(rated R, 104 mins) There’s nothing like a feel good movie and the British always seem to deliver. This year “Billy Elliot” replaces “Full Monty” for the underdog cheer-em-on-story of a miner’s son in Northern England forever changed when he trades in his boxing gloves for ballet slippers. Joining the class, but keeping it a secret from his widowed father, and overbearing brother, 11 year old Billy (Jamie Bell) finds himself in dance, demonstrating rare and raw talent to his instructor (Julie Walters). No sooner she recommends he join the Royal Ballet School in London, that dad finds out, thus tearing Billy emotionally between his family and his blessed talent. The dancing sequences put Riverdance to shame and drew incredible reviews from this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Watch out for Jamie Bell. He’s the new ‘it’ kid.
