Review of Billy Elliot

Introduction

Billy Elliot was last year`s hot British film, earning several Oscar nominations although ultimately not receiving the coveted Best Picture nomination.

The critically acclaimed film was directed by Stephen Daldry (who received a Best Director Oscar nomination) and stars Julie Walters (who received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nomination), Jamie Bell, Jamie Draven and Gary Lewis.

Set against the backdrop of the 1984 miner`s strike in a working class area of Durham, Northern England, the film follows Billy`s progression from schoolboy to ballet dancer after he is drawn into dance by an enthusiastic teacher. Billy’s father is very unsupportive, harbouring the view that ballet is for women and homosexuals and that boys should stick to boxing and football.

Video

Video is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, and as expected of a film made last year, is of very good quality, with no sign of any grain, dirt or compression problems.

Visually, the film is set during the miner`s strike in 1984 and looks the part with sets, décor and clothes all having an authentic look. There’s also the picket lines and rows of riot Police – all of which looks very authentic.

Audio

The soundtrack comes in Dolby Digital 5.1 but in truth there is little or no sound from the rear speakers with the soundstage focused on the front stereo pair and centre speaker.

The film does however have a good soundtrack, with some classic music. There isn`t much in the way of atmospheric effects, but the sound in no way detracts from the enjoyment of the film.

Features

Extras include the trailer, production notes, cast/crew bios and a featurette “Billy Elliot Breaking Free” which is quite interesting and contains interviews with the cast and crew, along with numerous clips of the film.

Conclusion

Billy Elliot is a very good film, which is superbly acted, very well made and fully deserving of the acclaim received.

The stark contrast between the ballet and the hard existence of a striking miner`s family gives the film its strength. Billy has to rely on the strength of his desire to dance to overcome the hostility of his father and brother, helped by his teacher who sees the talent and is desperate for him to succeed. This relationship is anchored by the strong script which has plenty of serious moments but also some humour and surprises thrown in along the way. There’s also quite a bit of strong language, which won’t be to everyone’s taste (the film got a R Rating in America because of the language).

The cast is of course superb, with Julie Walters, Jamie Bell and Gary Lewis particularly good, although it is fair to say that all of those involved play their parts well.

As far as the disc goes, the picture quality is pretty good and the sound average (although entirely appropriate for the film). The featurette is interesting, but a director’s commentary would have been nice given the success of the film.

Overall, this is an excellent film, well presented on this DVD and well worth adding to any collection.