Saturday, October 20, 2007

98. Ten Things I Hate About You (1999)

Directed by Gil Junger
Starring: Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik

This might seem an odd one to include in an all-time Top 100 but whenever I'm dismayed at the barrage of crappy teen movies being produced at the moment, or even just when I'm feeling a little goofy, I pop this wonderful example of a romantic comedy into the DVD player.

Based on William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew it embraces teen culture and its shallow, black-and-white demeanor, while never losing its Shakespearian foundations. The script is consistently witty and dynamic, with excellent characterisation and executed finely by a wonderful young ensemble, led by an energetic and tireless turn from the revelatory Julia Stiles as the shrew, Katarina Stratford.

If you haven't seen it, please do.

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