Wonderfully Inspirational!

Rating: Null/10 (11 December 2003)

An excellent film and most inspirational. The plot, though perhaps a little simple, is wonderfully brought to life by the acting of Bell and Walters. The simplicity of the plot, does by no mean that the film itself is at all simple, for it tackles a somewhat difficult subject of being allowed to do, not just what you are good at, but also what one WANTS to do. A question begs to be asked: Is real life really like this? The answer no, but it should be!
Though of course one can say that there have been many films on this subject in the past, "Billy Elliot", I think tackles new(ish) ground because of the stereotypical gender roles being reversed. There are many films about girls wanting to be ballet dancers and boys wanting to be football stars etc, but few films with the roles being changed, "Bend it Like Beckham" being an obvious exception to this of course!
I certainly look forward seeing to Jamie Bell's future career, especially when one of his other films, "Deathwatch", being also as well acted, if not better through acting experience.
In summation, a difficult role, but one carried off to near perfection for a first time role.