Cinema grows up again...

Rating: 10/10 (13 June 2006)

An exquisite exercise in how tasteful, yet powerful; how understated, and yet visceral cinema can still be. This has a purity that perhaps outshines the rough-diamond original prose-piece- itself brilliant. Ledger's performance stands alongside the very best of Brando, De Niro or Pacino for sheer silent muscularity yet tenderness. Heart rending in its reality and surprises- it's tiny revelations and it's nuances. Why did he not get the plaudits at the awards ceremonies? Gyllenhaal mirrors his strengths, but in a marginally less dimensioned way. Together under Ang Lees guiding hand they say as many things about love and the human condition as any 2 hour stretch of movie has managed in the last 50 years. Cinematography, score and script are crystalline in their perfection. A masterpiece that feeds emotion and intellect. Stunning! Tremendously sad news to hear of Heath Ledger's death. His performance, here alone, will secure his position amongst the very best actors to bring the screen alive.