Billy Elliott
A movie about a young boy who falls in love with ballet? Ugh. This is not what the average guy wants to go to the movie theater and see. As I watched the opening scenes of the British film Billy Elliott, in which Billy proves hopelessly inept in the boxing ring, my opinion that Billy was nothing more than a little girly-man remained unchanged, and the odds of my enjoying the film seemed slim.
Ah, what an idiot I was. Billy Elliott is one of the best movies of 2000, a touching blend of hard-earned laughs, wrenching heartache and uplifting sentiment. At its heart is a fiery performance by newcomer Jaime Bell, who won the British Oscar equivalent of Best Actor, but was inexplicably left off the Academy's list of Best Actor nominees.
After faltering one too many times in the boxing ring, Billy wanders over to the ballet class that's held in the same gym and reluctantly participates at the behest of dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters). Before long, Billy is hooked, and what's more, he's quickly developing into an outstanding dancer.
Back at home, Billy's Dad (Gary Lewis III) and brother (Jamie Draven) are embroiled in a tense miners' strike (modeled after England's 1984 Miners' Strike). Billy's Dad is a hardened man who thinks ballet is an unmanly activity, and therefore bans Billy from dancing, which doesn't stop Mrs. Wilkinson from giving Billy private lessons on the sneak.
Eventually, Billy scores an audition at the highly regarded Royal Ballet School. How will his family react? Does he have the money to enroll in the school? Can he use ballet as a means of breaking the chains that imprison him in society's lower class?
Although you wouldn't know it from the movie's advertising, the miners' strike is a significant subplot of the film. This subplot contributes to two of the movie's more memorable scenes, an altercation between police and miners that's powerfully set to The Clash's "London Calling," and an incredibly poignant scene in which Billy's father considers crossing the picket lines for family reasons.
That said, Billy and ballet are the film's central focus. As performed by Bell, many of Billy's dance scenes are driven by anger and resentment toward those who try to hold him down. Who among us can't identify with that? It doesn't hurt that the dance scenes are shot in breathtaking fashion (see Film Frat's: 10 Most Memorable Dance Scenes list). When all is said and done, you'll have undoubtedly garnered a newfound respect for ballet.
In addition to Bell's spectacular performance, Lewis and the Oscar-nominated Walters are also excellent. Lee Hall's acclaimed screenplay takes the familiar (albeit classic) story of an underdog battling the odds and transforms it into a unique man-in-tights story set in the dregs of England. First-time director Stephen Daldry (who was also Oscar nominated) deserves considerable props for taking all these elements and making an unforgettable film.
Plain and simple, Billy Elliott should have snared a Best Picture nomination over Chocolat and Erin Brockovich. Hell, I might take it over Gladiator and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as well. Still think ballet movies are for sissies? Rent Billy Elliott and you may be surprised to find yourself changing your answer to that question.
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This movie probably won't inspire you to imbibe, although it would be pretty funny to see you get tore up and try to emulate Billy's fancy footwork.
A film about ballet that men will enjoy? You best get to a video store quick.
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