 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| BILLY ELLIOT AKA: Dancer 2000 - UK - 111 min. - Feature, Color Released by Universal Director - Stephen Daldry |
| Genre/Type: Comedy Drama, Coming-of-Age, Family Drama Flags: Questionable for Children, Adult Language MPAA: Rating R Keywords: poverty, working-class, dance-instructor, dance-student, against-all-odds Themes: A Dancer's Life, Teachers and Students, Fathers and Sons, Down on Their Luck Tones: Poignant, Compassionate, Bittersweet, Humorous, Heartwarming Produced by: Arts Council of England / BBC / Tiger Aspect Pictures / Title Films / WT2 Release: Oct 13, 2000 (USA- Limited) / Nov 3, 2000 (USA) Cast Julie Walters - Mrs. Wilkinson Jamie Bell - Billy Jamie Driven - Tony Gary Lewis - Dad Jean Heywood - Grandmother Stuart Wells - Michael Nicola Blackwell � Debbie |
| Plot Synopsis Brassed Off meets My Name Is Joe in this gritty coming-of-age drama about a young son of a poor English coal miner who dreams of being a ballet dancer. The film is set during a 1984 miners' strike in Durham county, where angry clashes between picketers and cops in riot gear are nearly daily occurrences. Among the most vociferous protestors are Tony (Jamie Driven) and his dad (Gary Lewis), who nags his youngest son Billy (Jamie Bell) into taking boxing classes. Though the kid can do some fancy footwork, he can't take a punch. One day at the gym, he notices a ballet class taught by hard-bitten Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters), whose young daughter dares him to join. When his father gets wind of this less-than-manly pursuit, he pulls him from the class. Sensing a raw and natural talent, Mrs. Wilkinson offers to teach the lad for free in preparation for the local auditions to the Royal Ballet School. When Tony gets in trouble with the cops, Billy is forced to miss the trials, leading to a confrontation between Billy's pop and Ms. Wilkinson. Though at first he steadfastly refuses to consider his son's desires of going into ballet, he comes to realize that this might be the one shot that Billy has in order to escape the danger and grinding tedium of a miner's life, so he sets out to earn the money by any means necessary to send his son to London. This film is the directorial debut of renowned British stage director Stephen Daldry. � All-Movie Guide |
| Reviews Jason Clark, AMG **** (4 out of 5 stars) The debut feature of acclaimed stage director Stephen Daldry, this effortlessly charming yet entirely familiar coming-of-age story follows along the same lines as such U.S. imports as The Full Monty and Waking Ned Devine, but with a heartfelt ardor all its own. The film rarely strays from its wistful sensibilities, but features ample compensation in its astute casting (newcomer Jamie Bell is a marvelously natural young find) and Daldry's amiable handling of both the title character's dancing ambitions, as well as the backdrop for the main story, northern England's chaotic mining strike of the 1980s. Overall, Billy Elliot is a difficult film to resist, even if it doesn't genuinely surprise. A momentous hit in Britain, the film's irresistible desire to please proves utterly winning in the long run. Interestingly, the film premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival as Dancer, but so as not to be confused with Lars von Trier's highly publicized, Palme d'Or-winning entry of the same year, the filmmakers decided to permanently change Billy Elliot's title for its U.S. release. Awards 2000 Academy Best Director (nom) Stephen Daldry Best Original Screenplay (nom) Lee Hall Best Supporting Actress (nom) Julie Walters 2000 British Academy Awards Best Actor (win) Jamie Bell Best British Film (win) Best Cinematography (nom) Brian Tufano Best Director (nom) Stephen Daldry 2 Best Editing (nom) John Wilson 2000 Best Film (nom) Best Music (nom) Stephen Warbeck Best Newcomer (nom) Lee Hall Best Newcomer (nom) Stephen Daldry Best Original Screenplay (nom) Lee Hall Best Sound (nom) Best Supporting Actor (nom) Gary Lewis Best Supporting Actress (win) Julie Walters Other Awards Best Foreign Film (nom) 2000 French Academy of Cinema Best Motion Picture - Drama (nom) 2000 Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress (nom) Julie Walters 2000 Golden Globe #5 Film of the Year (win) 2000 National Board of Review Best Young Actor (win) Jamie Bell 2000 National Board of Review Best Actor (nom) Jamie Bell 2000 Screen Actors Guild Best Ensemble Performance (nom) 2000 Screen Actors Guild Best Supporting Actress (nom) Julie Walters 2000 Screen Actors Guild Best Original Screenplay (nom) Lee Hall 2000 Writers Guild of America |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |