Billy Elliot
by Joe Renton
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Gary Lewis (III), Jamie Bell, Jamie Draven, Julie Walters, Stephen DaldryDirector: Joe Renton
Brand: Universal
Producer: Trevor Fox
Producer: Carol McGuigan
Producer: Charlie Hardwick
Producer: Matthew Thomas
Producer: Zo? Ball
Producer: Denny Ferguson
Writer: Dennis Lingard
DVD: 2 Layers, Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 110 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-04-17
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of Billy Elliot
Movie Review: "Billy Elliot" - An electrifying, uplifting film!!
Summary: 5 Stars
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
Summary of Billy Elliot
The life of 11-year-old billy elliot a coal-miners son is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class during his weekly boxing lesson. Before long he finds himself demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class exacting instructor. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 03/04/2003 Starring: Julie Walters Jamie Bell Run time: 111 minutes Rating: R Director: Stephen DaldryFoursquare 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
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