Best British movie of this year-which isn't saying much

Rating: 10/10 (13 November 2000)

The British Film Industry is in the doldrums at the moment and I for one am fed up with my local cinema filled with rip offs of "Lock, Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels". So it came as welcome relief that this film came along. Chiefly what makes this film work for me is that it is a British Film made for a British Audience - too often the British are portrayed as upper class twits or raving psychos and it's refreshing to see something different. It actually tries to be authentic and doesn't alter the dialogue or accents to suit the international market. The film isn't original, but lets face it with the exception of " Being John Malkovich" very few film are nowadays. What drives it are a clutch of fantastic performances that make you believe in the characters & want them to succeed. Complaints have been made against using the miners strike of the 1980's as a backdrop, but that's all it is, a backdrop - it's used and in my opinion very effectively, to further illustrate the struggle & sacrifices that Billy & his family must make in order that he can fulfil his dream and as for it being used as a setting too many times - when? the only other film I that I can think of is "Brassed Off" In short, a brilliant film that the British can be proud of, a rare commodity these days - let's just hope Mike Leigh is filming something....