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Jamie Bell plays the title character, son of Jackie (Gary Lewis), brother of Tony (Jamie Draven), grandson of Grandma (Jean Heywood). Jackie and Tony are coal-miners who are on strike, but continue to give Billy fifty pence a week for boxing lessons. When he accidentally goes into a ballet lesson instead, he enjoys it, much to his father's dismay. Billy has to undergo ridiculing from both his friends and family.
Touchingly beautiful, and yet selfishly self-conscious. Its wonderful story seems to be so real and so vivid, with sincere emotions. However, it knows that its touching and tries to cash in on them. It tried to be too many things (and wanted us to believe that all of them it were): drama, comedy, thriller, romance. It only completed on one of them: drama. Its drama was real and lifelike, but it seemed to try too hard for laughs (which they didn't succeed for me), and put in a "fight scene", so to speak, for thrills. A character that comes in for a couple scenes has a psuedo-romance with Billy. It would have been a lot better if they had thrown her in more, so then they could play on the romance quality of it, which isn't much.
Its story did have substance, don't get me wrong. Very multilayered. Billy's dancing, the strike, his cross-dressing friend. All of the subplots were developed just enough for you to enjoy them.
Bell gives a shockingly great breakthrough performance. Look for him to be in more starring roles. The rest of the cast were basically unknown to us Yanks, but they were all very good, as well. I especially thought Lewis was great.
The story of Billy Elliot seems far-fetched, but it is true to life. It could happen to any one of us. I think that's what makes it so good. If it was so unbelievable, it wouldn't be as captivating.
Billy Elliot is a touching and grand film, but with flaws.
Rated R for language.
Review Date: December 22, 2002