at the same time, liberate Bianca.

Everything about this movie works. The actors are great, from the leads to the smaller roles. Allison Janney, as the lustful, but wise guidance counselor, Daryl (Chill) Mitchell as the English teacher and Larry Miller as the sisters’ father sparkle. These comic pros know how to mine every bit of dialogue.

As the nerd with a heart of gold, Krumholtz steals every scene he’s in. Andrew Keegan’s Joey Donner, the not so model/student with an evil eye toward Bianca, is a hoot. And the two leads — Aussie Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles prove especially fun to watch. Ledger shows great flair as the not-so-bad boy, and Stiles convinces as the not-so-bitchy bitch.

The trailers for Ten Things do not do it justice. They don’t give an inkling of just how sharp this movie really is. The crisp, witty dialogue never talks down to the audience. The outstanding soundtrack helps tie the movie together without overwhelming it. Old Will should be proud; this one’s a real keeper and a great way to turn on a whole new generation to the Bard.

Joan Fuchsman

Readers Respond

I enjoyed this movie very much and especially the campus that it was shot on. I believe it is in Tacoma, Wash. I will be visiting that area next month and would like to visit the campus. Could you tell me the address of the campus that this film was shot on? Thank you,

Will

I’m very sorry, Will, but you would need to contact the movie’s production company for that information. However, if you’re willing to make a few phone calls when you’re in Tacoma, someone at the local universities may be able to help you.

Jean Marie Ward
Editor