Billy Elliot

Rating:
Summary: Pleasant Surprise!
Review: Despite the critical acclaim, I honestly thought that this movie would be schmaltyzy, predictable, and formulaic. But I was pleasantly surprised--"Billy Elliot" is more than the sum of its parts! It's not just another quirky British comedy, or another boy-defies-father's wishes story.

The story has a great message of being yourself, and following your dreams. It's basically saying that no one knows what's best for you except yourself; do whatever makes you happy.

Jamie Bell was excellent as the title character--showing an impressive range of emotions. The rest of the cast was superb as well. And an unexpected surprise like Billy's supposed gay friend, just makes the movie more complex and interesting!

The ending was memorable as well, but I won't give it away.

You won't be disappointed in this movie, even if you're a macho man who's too insecure to think it's okay for boys to dance!

Rating:
Summary: a pleasant shock!
Review: This movie is a pleasant shock to me.

I have not imagined seeing a 'ballet movie' whose music consists of glam rock and punk rock. Music of T-Rex, the Jam and the Clash impressed me with the vulnerability of Billy, would-be-dancer boy, and the anger of British working class. So it's not only a boy's success story but also a conflict story of his father between his devotion for labor movement against rich-poor cleavage and his self-sacrifice for his son. When the father is caught betraying his union comrades for money by his son Tony and burst out crying, I could not keep back my tears.

But Billy (Jamie Bell) drives all the troubles away with his youthfulness. His dance seems to say, don't give up!

Rating:
Summary: Billie Elliot
Review: This is a wonderful movie that has humor, drama, adversity, and triumph. I have reccommended it to everyone I know (even those that hate so called "artsy" movies and I have yet to come accross someone who didn't love it. Please check this out!

Rating:
Summary: Not Appreciated by the Academy!
Review: I was very angry when I found out it was not a Best Picture contender....and what abiut Jamie Bell, best actor? Come on, he blew russell Crowe away! And Gary Lewis for Supporting Actor, or Dafoe.....Benicio del Toro was not that good! Along with CROUCHING TIGER,HIDDEN DRAGON and ALMOST FAMOUS, this wass the best movie of the year~

Rating:
Summary: A movie for the whole world
Review: My best friend in Thailand recommended this film to me, that's just how universal "Billy Elliott" is! People all over the world are hearing the question, "Why can't a boy dance?" and are starting to wonder what the answer might be! :-)

This movie is a flawless gem, wonderfully acted from beginning to end, and greatly helped by the talented newcomer Jamie Bell. We have this cultural myth that ballet is "fluff" or "girl stuff," but it is really gruelling work in pursuit of artisitic excellence.

Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT !!
Review: This is certainly the best movie I have ever seen !! I don't have words to describe how beautiful it is... I came out of the cinema so happy, so complete... I will always remember this film like a very good thing that happened in my life... It showed me many things that we cannot hide. If you wants something, and are afraid of get it real, you MUST see it !! Congratulations, Stephen Daldry and Jamie Bell !!

Rating:
Summary: Wrongly rated.
Review: I watched this movie in pure awe at my local movie theater. I went to the big, important one to see this movie, it had gotten a lot of hype. I was overcome with emotion, and compassion. Very rarely are movies done about a recent decade. For instance, movies from the 80's are usually about the 80's or the 60's and before...movies from the ninties are about the ninties, or the 70's...etc. This was from such a recent time, that I could honestly connect with it.

Jamie Bell, I must say, gave an absolutely stunning performance, which almost made me break down and cry. Julie Walter's was one of the best supporting actresses in a movie of last year, so much emotion was behind every word that she said, you knew you didn't want to mess with her. This story had a great moral, and it was deeply touching.

The reason for my title, is, that this movie has the most meaning to teenagers. It tells them that they can defy all stereotypes and do what they truly want to do, but, this movie was rated 'R'. The reason for this, was the language. But, I personally, couldn't understand a curse word that they said because of their thick, THICK brittish accents. I think that every teenager should see this movie, and every adult should as well. People of all ages can learn wonderful lessons from this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Follow Your Dreams!
Review: There is a rebellious side in all of us. The side that dreams, that asks, "What if I had ...," that wonders about alternative futures.

I've been following my dreams (at my work) for years. It is a constant battle. Billy Elliot helps to show us that there is sometimes an end to the rainbow.

The movie is quaint, touching, and extremely well written. Julie Waters, who played the role of Billy's dance teacher, was exquisite, as was Gary Lewis, who played his father. (Of course, Jamie Bell, as Billy, was wonderful too.)

The movie starts off slow but builds to a very emotionally moving climax, using a British miners strike in 1984 as the backdrop. The dialog is sparse, but powerful nonetheless. And for once, a film takes the time to adquately develop all of the major (and even a few minor) characters.

If you've ever longed to follow your dreams -- or wish you could have -- then you'll love Billy Elliot.

Rating:
Summary: Winnie the Poof does Flashdance ...
Review: .... but you don't need subtitles to understand Jennifer Beals' dialogue.

Rating:
Summary: A Winning Story
Review: "Billy Elliot" is a fairly good, if melodramatic, film that addresses many issues, some better than others: early death of a parent, a striking caol miners' union, family dynamics, and gender identity.

When Billy discovers his talent and affinity for ballet at age 11, he must overcome the gender stereotyping that prevails in the small, northern-England mining town in which he lives. A tough but sympathetic ballet teacher helps him achieve enough finesse to audition at the Royal Ballet in London, but he must also overcome his father's and his brother's objections. The audition is painful to watch--it put me in mind of a similar audition in "Flashdance": the same dour panel of judges.

Jamie Bell, who plays Billy, is delighful and a very good dancer as well. His infrequently seen smile transforms his entire face.

I found this movie very difficult to understand--the audio was very uneven and the British accent/dialect indecipherable at times. I am new to DVD technlogy and did not realize that English subtitles were available. That might have been distracting but would have been a great help.