My Movies: Billy Elliot

11-year old Billy Elliot wants to take up ballet dancing, but he has in a world where boys are expected to do things like boxing before going down the coalmines, his chances of getting into a top dance school look slim.

Set in 1984, at the height of the British Coal Miners strikes, this is a “nothing is impossible” story that has been nominated for nearly 20 awards, nominations which are well deserved.

It really feels like the film was made around the time it is set. and the acting is excellent.  I would highly recommend it.

Billy Elliot on IMDB

My Movies: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Robert Ford grew up idolising outlaw Jesse James, but the more he got to know him, the less he found they had in common with each other.

The assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford tells the tale of the last few months of the life of the notorious American outlaw.  Robert Ford, who considered Jesse James his hero, longs to be a member of his gang, but as the story goes on, he becomes less and less enamoured with him.  Combine this with an ever increasingly paranoid James, who suspects just about anyone of being a member of the Pinkertons Detective Agency, who have been hired by the Railroad companies to hunt him down.

While this is a great piece of film-making, don’t expect yee-haw type of action.  This is more of a personal tale of Jesse James rather than a chronicle of his robberies.  It is quite long at two and a half hours and not one for the easily bored.

And heres a tip.  those of you who bought the two disc edition and would like to skip the trailers, pick “Republic of Ireland” rather than United Kingdom when the list of countries comes up at the start.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford on IMDB

My Movies: Ben-Hur

Jewish businessman Judah Ben-Hur and Roman Tribune Messala were childhood friends. But when Messala returns as Commaning officer of the Roman forces in Judea, their friendship comes to an abrupt end when he asks Ben-Hur to inform on his countrymen.

One of the greatest, if not the greatest movies ever made, it has everything from gooey love stories to sea battles and an epic chariot race. While the film isn’t necessarily about Christ, it does feature events of the Bible, such as the birth of Jesus, and his crucificition, as well as references to Ponteus Pilat being appointed as Governer of Judea.

Best watched on a Sunday afternoon following the Sunday feed.

If you haven’t seen this, then you must.

Ben-Hur on IMDB

My Movies: Beaches

After child actress CC Bloom helps lost rich kid Hillary Whitney find her hotel, both girls grow as penpals and eventually meet as adults.

A Touchstone/Disney DVD that isn’t riddled with trailers, what a relief.

How this film became so popular is quite surprising considering how medeocre it is. The child at the start is a better singer than Bette Middler, and half of the songs in the film aren’t even original.

An occasional viewing choice, but you seriously have to be in the mood, or feeling nostalgic.

For anyone who is interested, there is a sequel in book form, Beaches II: I’ll Be There, which continues the story from where the film, which was adapted from the novel of the same name by Iris Rainer Dart.

Beaches on IMDB