The British keep coming!

Rating: Null/10 (4 February 2001)

What a gifted lot the English are for film production. Their culture transforms life into art in the most tasteful ways and we are still feeling the effects 20 years later when 'Chariots of Fire' (1981) took home the best picture Oscar thus influencing many British filmmakers to mold their craft accordingly since then. Jamie Bell and Julie Walters shine brightly as a youthful ballet student and his teacher. Set in 1984, this film tells two stories just as emotionally. The one involving Billy Elliot's quest to be a great dancer and the other involves his father and brother's struggle with their labour jobs in the midst of a miner's strike. I felt almost every emotion possible watching this movie and director Stephen Daldry along with writer Lee Hall have made the most artistic looking film about the arts since Scott Hicks' 'Shine' in 1996. 'Billy Elliot' is again Oscar worthy material from the UK. Cheers!