 "Better than expected" | 2009-07-29 |
| - Reviewed By User: A4MTRS3WTXIQ4 |
I was curious about the movie, not knowing what to expect. I purchased it, and started it with an open mind. I was pulled in right away! It was a tale of a boy in a gritty, tough, motherless household, with rather strong father and older brother influences. Billy is a real kid, trying to survive, trying to win dad and big brothers attention, and realizes he just isn't going to do it.
I was really impressed with the story around Billy....his family, the strike, school, all the things going on in his life. He was trying to be a boxer to please his dad. He wasn't into it, and wasn't good.
When he found ballet, he approached it from a very powerful, athletic view, and didn't seem the boy one would typically place in a "ballet boy" box. While he is not overly handsome, he is believable. He is caring and attractive, sensitive and wants to please, but can't. He wants to understand his dad and brother, but doesn't. He wants them to understand him, and they can't.
The friendship with a gay classmate is wonderful. He really care about the boy, isn't actively pursuing him. He portrays a boy, being a boy, who also happens to be a good dancer.
I guess, if you are looking for a young boy love story, this is not really it. If you are looking for a strong willed boy, fighting to survive and be himself, and winning in the end, this it is.
I truly loved the movie more that I thought I would. It went a direction I wasn't expecting, but left loving the movie.
I was really impressed with the passion of the young actor playing Billy. A really touching story, and it was great seeing his dad becoming more of a man by letting his son follow his heart, and letting him dance.
Thank you for such a good, honest, heartwarming movie. I'm sure all will love it too! |
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| "Great dvd, had this on tape and now I have a great dvd :)" | 2009-06-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2E73HLI88G03J |
| Movie came pkgd great and in good shape. Was really nice to watch Billy again as I have always loved this movie since it came out. The ending of this movie is just the "best"! |
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| ":)" | 2009-05-29 |
| - Reviewed By crestlin78 |
| Lots of people have reviewed this movie so I'll just say that I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I literally laughed out loud several times and there were a few tear jerking moments as well. Just a note, the British curse on a whole different level so this movie is not for the little ones ;) |
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| ""Billy Elliot" - An electrifying, uplifting film!!" | 2009-05-11 |
| - Reviewed By ceruleana |
The Cortonwood Colliery in Yorkshire, UK, closed in 1984. This was to be the first of 20 mine closures with the loss of 20,000 jobs. The UK Miners' Union responded by calling for a national strike, a major industrial action affecting the entire British coal industry. At it's height 165,000 miners were out on strike. In many communities miners' wives pushed the struggle forward, joining picket lines and arranging communal food kitchens. The Tory government used the state's resources to put more and more police into the coal fields and on the picket lines, frequently with violent and bloody consequences. After 51 weeks on strike, a special delegate conference of the National Union of Mineworkers voted by 98 to 91 votes to return to work. This was a defining moment in British industrial relations, and its defeat significantly weakened the British trade union movement. It was also seen as a major political and ideological victory for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her Conservative Party. At one point during the strike, in a speech to Tory M.P.'s, Prime Minister Thatcher stated, "We had to fight the enemy without in the Falklands. We always have to be aware of the enemy within," (referring to the striking miners), "which is much more difficult to fight and more dangerous to liberty."
It is against this grim backdrop that "Billy Elliot" begins. Eleven year-old Billy, (Jamie Bell), is the son of a widowed coal miner, (Gary Lewis). Their beloved wife and mother died the year before. Billy, his father, older brother, Tony, (Jamie Draven), and live-in grandmother, (Jean Heywood), reside in the fictional coal-mining town of "Everington," in northeast England. The movie is actually shot in the real County Durham, UK. Billy looks after his grandmother, who has Alzheimer's, but never lets anyone forget that she could have been a professional dancer if marriage hadn't gotten in the way of her potential career. Cinematographer Brian Tufano does a magnificent job of depicting the beauty of the local, with its quaint brick houses and nearby green fields. The ocean can often be seen in the background as the characters walk through the streets. It's as if the picturesque surroundings can ameliorate the bleakness of the situation.
The movie opens with Billy playing a recording of "Cosmic Dancer" by T-Rex. He exuberantly leaps and dances to the sound of the music as if to escape his oppressive surroundings. He deeply mourns the loss of his "Mum," and since both his Dad and brother are out on strike, the repressed anger and depression at home couldn't get much worse. As Billy runs outside to search for his wandering "Gran," he sees, from the fields, a group of policemen, gathering, armed with riot shields and clubs. The threat of explosive violence is a constant throughout the movie, even with its wonderfully upbeat, and frequent comic moments.
Billy takes boxing lessons at a local gym, to uphold the family tradition. Both his father and brother excel at the sport. Unfortunately, our young protagonist is not a chip off the old block, pugilistically speaking. His footwork is fabulous, but he really doesn't want to hit anyone. He is fascinated, however, by the ballet class which is being taught at the same gym. The irrepressible Billy takes a few classes, spending his 50 pence for dancing lessons rather than boxing. He even takes a book from the local library on ballet and practices the positions secretly in the bathroom. Stern, chain-smoking ballet mistress, Mrs. Wilkinson, (Julie Walters), immediately spots the boy's talent.
Naturally, Billy's Dad discovers that his youngest son is not boxing. He also finds out what Billy is doing instead. Mr. Elliot is furious, and tells Billy, "Lads do football or boxin' or wrestlin'! Not friggin' ballet!" Billy responds, "It's not just poofs, Dad! Some ballet dancers are as fit as athletes." Mr. Elliot is primarily angry, however, because he believes that Billy has been wasting money. The miners are on strike and money is very scarce. He forces Billy to give up the class. But Mrs. Wilkinson continues to teach him privately, at no monetary cost. She seems to come alive while working with the budding dancer. She pours her emotions into his training, and encourages him to audition for the Royal Ballet School. The two work together rigorously...as rigorously as for boxing, wrestling or football.
Billy is also encouraged by his best friend, Michael, who is having difficulties coming to grips with his own puberty - a confusing time for anyone. He is a closet cross dresser and not afraid to wear his sister's school uniform or apply make-up. Michael urges Billy to be himself and to follow his dream.
The film's suspense peaks during the day of Billy's audition where multiple things happen at once - both at the dance academy and at the home front - which have a dramatic effect on Billy and his family.
Director Stephen Daldry really focuses on the relationship, the strong bonds of love, between father and son. Daldry assembled a wonderful cast, which brings to life the struggles and triumphs of Lee Hall's script. Their speaking accents do take some getting used to, though. But if you're renting or own the DVD, you can always play back the initial scenes until you get used to the speech patterns. The musical/dance montages are magical. Passion and love for dance permeate the film. However, the grim political and economic circumstances surrounding the storyline are ever present. Jamie Bell is phenomenal in the title role. He gives a riveting, sensitive, dynamic performance.
I just saw the theatrical production on Broadway and was curious as to how film would measure up. The show was/is extraordinary and the movie does not disappoint.
Jana Perskie |
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| "Billy Elliot (the movie)" | 2009-04-18 |
| - Reviewed By User: AIM2IRRK6FKV2 |
| Billy Elliot is one of the most inspiring movies of all times! From the opening titles, as we watch Billy (Jamie Bell) expressing pure joy through movement, to the rolling credits at the end of the movie, where we have experienced the joy of dance through the heart and soul of a poor and grieving boy, my fantasy is that most viewers are jumping around the room, remembering how good it felt to dance before we became self conscious. The acting is superb, the writing is superb, the story is engrossing and transformative. Watch this movie if you need a lift, an inspiration to move, or if you just want to have a joyful experience. The supporting cast, Billy's hard working father and brother, who have given their lives to the mines, and his demented grandmother, who "could have been a professional dancer" steal our hearts too. |
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| "Truly enjoyable!" | 2009-03-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: ABKJRI7ZY2JJE |
| I have seen this film countless times and am so imressed over and over again.. The story is moving, funny, sad, and so well acted and filmed. It certainly deserves all forms of praise. I can truly recommend this film! |
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