Billy ElliotBy Amanda Suniti Niskodé Lantern arts writer
Can a tale about an 11-year-old boy falling in love with ballet be a compelling, delightful film? On the surface, some might not think so. However, there are many other issues developed in “Billy Elliot,” such as family relationships, adolescent curiosities and sacrifice. Set in the late 1980s, Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) is a typical pre-teen growing up in Northern England with his coal-mining family. Although he goes to the community boys’ club to learn boxing, Elliot also discovers the world of ballet by observing a class one day. Already in love with dancing, Elliot begins to take classes against his father’s (Gary Lewis) and brother’s (Jamie Draven) wishes. To make the situation more complicated, the coal miners are striking, draining finances – and emotions – for the Elliot’s family. Meanwhile, Elliot’s relatives struggle to deal with the loss of his mother and the boy encounters his first experience with lust.There is an interesting scene which flips back and forth between shots of his dance class and one of the strikers yelling at the scabs – those who cross the picket line. This scene matches the power and strength of the strikers with the athleticism, skill, and concentration that Elliot possesses. It depicts the parallels between their two worlds which are constantly clashing heads.”Billy Elliot” tackles many questions, going beyond the world of ballet. What makes the film special is the sincerity of the characters along with their humor and wit. The acting is good, especially by the sarcastic but devoted dance teacher (Julie Walters) and the charming but often absent-minded grandmother whose favorite phrase is “I could have been a professional dancer.”Elliiot’s dance scenes make the audience feel good, being able to watch a child love something so much. Elliot cannot stop dancing; his feet always seem to be tapping because of all of the energy he needs to release.Although this movie is rated “R,” the only thing that seems to be offensive is the never-ending trail of expletives said so casually by the characters. The heavy British accent is another thing to watch out for. If you are not familiar with it, there are a few words here and there you will probably miss. Not to worry – this only minimally detracts from the “Billy Elliot” story.According to Elliot’s father, ballet is “for girls, not for lads.” The movie however, shows time and again why it could be for both sexes. All of the characters are quite dynamic, learning a great deal about themselves and each other.If you liked “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Elizabeth,” or “Notting Hill,” you will probably enjoy “Billy Elliot.” It has a similar quiet, captivating quality, but also includes climatic scenes that make your heart race. “Billy Elliot” makes the audience laugh out loud and shed tears simultaneously. Although this will not be the blockbuster hit of the season, perhaps a few Oscar nominations are in order.
Charlie’s AngelsBy Melissa HoppertLantern wire editor
The phenomenon surrounding Charlie’s Angels may have been the birth of the woman’s empowerment movement within popular culture, according to Leonard Goldberg, the executive producer of the hit TV series.It’s a shame, however, that his name was associated with the latest attempt to turn a TV show into a full-length feature film.The 2000 version of Charlie’s Angels is not empowering. In fact, it is degrading. Scantily-clad action heroes with moves ripped off from “The Matrix” is far from the advancement of women’s rights.Yes, they do fight crime. But so did Batman, and you didn’t see Adam West running around with his body parts hanging out. Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu star as the trio of private investigators who set out on a mission to track down a kidnapped computer ace whose top-secret voice identification software could destroy individual privacy if ended up in the wrong hands.Bill Murray, who clearly wasn’t thinking with his head when he agreed to do this movie, plays Bosley, the girls’ only link to their invisible sugar-daddy boss Charlie.Brief appearances by familiar pop-culture icons Tom Green, LL Cool J, Matt LeBlanc, and Crispin Glover (George McFly in “Back to the Future”) add to the satirical flavor of the movie. It sometimes feels more like “The Naked Gun” than an intense action movie.The film’s fast-paced action sequences and unrealistic special effects make “Charlie’s Angels” seem even more far-fetched. It might have worked for “The Matrix,” but in this movie? Come on. It wasn’t surprising to learn that this was the director’s first feature filmmaking attempt. McG (yes, that is really his name) has enjoyed success as a music video and commerical director. Maybe someone should tell him not to quit his day job. The excessively quick and choppy editing give “Charlie’s Angels” a music video-like feel.Diaz’s performance as Natalie might be the only thing that can save this movie from ultimate doom at the box office. Complete with the cute, ditzy charm that captivated audiences in “There’s Something About Mary,” Diaz emerges as the true leader of the Angels.But the negatives far outweigh the positives. The women, who are supposed to be great heroines, are portrayed as dim-witted sex objects. “Charlie’s Angels” perpetuates negative stereotypes while pretending to be a celebration of women’s liberation.Don’t be sad if you waste your hard-earned dollars on this movie – just be glad that it is only an hour and a half.
The Legend of Bagger VanceBy Brooke Adair AbernethySpecial to the Lantern
A game of golf turns into a provocative tale of finding your true self in times of adversity in “The Legend of Bagger Vance.” Based on the novel by Steven Pressfield and adapted for the screen by Jeremy Leven, actor-turned-director Robert Redford brings to life this riveting story. Redford, who directed such hits as “Ordinary People”, “A River Runs Through It” and most recently, “The Horse Whisperer,” doesn’t stray from his typical film formula. “The Legend of Bagger Vance” encompasses many of the same characteristics of his earlier work such as family values and life lessons.The film appropriately begins on the golf course as the old Hardy Greaves (Jack Lemmon) takes us back in time to relay the events he lived through as a child. Acting as narrator throughout the remainder of the film, his character reverts back to a small boy portrayed by the charming newcomer L. Michael Moncrief. In his acting debut, Moncrief emits such amazing raw talent, he virtually steals the show from his more seasoned colleagues. Young Hardy is fascinated with Rannulph Junuh, the golden boy of Savannah, Georgia. Junuh (Matt Damon) is a teenager in the prime of his life and the greatest golfing sensation to grace the South. Destined to become the next big thing in the golf world, Junuh becomes sidetracked as he accepts his patriotic duty and heads into World War I. When Junuh left for the war, he also left behind his love, Adele Invergordon (Charlize Theron). The first 30 minutes of the film are choppy as the movie tries to incorporate everything from the roaring ’20s to the fear and desperation of the Great Depression. Mixed in are all the events that lead up to the creation of the Krewe Island Golf Resort, Adele’s father’s dream. The golf course is built before the Depression strikes and a decade later Adele is left to run it after her father’s untimely death. Desperate to hold onto her father’s dream and memory, she stages an exhibition between the two greatest golfers in the world, Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, to be held at Krewe. The people of Savannah demand to have one of their own golfers compete in the exhibition as part of the deal. Re-enter the disillusioned Junuh. Hardy finds his hero and begs him to participate in the exhibition. After years removed from society and lost in his own personal agony, Junuh fears he has lost any talent he once had and refuses. Inadvertently, Hardy opened up a place in Junuh’s heart that had been closed for a long time. Picking up a golf club, J
unuh realizes he has lost his swing. Fortunately for him, Bagger Vance chooses that exact moment to make his appearance. Will Smith, abandoning his typical role of action hero as seen in “Men in Black” or “Independence Day,” plays Bagger Vance, who takes on the role of Junuh’s caddy and mentor.As Junuh plays, he comes to terms with who he once was and who he is becoming as he finds his “true authentic swing.” The film shows one man’s struggle to come to terms with a difficult past and finds a way to embrace the future. Matt Damon, Will Smith, Charlize Theron, and little L. Michael Moncrief give brilliant performances. The film is amazing and leaves room for a little bit of hope that we all could find a Bagger Vance to help lead us through this tumultuous road called life.