Billy Elliot(2000) R (PG-13 video version)
| Director: | Stephen Daudry | Runtime: 1 hrs 50min ( 110 min) |
|---|---|---|
| billy elliot | ..... | jamie bell |
| nan | ..... | jean heywood |
| tony elliot | ..... | jamie draven |
| jackie elliot | ..... | gary lewis |
| michael caffery | ..... | stuart wells |
| george watson | ..... | mike elliot |
| mr. braithwaite | ..... | billy fane |
| debbie wilkinson | ..... | nicola blackwell |
| mrs, wilkinson | ..... | julie waters |
| librarian | ..... | carol mcGuigan |
| gary poulson | ..... | joe renton |
| mr. tom wilkinson | ..... | colin maclachlan |
| billy's mom | ..... | janine birkett |
| PC jeff peverly | ..... | trevor fox |
| sheila briggs | ..... | charlie hardwick |
| miner | ..... | denny ferguson |
| NCB offcial | ..... | dennis lingard |
| simon | ..... | matthew thomas |
| Dr. Crane ( ballet doctor) | ..... | steve mangan |
| tutor in medical | ..... | paul ridley |
| principal | ..... | patrick malahide |
| vice - principal | ..... | barbara leigh - hunt |
| tutor #1 | ..... | imogen claire |
| tutor #2 | ..... | diana kent |
| tutor #3 | ..... | neil north |
| tutor #4 | ..... | lee williams |
| teacher | ..... | petra siniawski |
| secretary | ..... | merelina kendall |
| sandra | ..... | zoe bell |
| geography teacher | ..... | tracey wilkinson |
| michael (age 25) | ..... | merryn owen |
| billy (age 25) | ..... | adam cooper |
This is a brilliant exhibition of the importance of individuality. Going along with the crowd is sometimes advantageous, yet other times, it can be the death of you.
The movie begins in 1984 in Durham Coalfield in North East England. Jamie Bell plays 11-year-old Billy Elliot, the younger of two sons in a working-class family with a single father (Gary Lewis). They live in a coal-mining community with Billy's grandmother Nan.
The area is in a political uproar from a Union strike causing riots and protests in the streets. The Elliots are barely keeping afloat.
Meanwhile, Billy's father Jackie is sending him off to boxing lessons every week, where Billy is flailing and failing miserably.
When he arrives for his workout one day, the boys are informed that one end of the gym is going to be used by the dancing instructor from downstairs (Julie Waters) because her area is being set up as a soup kitchen for the striking coal miners.
The group of dancers captures the attention of Billy, and he becomes more interested in what they are doing than in boxing, for which he has no talent or skill.
Billy begins to secretly attend the dancing classes instead of his boxing sessions. When his father and brother Tony (Jamie Draven) find out, he is forbidden to continue for fear of him being seeing as a sissy
or poof.
Sure enough, Billy is ridiculed by his family and friends, except for his best friend, Michael (Stuart Wells), who reveals himself to be a closet-gay, and supports Billy in his efforts with the ballet.
Jackie is picketing, and Tony is getting in trouble with the police concerning the Union strike in which they are both involved. Initially outraged to the point of violence at Billy's choice of ballet, Jackie is finally torn with emotional conflict when he sees Billy's natural talent first-hand; going so far as to pawn his late wife's jewelry and attempt to cross the picket line so he might afford to send Billy to a prestigious ballet school in London.
Billy Elliot was filmed in a former mining community in the UK and originally released in Ireland. The cast is superb, as are the performances. As is the case with a vast majority of foreign actors, this company gives highly convincing performances that seem very natural on-screen, as opposed to many American movies, which often seem contrived or manufactured.
These actors rely on their talent, rather than publicity or looks, for the quality of the final cut.
The score aptly follows the varying benchmark changes in mood of the movie, while scenes of Billy's boxing and dancing are inter-cut with scenes from the riots at the coal mines to exhibit an ironic parallel.
The plot may seem a little drawn out, but it contributes to artistic value and deep development of characters. Note the running theme of Swan Lake throughout the movie.
As is the reverse of orthodoxy, Billy Elliot was written first as a screenplay, then novelized, and finally adapted to the stage.
Finally, a short list of quotes I think are worth repeating. You may recognize some, but these are my own picks, not ones that are particularly famous:
- Michael:
Look at them gloves. They're outdated.
Billy:They're me dad's, these.
Michael:Exactly.
- Mrs. Wilkinson:
Oh, for fuck's sake, Billy. If you want to piss about with your little mates, that's fine with me.
Billy:Alright, alright, don't lose your blob.
- Mrs. Wilkinson:
She must've been a very special woman, your mother.
Billy:No, she was just me mom.
- Tony:
He's only a bairn. What about giving him a childhood?
Billy:I don't want a childhood. I want to be a ballet dancer.
- Billy:
Just because I like ballet doesn't mean I'm a poof, ya' know.
- Jackie:
Is that absolutely necessary? Walk normal, will ya'?
- Billy:
Dad! Dad! Dad, for fuck's sake! I've changed me mind.
Jackie:Get back in there. Don't be so stupid.
- NCB Official:
Well, was there any particular aspect of the ballet which caught your attention?
Billy:The dancin'
10 /10 
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