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 | australian | family relationships | camaraderie | violence | 

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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 USA:

$13,133, 8 October 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$21,172, 15 October 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in Newcastle. New South Wales, Australia

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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

Nothing On My Mind
Written and performed by Paul Kelly

User Reviews

A film built around the final scene.

'Bootmen' is a cross between 'The Full Monty' and 'Billy Elliot' but the comparisons have to stop there, as this film contains neither the depth nor the humor of the other two. It is one of the few Australian Films I have seen that, either purposefully or not, looks more like a Hollywood flick, and perhaps coincidentally it ranks lower than most Aussie films on my list. The characters are developed haphazardly, and the tone of the movie follows a similar chaotic path, with excellent dancing not quite making up for a weak script and a feeble, unoriginal plot. Although at parts moving or amusing (or occasionally both at once) the film as a whole lacks focus, and it could be seen as a way to bring the Directors talent as a choreographer into the limelight. Impressive dancing, but otherwise nothing special, and towards the end it appears to lose touch with reality.