About 10 Things I Hate About You

'10 Things I Hate About You' is a 1999 American romantic comedy film directed by Gil Junger. The film tells the story of high school student Cameron James who falls for Bianca Stratford, a girl out of his league. The film is based on William Shakespeare's late 16th-century comedy 'The Taming of the Shrew'.

The Stratford sisters, Bianca and Kat, navigate high school from two completely different perspectives, while their overprotective dad rules out dating for his teenage daughters. The plot unravels as Cameron, a new boy at school, desperately likes Bianca. He must then persuade her 'shrew' sister, Katarina, to date and distract her so that he can get close to Bianca.

Making / Production

The movie was produced by Touchstone Pictures and Mad Chance Productions. It was a modernization of the classic Shakespearean play, translating 16th-century wit and satire into a 90's teen romantic comedy. The film was shot in and around Tacoma, Washington, and Seattle in 1998.

Actors

• Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona - A mysterious and misunderstood bad boy who has a unique charm that breaks through Kat's rough exterior.
• Julia Stiles as Katarina 'Kat' Stratford - The driven and independent older sister who isn't afraid to speak her mind.
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cameron James - The sweet-hearted and determined new kid at school who falls for Bianca.
• Larisa Oleynik as Bianca Stratford - The younger and more conformist Stratford sister who catches the eye of Cameron.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The title '10 Things I Hate About You' is a reference to a poem featured in the film written by Kat about her mixed feelings for Patrick.
• Heath Ledger beat out Josh Hartnett and Ashton Kutcher for the role of Patrick.
• The scene where Kat reads her poem in class was the first and only take, according to the film's DVD extras.

Awards

'10 Things I Hate About You' won two awards at the 2000 Teen Choice Awards - Choice Movie Actress for Julia Stiles and Choice Breakout for Heath Ledger.

Quotes

• "I hate the way you talk to me, and the way you cut your hair. I hate the way you drive my car. I hate it when you stare." - Kat Stratford
• "Don't let anyone ever make you feel like you don't deserve what you want." - Patrick Verona
• "You're not as vile as I thought you were." - Kat Stratford to Patrick

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's soundtrack features songs from numerous popular bands such as The Cardigans, Save Ferris, and Semisonic.
• The song that Patrick sings to Kat in the stadium, 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You', became synonymous with the film.
• The band Letters to Cleo performs several songs in the movie and makes an appearance in the final scene.