Preview

Film Review: Billy Elliot

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
394 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Film Review: Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot, The Movie Review

The story takes place in a coal mining town located in Northern England , during the 12-months long strike in British coal industry, which later considered a major political victory for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the conservative party.

The main character, Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) is a 12 years old motherless boy. Youngest member of Elliot’s family, a patriarchal miner family where the father (Gary Lewis) and older brother (Jamie Draven) are both active participants of the ongoing miners’ strike.

The movie mainly follows the struggles between Billy and his macho father, where the tough coal miner father has difficulties to accept Billy’s desire to learn ballet dancing rather than the family’s loving sport, boxing! Through the whole movie, and beside the hostile situation among the family, there are some other parallel conflicts, forming the story and make it even more interesting to follow. Never-ending clashes between cops and angry miners in the background, Billy’s arguments with his homosexual-ready (!) friend (Stuart Wells) and struggles between Billy and his ballet dancing teacher, are all there to serve the same purpose. They all lead to a closer look at the complicated relations among these individuals. The movie gives you a taste of some challenges people face in order to fulfill their basic desires, dreams and rights which sometimes come in conflict with our social norms.

The casting crew has done a great job. Almost all of the members of the acting crew has managed to leave a solid performance behind, especially young actor Jamie Bell, who has delivered a fantastic performance in this movie.

When it comes to music, Billy Elliot has a lot to say! Punk music or type of early indie rock music has been blended with some serious classical music, and the result? Well, even though it is annoying sometimes, but since the whole movie is about conflicts and paradoxes, so shall be the music.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Play report on Fences

    • 1725 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Plot synopsis: This play focuses on the life of Troy Maxson during pre-civil rights movement times. Troy is really trying to break through the racial barrier at his job. He works as a garbage collector and he wants to drive the trucks instead of picking up the garbage. He works this job with his friend Bono, who he became friends with during his time in prison. Troy is married to Rose, a woman who loves him very much and almost worships him. His son, Lyon, who is always trying to get his dad to share money with him, also visits Troy. Troy also has a child with Rose, who’s name is Cory. Cory is a very skilled football player with aspirations to play in college. Gabriel is Troy’s brother who came back from World War 2 with a head injury that causes him to believe that he is the Archangel Gabriel from the bible.…

    • 1725 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Billy’s dad- He is a very hard worker farmer and is really proud of his son and how he is helping making money for the family. When he does this he starts treating Billy like a man.…

    • 1492 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Billy has the urge to then disobey his father by walking out and taking the fathers alcohol as he has had enough. Billy at this stage acts this way as he feels that he is alienated and the only way getting past this is to try to be accepted within society outside of his house. Billy is lost.…

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Conflict of gender role expectations becomes an issue between Billy and his family as Billy becomes more and more involved in ballet.…

    • 758 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    However, Billy’s transition into the world isn’t always ‘smooth running’ as he faces many barriers set out by society- especially in relations to gender roles. When Jackie says ‘lads do boxing and wrestling… not bloody ballet’ demonstrates the stereotypes held in society. Nevertheless it is Debbie that says ‘plenty of men do it [ballet]’ but Billy dismisses them as ‘poofs’. This further reflects Billy’s upbringing and the attitudes of his community. However, as…

    • 882 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mean Streets

    • 482 Words
    • 2 Pages

    What does this have to do with rock and roll? Well, as you watch the film, you realize the way that Scorsese uses music so extensively as commentary or counterpoint, or means of expression of character states of mind, or an important theme. He uses opera…

    • 482 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Word Doc

    • 335 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Billy Elliot’s interaction with the world of boxing is portrayed as chaotic. Daldry’s use of dizzying camera angles, ridiculous choreography, distracting piano playing in the background and aggressive yelling from the coach and Billy’s dad, convey Billy sense of pressure and confusion. The knock out marks his failure and the coach’s words, “You are a disgrace to this gym and to these boxing gloves” states the reality that Billy does not belong to his father’s world of boxing.…

    • 335 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    An individual's willingness to step out of their comfort zone determines the pathway and significant experiences that they face in their transition into the new world. This concept has been successfully conveyed through Daldry’s film, Billy Elliot, which explores multiple perspectives and their response to life situations as they move into the new world. Both Billy and his brother Tony are confronted with a violent and underprivileged life, with the adverse effects of the mining strike among the working class that they belong to. Tony conforms to society's expectations by taking part in the miners strike and has an overall defiant and violent attitude whereas Billy is seen as a sensitive and caring young boy who struggles to fit in the male stereotype put down. This stark comparison is presented effectively in sequence seven during Tony’s arrest where a long shot is seen of the riot police advancing on the strikers. The non-diegetic sounds of The Clash’s “London Calling” which lyrics go, “Now war is declared and battle come down” effectively captures the angst and anger felt by the miners during the strike. This scene is quickly contrasted to billy standing on a brick wall that has him in an elevated position with a low angle compared to his brother who is now lying on the floor being beat by the police, suggesting their different partaking in the strike and overall temperament. Tony’s change only comes about when he decided to accept his brothers dreams by stepping out of his comfort zone and past opinions on gender stereotypes. If Billy didn't have the courage to pursue his dream than the path that not only both the brothers but also Jackie wouldn’t have positively flourished.…

    • 1547 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Billy Elliot

    • 432 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Societies construct of masculinities is a problem Billy faces whilst moving into his new world. This is shown throughout the film in numerous scenes. In the “disgrace to gloves” scene, Jackie Elliot, Billy's father says to Billy, “your a disgrace to those gloves”, the use of dialogue shows the tradition of passing down the gloves and the expectation that he will do boxing. In the scene when Jackie first sees Billy dancing he confronts him and his use of dialogue, “boys do boxing not ballet”, shows the acceptable and expected behaviour of a male in this community. The rigid gender expectations are also shown through the dialogue when mr Braithwaite states “you look like a real wanker to me son” and when boxing coach states, “this is…

    • 432 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    i dunno

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages

    There are a series of events throughout Billy’s life from when he leaves home, as he meets a number of people. Billy feels a level of acceptance for who he is with the girl of his dreams, Catlyin a McDonald’s…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Billy Elliot 2

    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The poem is based on a strong father-son relationship which is contrasted by the film Billy Elliot. In the poem, the Boy seeks ambition through his father whom he sees as God-like and a great encouragement.…

    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Up the Movie Essay

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The actors did a very good roll making the voices for every character and they made us believe and feel what the story was about, they made us feel sad and happy at the same time.…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Billy Elliot

    • 2864 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Scene Title and Description - Sound (Diegetic and non-diegetic) Movement 1. Opening titles: The song Cosmic Dancer hand places record by T-rex is heard as boy delicately on is jumping up and down. turntable, boy is seen The responder jumping up and down immediately assumes uncontrollably and that music plays an displaying a happy important role in this and carefree boy’s life. disposition. 2. A Disgrace in the Gloves - Setting (lighting and - Camera techniques - Text - Symbols - Quotes colour) - Costuming The boy is dressed in The frame remains still The title of the film Billy bright clothes, and the as the boy’s body moves Elliot appears on the background is a bright in and out of it. This is screen as the boy’s entire yellow wall paper. These revealing a sense of body re-enters the colours give the freedom this character, frame. The responder impression that and the idea that he may can now conclude that Billy is a symbol of hope not conform in his this boy is Billy and in and light in his world. stagnant world. fact the protagonist of the film. Repetition of “I was dancing” - when the music begins, - the sign about boxing is Billy’s boxing fight begins much larger then the also. This is the contrast dancing sign. Shows of ballet piano music the focus on masculine whilst he is in a boxing figures and the male ring. He beings to move dominance within the and stuff around (“not town. (boxing for boys, again” he does not have dancing for girls) a passion for boxing. - “your a disgrace to Comparison is that the them gloves, your vast difference between father and the tradition boxing and ballet; two of this boxing hall”. completely different George Watson (boxing worlds. coach) Link to Into the World a child’s freedom and naïve child with no worries or cares about the surround world The fun and joy of a kid jumping up and down on their bed. Represents the way of which a child is placed into the world as this innocent being. this scene is…

    • 2864 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Billy Elliot

    • 1356 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The story is about an eleven years old motherless boy, Billy Elliot, from Northern England. In 1984, the government owned coal mining industry was threatened by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who had the intention to close…

    • 1356 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The main theme of Billy Elliot is mainly family issues and stereotyping. The film was set in the 1980s when stereotyping was done often. This affects Billy who wants to become a ballet dancer. Unfortunately, it was not only the public who stereotyped but Billy’s family too! After neither Billy nor his family are giving in to…

    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics