Bootmen (2000)

Charismatic tap dancing Sean tries to find a way out of working at the steel mill. When failure brings him home he starts his own dance group wearing hardhats. He must then find inspiration in the steel mill he once tried to escape.

Director:

Dein Perry

Writers:

Steve Worland (story), Hilary Linstead (story),

Stars:

Vaughan Sheffield, Christian Patterson, Lisa Perry

9 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vaughan Sheffield	...	Young Sean
Christian Patterson	...	Young Mitchell
Lisa Perry	...	Sean & Mitchell's Mother
Sam Worthington	...	Mitchell
Adam Garcia	...	Sean Odken
Bruce Venables	...	Williams
William Zappa	...	Walter
Catherine Ajaka	...	Walter's Tap Class
Luke Alleva	...	Walter's Tap Class
Kurt Bardrick	...	Walter's Tap Class
Danika Beckett	...	Walter's Tap Class
Angela Blake	...	Walter's Tap Class
Sam Buckley	...	Walter's Tap Class
Steve Coppin	...	Walter's Tap Class
Michael Edge	...	Walter's Tap Class

Storyline

Born charmer Sean Okden gave up tap-dancing when he started working in the steel mill, but as that's going down the hill he grabs his chance being the only candidate in his coastal Australian home town Newcastle selected for a Sidney show. Being sacked soon just for a row with the arrogant lead dancer, he returns to find his girlfriend in bed with his brother Mitchell, and decides to start his own tap-dance group wearing hardhats, which he soon gives an original edge when the steel mill inspires him to weld metal on their shoes and dance on industrial steel, so it the metallic acoustics fit well with a local rock group. Financing their local debut is so expensive, even when the mill allows them free us of its premises -opening some acrobatic perspectives- while even his father won't allow him to touch his mother's inheritance for the project, that the 'Bootmen' need to steal the cheerleaders' podium in a televised sports match to get media attention. Sean generously helps his brother ...

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Plot Keywords:

steel mill | tap dancing | tap dance | industrial zone | male nudity | 

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Taglines:

When you don't know your next step... improvise.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some violence and a scene of sexuality

Details

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 2000 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Bakancstánc

Filming Locations:

Marathon Stadium, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$13,133 (USA) (6 October 2000)

Gross:

ESP 1,183,225 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bootmen Productions (Hilary Linstead-Dein Perry), Fox Searchlight Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Huey: You wanna work with me, you stay outta my fucking business, alright?
Mitchell: Yep.
Huey: Good.
Mitchell: Well, I don't work for you no more, you arse-wipe!

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Dinner for Schmucks/Charlie St. Cloud/Get Low (2010)

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Soundtracks

"All Torn Down"
Performed by The Living End

User Reviews

The tap dance kid is footloose Down Under

Most of the negative comments about this film seem to come from its birth place, Australia. Frankly, "Bootmen" is not a horrible movie by any stretch of the imagination. The film shows some originality in the way the director Dein Perry sets the film in the steel works factory that is about to close and having Sean and his mates practice in another abandoned place that seems to be saying a lot about how industries do away with people that have given their best to make them better.

Adam Garcia, playing Sean, is one of the best things in the film. The other asset is Sam Worthington, who plays Mitch, the brother that seems to attract trouble wherever he goes. Also, Sophie Lee, as the brothers' love interest makes an effective contribution to the movie.

The dancing numbers reminded us of Stomp, the musical that has been playing here for a long time now, in that unusual ways of tap dancing are practiced on the most unconventional ways, which makes "Bootmen" more likable.

The best way to watch the film is to sit back, relax, and let it unfold, as it will win the viewer over with the inspired tap dancing.