Billy Elliot @ Odeon, Ipswich STARRING: Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, Jamie Draven VERDICT: A great British film, like the Full Monty and Brassed Off before it, very funny but very moving and feel good.  While the majority of British film-makers ride on the coat tails of Guy Ritchie (Lock Stock…/Snatch director) by making trashy/crappy ultraviolent gangster films, along comes a film that restores your faith in the British film industry. The best British films of recent years are the ones that are humorous/sad/touching but always seem to be happy ending…in summary feel good movies. Billy Elliot is no exception, its excellent film that anybody will enjoy, unless you have a taste transplant.
Set in the North East in the early eighties, with the back drop of the miner's strike, its the tale of a boy, Billy (Bell, excellent in his debut film), who decides that Boxing isn't the sport for him and takes up, by chance, Ballet instead. The problem is, Billy's only 11, and his Dad is a striking miner, you know a bit of a hard-man, so in his eyes Ballet is for girls and he forbids Billy to do it. Upsettingly, Billy lost his mother, at a young age, and the whole world pisses him off, so he needs an emotional release and dancing is the only way he can express his feelings. Not only that, but Billy's teacher (Walters, great as always) spots that he has an amazing talent and if harnessed the National Ballet School may beckon.
 While being an incredibly gritty film, Billy Elliot won't fail to warm your heart. I hated any kind of tap dancing before the film and, in a way, it's turned my head, as I found myself really enjoying the dance scenes. So, if you love dancing, then you're really in for treat, add to that a cracking soundtrack of 70's glam and 80's new wave then you've got a nice air of retro styling surrounding the film. Plus a message of accepting things that may seem strange and different to you, and not being ignorant towards people's orientation and feelings, all builds towards making this THE BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR. I predict great things for this movie, in the UK and over the pond in the States.
If you liked this, you'll love: The Full Monty Brassed Off Kes
by ChrisM
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