I saw Billy Elliot years ago when it first hit the cinema. In the past year the story went to the stage in England and has now opened here on NYs Broadway to rave reviews. The music in the play Billy Elliot was written by Elton John, another draw to those wanting to spend the extra dollars and pounds to see it in its new form. Just a quick note, it was the original music in the film that helped elevate it to five stars for me. It will be interesting to hear Elton John's new score.
My wife and I haven't decided if we will spend $135 each for so-so seats. We did decide to bring home the DVD and once again explore a film that we adored back when.
Billy Elliot; A Story of a Young Dancer
The film is placed in Northern England in the mid-eighties with the coal miners strike as a background. That event affects Billy Elliot, the second son of a local miner. The first son is also a miner. They are both on strike. Billy's mom has died and the men live alone with Billy's grandmother.
As with the other local boys, time is spent playing sports. When Billy goes for boxing lessons he fails miserably but finds interest in watching a girls ballet class sharing the same roof.
Billy is drawn to dance classes unbeknownst to his father and brother. When he is found out he is classed as following a sissy vocation and is told by his father to cease going. As the film moves on we find that Billy is of possible Royal Ballet ability. This revelation throws the life of his father into a crossroads. Does he continue the strike or scab to be able to fund his sons dreams? This part of the film brings on some excellent scenes and acting. There are more characters that bring meaning to the film but I don't want to give away too much, even if this is an older film. I don't yet know how close the stage version sticks with the film screenplay and I do believe there may be many who see the play without much prior viewing of the film. Too bad of that, I say.
pops Take
Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) was new to film when he joined this cast in 2000. He played his role flawlessly as a raw but talented dancer who found a feeling within himself that becomes a passion.
When Billy is brought before a panel to judge whether he is material for the Royal Ballet he is asked the question on how he feels when he dances. His response sums up the feeling I received when watching this film, even the second time eight years later.
Billy says, once I get going... ...then I, like, forget everything... ...and... ...sort of disappear. I sort of disappear. Like I feel a change in me whole body. Like there's a fire in me body. I'm just there... ...flying... ...like a bird. Like electricity. Yeah... ...like electricity.
... and so was my view of the film. There was an electricity that ran throughout it. First it was the raw passion of Billy as he explores and exhibits his joys and frustrations through dance. If you don't think a person can have a temper tantrum via dancing, ya gotta see Billy express himself in the streets and alleys of that small English mining town. He was electric. Also putting a charge into this film was the music. Listening to T-Rex open and close with Cosmic Dancer and also with scenes of dancing to the same bands I Love To Boogie was "electric" I purchased the sound track after we first saw the film in 2000 and it's still a favorite. Other bands also add to the score.
Watching the negative and positive opposing poles of Billy's teacher Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters) battling Billy's hard nosed father (Gary Lewis) also brought sparks to the film. What tough and rough coal miner would want his son to become a "fu-'in ballet dancer?"
Bily Elliot is rated R, mostly for language so, though this can be an inspirational film for young people, a preview should be given by any discerning parent before allowing a youngster to see it. I do encourage those adults who have never watched this film to see it before seeing the play Billy Elliot with the Elton John score. It's excellent and certainly much cheaper to see than the Broadway play.
Nominated for three Academy Awards , including Best Original Screenplay and Best Director, Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper (Ebert & Roeper and the Movi...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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