Another Heath Ledger movie, and yeah, you do kinda get the feeling he made Casanova after this one to make sure people knew he was really extra-straight, but he’s great in this. Jake Gyllenhaal is kind of unsung by all the people singing Heath’s praises, but he’s darn good too.

<shalit>I wish I knew how to quit you, Oscar!</shalit>

There are enough people talking about this ‘un that I don’t really have much to add. It is interesting that a supposedly sophisticated urban arthouse audience still doesn’t know how to respond to male romance without nervous laughter at inopportune moments. Nevertheless, Sylvia went home happy.

I think the movie, beautifully shot and as elliptical as a mainstream American film gets, is probably in my yet-to-be-compiled top 10 for the year, but 2005 was a weak year for film. Don’t let them tell you otherwise.

I was praying for Papa Was a Rodeo as the exit music. Sometimes praying doesn’t help.