Reviewing Movies

Reading Life Magazine's Annual Roundup was formerly a Christmas ritual with me. Were it still in print one suspects Heath Ledger would have a special section all of his own. This treatment of The Taming of the Shrew was the second such high school conversion of Shakespeare done a decade ago, the second being O based on Othello and starring Josh Harnett. The only actor the two have in common is Andrew Keegan who here plays the hunky jock. At the time Ledger was a recent arrival on the Hollywood scene from Australian and this was to have been Joseph Gordon-Levitt's movie. It doesn't take long before it becomes apparent that Heath not only steals the heart of the girl but the movie as well.

At a time when the likes of Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill gave teenagers witty parts and intelligent conversation it's easy to forget that these big-screen treatments did the same for the movies. Washington State stands in for Italy and Kate's father is a gynaecologist. Comic relief is provided by the high school guidance counsellor who is pre-occupied with writing a pulp romance novel and ogling the boys to whom she should be providing advice.

The guidance counsellor is not the only cliché about high school life that gets exploited here but what lifts this film above boring routine is the witty repartee and acting skills of the young cast. Most of the lead actors have gone on to promising careers in the decade since this movie was shot.