The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 13, 2000, Page 9, Image 9
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‘Billy Elliot’ dances into hearts
by Chris Wright
The Gamecock
ft ft ft ft OUT OF
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Unlike a good deal of modem day
films filled with special effects, pro
filed actors and altogether overdone
Hollywood productions, Universal Pic
tures’ “Billy Elliot,” directed by
Stephen Daldry, promises to be some
thing different from a young protago
nist’s energetic entry to the silver
screen.
It’s unfortunate, but so many films
today try to compensate for a weak
plot by glossing over this ‘minor der
tail’ with computer animation and some
A-list actors, in hopes the viewing au
dience will somehow overlook such a
glaring flaw.
“Billy Elliot” doesn’t take this
route. It’s a touching story of a
young boy’s search for self-identity.
While at a boxing lesson, Billy be
gins watching a ballet class going on
in thd same club. After a bit of hesi
tation, he decides to try ballet.
Showing natural potential that can’t
be taught, young Billy decides to pur
sue his newfound talent. Billy’s wid
owed and sometimes abusive father
and equally repressed brother are
less than supportive of Billy’s “sissy
behavior.”
With a cross-dressing, gay best
friend, Billy’s father and brother are
very critical about Billy’s seemingly
feminine tendencies. Billy retorts, “It’s
not just for poofs, y’know.”
Set in the early 1980s in a small
coal-mining town in northern England,
young Billy soon finds that one’s
dreams are not always easy to obtain.
Faced with the struggles of a coal
miner strike, Billy and his family must
endure the hardships of poverty; the
addition of Billy’s new interest in bal
let adds even more strain.
Billy is faced with the decision of
either obeying the blunt and uncar
ing demands of his father and brother
to look after his senile grandmother
and stop the “sissy ballet,” or follow
ing his dreams.
A moving story of difficult self
discovery in a very close-minded town,
“Billy Elliot” is directed with a sim
ple yet truthful style that many direc
tors today have lost sight of.
The performances of Jamie Bell as
Billy and Julie Waters as his balle,t
instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson, are very
convincing and portray the story well.
The fact that fairly unknown ac
tors were used in this film adds to its
believability. Gary Lewis (Billy s fa
ther), Stuart Wells (Michael), Adam
Cooper (the 25-year-old Billy) and
Jamie Draven (Tony) are also actors
whose talents haven’t reached Hol
lywood “big name” recognition — at
least not yet.
However, by not having the bag
gage normally associated with big name
actors, the audience is free to view the
movie with an open mind and think
about it without having the problem
of going, “Oh, I remember him/her
from that other movie.”
As quoted from Universal’s Web
site (www.billyelliot.com), “Inside
everyone of us is a special talent wait
ing to come out. The trick is finding
it.”
I couldn’t agree more.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotlight@hotmail.com.
Giles Keyte Special to The Gamecock
Billy Elliot searches for self identity as a male ballet dancer.
Whalum wails with a new jazz sound
by Andrew
Higginbotham
The Gamecock
The Kirk Whalum CD, “Uncondi
tional,” is a fresh new take on modem
jazz. His saxophone styling is phenome
nal, and that’s not just lip service.
Every song is filled with complexity
I
and precision of performance, something
missed by many performers in this genre.
The CD itself is an eclectic mix of tra
dition and modem pop. This is especial
ly true of original compositions like
“Groverworked & Underpaid,” which
got this jaded music listener’s toe tapping
as Whalum mixes jazz sax with a scat-like
dance beat. In other words, this one is a
great fusion of old and new. And for those
of you newbies who don’t listen to the
blues classics, Whalum has also record
ed his versions of some pop tunes, like
“God Must Have Spent A Little More
Time On You” of *NSYNC fame. As a
whole, this is a definite buy.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspottight@hotmail.com.
Tsar disappoints listeners
by Erin O’Neal
The Gamecock
-&■& OUT OF ☆ ☆ ☆
To add another band to an already
overcrowded pink ‘n’ frilly power-pop
music scene is a crying shame.
Color me surprised. Okay, so Tsar’s
members have obviously gotten in touch
with their feminine sides, evident by their
orange leather pants and lipstick, but what
do they have to offer listeners other than
their flashy, teenie-bopper fashion sense?
Answer—a 10-track, self-titled romp
through the world of optimistic, pre-pu
bescent fluff, complete with annoyingly
catchy lyrics and upbeat melodies.
Tsar has managed to incorporate the
profitable characteristics of Smashing
Pumpkins, Goo-Goo Dolls and Britney
Spears in one foul swoop, resulting in the
ultimate mainstream, radio-friendly al- '
bum.
Without making it pathetically ob
vious, this California quartet has drawn
from all these bands while somehow
maintaining a sound that’s virtually im
possible to nail down.
Nevertheless, those with weak stom
achs, beware. There’s enough pandering
to pre-teen pop tastes in this record to
make even N’Sync gag.
Well, maybe.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotfight@hotma0.com.
-1 ■ ■ " ' I
Movie Times
Carmike Wynnsong 10
5320 Forest Drive, 782-8100 *
The Contender (PG-13) 1:30,
4:15,7:00, 9:45
Dr. T & the Women (R) 1:30,7:00
The Exorcist (R) 1:15,4:15,7:00,
9:45
Get Carter (R) 4:30, 9:45
Ladies Man (R) 2:00, 4:30, 7:00,
9:15, 11:30
Legend of Drunken (R) 2:00,4:30,
7:15,9:30, 11:45
Lost Souls (R) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00,
9:30, 11:45
Pay it Forward (PG) 2:00, 4:30,
7:00,9:15, 11:30
Red Planet (PG-13) 1:30, 4:00,
7:30,9:45, 11:45
What Lies Beneath (PG-13) 1:30,
7:30,10:15
Columbiana Grande Stadium
Cinemas
1250 Bower Parkway, 407-9898
Almost Famous (R) 2:05, 4:50,
7:20,10:00
Bedazzled (PG-13) 1:05,3:30,
5:40, 7:55, 10:15
Best in Show (PG-13) 1:00,3:10,
5-20 7-15 9-20
Billy Elliot (R) 1:55, 5:00, 7:15,
9:20,9:25,11:45,
Book of Shadows (R) 2:00, 4:30,
7:35,9:30, 11:45
Bring It On (PG-13) 1:05, 3:20,
5:30, 7:45,9:55
The Exorcist (R) 1:00,3:45,6:30,
9:10,11:50
Legend of Bagger Vance (PG
13) 1:15,4:00, 6:50,7:30, 9:25,
10:15,
Little Nicky (PG-13) 1:00, 2:10,
3:15,4:45,5:25,7:10
7:40,9:20
Lucky Numbers (R) 1:20, 4:35,
7*00 9*35
Men of Honor (R) 1:10,3:50,7:05,
9:45
Pay it Forward (PG-13) 1:25,4:10,
6:55, 9:40
Dutch Square 14
800 Bush River Road, 750-3576
Bedazzled (PG-13) 1:50, 4:40,
7:50, 10:10
Blair Witch Project 2 (R) 1:00,
3:00, 5:00, 7:40, 10:00
Charlie’s Angels (PG-13) 1:00,
2:00,3:10, 4:10,5:20,
7:05, 9:20, 10:00
Little Nicky (PG-13) 1:00, 2:50,
3:30,4:50, 5:30
7:20,8:00, 9:20, 10:10
Little Vampire (PG) 1:10, 3:50,
6:00
Legend of Bagger Vance (PG
13) 1:10, 4:10,7:10, 10:00
Lost Souls (R) 8:00, 10:10
Meet the Parents (PG-13) 1:50,
4:30, 7:30, 9:50
Men of Honor (R) 1:30,4:20,7:00,
9:40
Pay it Forward (PG-13) 1:15,4:00,
7:15,9:50
Red Planet (PG-13) 1:40,2:10,
4:20,5:00, 7:10,9:30,10:10
Remember the Titans (PG) 1:40,
4:00, 7:00, 9:30
Regal Cinema 7 •
Richland Mall Rooftop, 748-9044
Book of Shadows (R) 8:00,10:10
Charlie’s Angels (PG-13) 12:15,
2:30, 4:40, 7:20, 10:00
Legend of Bagger Vance (PG
13) 1:00, 4:20,7:10,9:55
Little Nicky (PG-13) 12:30,2:40,
4:45, 7:30, 9:45
Little Vampire (PG) 1:55, 4:00,
6:05
Meet the Parents (PG-13) 1:45,
4:10,7:05,9:40
Men of Honor (R) 12:45, 4:00,
7:00, 9:50
Remember the Titans (G) 1:15,
4:05,7:15,9:35
Nickelodeon
Main at Pendleton, 254-3433
Native American Film Festival
I
VOTE online on vvp.sc.edu
November 13-17
www.sa.sc.edu/searchfor6
Celebrate the University of South Carolina Bicentennial
Sixty-four individuals have been nominated.
Students, you vote on one in each category.
It is your decision to select the ones who most
embody the Carolinian Creed. The six categories are:
• Alumni
• Art & Entertainment, Pop Culture, & Sports
• Business & Industry, Science, Technology, & Medicine
• Education, Literature, & Media
• Politics, Law, World Figures, & Government
• Religion
use BICENTENNIAL
WRHA MOVIE
TIMES
Monday, Nov. 13
2 p.m,: “The Crow”
5 p.m.: “American Psycho”
8 p.m.: “Rules Of Engage
ment”
11 p.m.: “The Waterboy”
2 a.m.: “The Crow”
Tuesday, Nov. 14
2 p.m.: “High Fidelity”
5 p.m.: “Arlington Road”
8 p.m.: “Pitch Black”
11 p.m.: “U-571”
2 a.m.: “High Fidelity”
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