BILLY ELLIOT

2000

If this isn't the most wonderful, charming, excellent, feel-good movie of the year, then I don't know anything about film! I'll even go further out on a limb to nominate it as "best film of the year," and young Jamie Bell as "best actor." Jamie Bell plays Billy, a 12-year-old, who uses dance to escape the oppression of his hard-luck family, and his dying Northern England mining town in 1984. The juxtaposition of the violent scenes of the striking miners battling the police, and Billy and his world of music and dance, is brilliant. This is the first film of the year that brought tears to my normally dry eyes! Everyone connected with it is worthy of an award. Damnit, why can't WE make films like this?

5 Stars

NJB

Two great quotes from this movie: "When you go to find life, you lose other things" and "I'll show you me fanny if you like." Anyways... Take October Sky, cross it with Footloose, add a British accent and you get BILLY ELLIOT. It's a great little film about a young boy who, amidst a town and family falling apart, just wants to dance. Everything about this film is good- the style, the cinematography, the editing, and the kid who plays Billy is terrific. But the real beauty is in the details and all the subtle imagery that is always there, pushing the story forward and setting the tone. If you haven't heard about this film yet, chances are you will during Oscar time.

5 Stars

CDF