5 Awesome Performances...
5. Patrick Verona - 10 Things I Hate About You
Ledgers Patrick is written as an Australian relocated to America, just so he can speak with an Ozzie twang. It seems lazy screenwriting to keep the actor from putting on a convincing accent (something we know he can do). But it doesnt really matter because hes so engaging the lapses never bother. 10 Things I Hate About You is Shakespeares The Taming Of The Shrew reimagined as a teen comedy and just about does the whole concept justice thanks to a winning cast. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is as likeable as he always is and Julia Stiles is an entertaining shrew, but Ledger completely steals the show. Modernising Petruchio as a too-cool-for-school rebel (certainly too cool to use that phrase), he's effortlessly watchable. That all takes a back-seat, however, to his rendition of Can't Take My Eyes Off You. Totally in the spirit of John Hughes and played with swagger and a hint of earnest it's the film's standout scene and signalled to the world that Heath Ledger had arrived.