Puck Bond
08-02-2001, 11:13 PM
Billy Elliot(2000)
Directed by Stephen Daldry
Written by Lee Hall
Starring: Julie Walters, Jamie Bell, Jamie Draven, Gary Lewis III and Nicola Blackwell
This was a really great movie. It is about a young boy who unexpectedly finds his love of dance. It is set in a North English mining town. With his mother passed away, Billy played excellently by Jamie Bell lives with his dad, brother and grandma. Billy soon find's out he has no desire to box at the local gym but would rather take up ballet. This is of course looked upon by his dad and brother as being gay and wont stand for it. Matters are more complicated because his dad and brother are both on strike at the local coal mine. However Billy is spurred on by the dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson played excellently by Julie Walters(received an Academy Award nomination). I'm not really a fan of musicals or dance type films but I was moved and surprised by this one. Billy had a love for both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly which I found cool. Plus his relationship with Julie Walters was great and very funny at times. Plus I loved his moments with Mrs. Wilkinson's daughter, who is also in the ballet class. There is a great scene where they have a pillow fight on her bed, and after they stop it is quite touching and romantic. Plus I loved when they were both sitting outside and Debbie says "I'll show you my fanny if ya want" lmao!! Also Billy has a great relationship with his school friend, who is having his own issues with his sexuality. These moments were not overly done and that added to my enjoyment. Overall this is a very good film, and I can see why it showed up on many top 10 lists of 2000. A great story about finding one's passion and perservering tough obstacles to reach one's dreams.
A Film Review by Puck Bond
Directed by Stephen Daldry
Written by Lee Hall
Starring: Julie Walters, Jamie Bell, Jamie Draven, Gary Lewis III and Nicola Blackwell
This was a really great movie. It is about a young boy who unexpectedly finds his love of dance. It is set in a North English mining town. With his mother passed away, Billy played excellently by Jamie Bell lives with his dad, brother and grandma. Billy soon find's out he has no desire to box at the local gym but would rather take up ballet. This is of course looked upon by his dad and brother as being gay and wont stand for it. Matters are more complicated because his dad and brother are both on strike at the local coal mine. However Billy is spurred on by the dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson played excellently by Julie Walters(received an Academy Award nomination). I'm not really a fan of musicals or dance type films but I was moved and surprised by this one. Billy had a love for both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly which I found cool. Plus his relationship with Julie Walters was great and very funny at times. Plus I loved his moments with Mrs. Wilkinson's daughter, who is also in the ballet class. There is a great scene where they have a pillow fight on her bed, and after they stop it is quite touching and romantic. Plus I loved when they were both sitting outside and Debbie says "I'll show you my fanny if ya want" lmao!! Also Billy has a great relationship with his school friend, who is having his own issues with his sexuality. These moments were not overly done and that added to my enjoyment. Overall this is a very good film, and I can see why it showed up on many top 10 lists of 2000. A great story about finding one's passion and perservering tough obstacles to reach one's dreams.
A Film Review by Puck Bond