Amazon.com: Foursquare in the gritty-but-heartwarming tradition of Brassed Off and The Full Monty comes Billy Elliot, the first film from noted British theatrical director Stephen Daldry. The setting is County Durham in 1984, and things "up north" are even grimmer than usual: the miners' strike is in full rancorous swing, and 11-year-old Billy's dad and older brother, miners both, are on the picket lines. Billy's got problems of his own. His dad has scraped together the fees to send him to boxing lessons, but Billy has discovered a different aptitude: a genius for ballet dancing. Since admitting to such an activity is tantamount, in this fiercely macho culture, to holding up a sign reading "I Am Gay," Billy keeps it quiet. But his teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters, wearily undaunted), thinks he should audition for ballet school in London. Family ructions are inevitable.
Daldry's film sidesteps some of the politics, both sexual and otherwise, but scores with its laconic dialogue (credit to screenwriter Lee Hall) and a cracking performance from newcomer Jamie Bell as Billy. His powerhouse dance routines, more Gene Kelly than Nureyev, carry an irresistible sense of exhilaration and self-discovery. Among a flawless supporting cast, Stuart Wells stands out as Billy's sweet gay friend Michael. And if the miners' strike serves largely as background color, the brief episode when visored and truncheon-wielding cops rampage through neat little terraced houses captures one of the most spiteful episodes in recent British history. --Philip Kemp
Billy Elliot DVD Billy Elliot is surely one of the best films ever made.
This film is a brilliant gem of cinema, with charm, warmth, and
hilariously funny.
The actors give a sterling performance and endear themselves to
the viewer.
While Billy Elliot is not the epic story of "Chariots of Fire",
I think it ranks just as high in entertainment.
Billy Elliot is one of the best films ever made.
An inspirational and heartwarming joy of a film... One of my friends recently told me that `Billy Elliot' was a solid A+ multiplied by one-thousand. That was enough to get me to search it out and watch it, since I had really up until that point heard very little about it at all. When I read the back of the DVD case this big smile forced itself onto my face, for `Billy Elliot' is just my kind of movie. Then I watched it, and while I don't know about the whole `multiplied by one-thousand' bit, I can truly say that `Billy Elliot' is a sold A+ and is most definitely the greatest movie of the year that was 2000 (yes, I have finally placed bias aside and concluded that `Gladiator' wasn't the greatest movie of the year; but of the Academy's final five I have no doubt it was the deserved winner).
Billy Elliot is an eleven-year-old boy who lives with his father and brother in a small coal mining town in England. Billy's father Jackie works hard to provide for his boys, but with the current strike forcing him to the picket lines monies are now very difficult to come by. Still, Jackie scrimps together whatever he can to send Billy to boxing lessons. When Billy catches a glimpse of Mrs. Wilkinson's ballet class though, he is instantly enamored and desires to dance as apposed to box. Of course the idea of a boy dancing is looked down on and so Billy keeps his lessons secret, but his secret is soon unveiled and he has to learn to stand up for himself and persevere despite any opposition from his family and friends.
`Billy Elliot' (originally titled `Dancer', and I'm so glad they changed the title since `Dancer' almost adds to the feminine stereotypes the film is fighting against in my opinion) is a beautiful testament to the human spirit and to the right that each and everyone of us has be exactly who we want to be, regardless of others opinions or expectations. The people around Billy seem ignorant and narrow-minded, condemning Billy for his interest and talent, but through conviction and dedication Billy is able to change the minds of those who oppose him.
The performances in this film are all phenomenal. Even small performances like Jamie Draven (who plays Billy's older brother Tony) and Jean Heywood (who plays Billy's Grandmother) are memorable and exciting. Julie Walters, who plays Billy's dance instructor Mrs. Wilkinson, scored an Oscar nomination for her performance in the film (although is she really supporting?) and rightfully so, for her effortless mix of tenacity and compassion helps create a brilliant canvas for Billy. Gary Lewis is amazing as Billy's father. Throughout the film he comes across so raw and real, like a real father and not a Hollywood fabrication (he's neither too lenient nor is he too restrictive) and his final scene, just his face and that stare of awe, made me cry. Stuart Wells is also fabulous as Billy's best friend Michael. He matches Bell's charisma and naturalness frame for frame.
But this is the Billy show, and so Jamie Bell gets top honors for creating a character that is believable and understandable and relatable. His performance (which rightfully won him a BAFTA) is utterly outstanding. How he missed out on the Oscar nomination is beyond me, for he captures every ounce of Billy's struggle magically. I love the way that when Billy is around other people he walks with a swagger, an almost forced manliness. I noticed this first when he was leaving the bookstore. He had been looking at the ballet book and was called out on it and so his leave, this macho walk as if he were a tough boy, felt as though he were compensating, as if his masculinity had been challenged and he had to defend it. These small details may go unnoticed by many, but when you do notice them you come to realize the brilliance that was this performance.
I want to make a quick mention of the outstanding soundtrack, which really plays much like its own character in the film. Each song is a perfect compliment to the scene in which it embodies.
`Billy Elliot' is such a heartwarming film and really should be seen by everyone (the course language may not be suitable for children, but you know your kids better than I do). The story itself is so beautiful and the touching relationship that forms between father and son as the film draws to its conclusion is almost too poignant for words. There aren't too many excellent father/son dramas made today, and despite being about so much more than that, the sheer satisfaction that comes from watching this fathers love for his son triumph in the end is the one thing that sticks with me longer and stronger than any other facet of the film.
A Favorite movie This movie is an uplifting movie - following a young man's travels through diversity - to his ultimate dream.
'JUST BECAUSE I LIKE BALLET, DOESN'T MEAN I'M A PUFF!" Interesting tale a young boy's desire to take ballet lessons, but avoid the stigma attached to it. I found this film to be very inspired with good performances all around. If I had one problem with this film, it was the thick accent spoken is tough to understand sometimes and I found myself straining to figure out what was being said in some instances. It's quirky and off beat and may enlighten some narrow minded people out there!........not everything is black and white :-)
Much Better Than Expected I spent 6 years in China, and every time an American film was "heartwarming" my students tripped all over themselves falling in love with it, while I fought the powerful urge to retch.
With that out of the way, this heartwarming tale about a strained father-son relationship filled with "you don't understand me" is genuinely clever, witty, moving, brilliantly written and acted, and just damn funny in a number of places.
"Coal miners on strike" gave me flashbacks to another film that was equally popular in China, OCTOBER SKY, but in this case it's only incidental to the plot, not a focal point. Much more violent, however. You'd know this wasn't Disney even without all the profanity.
"Hey," someone told me, "It's about this kid who gives up boxing for ballet." And I replied, dripping with sarcasm, "Yeah, I'm gonna watch that." But no, this movie is very cool. I'm never going to take up ballet, but I'm sure glad Billy did. Yep, Billy feels that real to me, like talking about a real person. So does everyone else in this fine, fine film.
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Trevor
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