Sir Billi
| Sir Billi | |
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| File:SirBilli Poster.jpg
Teaser poster
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| Directed by | Sascha Hartmann |
| Produced by | Sascha Hartmann Tessa Hartmann Sean Connery |
| Written by | Tessa Hartmann |
| Based on | Sir Billi the Vet by Tessa Hartmann |
| Starring | Christopher Alexander John Amabile Sean Connery Alan Cumming Patrick Doyle Kieron Elliott Greg Hemphill Ford Kiernan Miriam Margolyes Amy Sacco |
| Music by | Patrick Doyle Shirley Bassey |
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Production
company |
Billi Productions
Glasgow Animation |
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Release dates
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Running time
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80 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £15 million |
Sir Billi is a 2012 British computer animated adventure comedy feature film. It was made by Sascha Hartmann and Tessa Hartmann, husband and wife, who currently live in Scotland.[1] Directed by Sascha Hartmann, the film stars the voices of Christopher Alexander, John Amabile, Sean Connery, Alan Cumming, Patrick Doyle and Kieron Elliott.
The film is Scotland's first CGI animated feature film.[2] It was also the final acting role for Sean Connery, who announced his retirement from the motion picture industry after working on the film.[1]
Sir Billi is an adventure about the race to save the last beaver in Scotland, led by Sir Billi; veterinarian by profession, skateboarder by passion and grandfather by love.
Contents
Plot
An old, skateboarding veterinarian Sir Billi goes above and beyond the call of responsibility fighting villainous policemen and strong lairds in a war to save an illegal fugitive—Bessie Boo the beaver.
Production and distribution
It was produced by Glasgow-based Billi Productions, founded by the Hartmanns.[3] The film was in production for several years, with a 30-minute short film version completed in 2006, but it was expanded to 80 minutes.[4] The total budget was 15 million pounds.[5]
The film premiered on 13 April 2012, at the Sonoma International Film Festival.[6][7] Worldwide distribution rights were acquired by Shoreline in October 2012.[2]
It was scheduled for a limited British release on 13 September 2013 at three cinemas, to be followed by a DVD release.[8]
The film was released in the United States under the alternate title Guardian of the Highlands,[9] which is also the name of the film's title song, sung by Dame Shirley Bassey .[10]
Critical reaction
The negative reaction to the film was widely reported in the British press.[8][11] Variety called it "woefully anaemic", criticising its "simplistic story and non-sequitur style". They pointed out a few in-jokes referencing Connery's past role as James Bond, such as title sequence featuring a Shirley Bassey song that pastiches Bond themes.[12][13]
The Scotsman called it "mirthless" and "rudimentary".[14] Slash Film criticised it as an "ignominious" end to Connery's career, even compared to his previous film, the critically reviled The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.[4] Flayrah called the CG "the ugliest that I have ever seen".[15] Journalist Lisa Summers was also harshly critical of both the CGI and the story.[16] F Bomb Movie Review felt it badly failed to connect with today's children.[17]
Despite the film's negative reception, AM FM Magazine claimed it was well received on its premiere in Sonoma.[18]
Political controversy
There were complaints from the Hartmans when the pro-Scottish Independence Scottish National Party government chose to promote the Disney-Pixar's film Brave, made in the USA, rather than the UK-made Sir Billi.[19] (The film Brave went on to receive an audience score of 76% on the website Rotten Tomatoes, Sir Billi received 0%).
Voice cast
- Sean Connery as Sir Billi
- Alan Cumming as Gordon the Goat
- Patrick Doyle as The Admiral
- Kieron Elliott as Arresting Officer
- Greg Hemphill as Mr. McTavish
- Ford Kiernan as Banjo Barry
- Miriam Margolyes as Baroness Chantal McToff
- Alex Norton as Baron McToff
- Barbara Rafferty as Barbara the Jag
- Amy Sacco as Toni Turner
- Larry Sullivan as Lady Serena
- Ruby Wax as Patti Turner
Production
Sascha Hartmann directed Sir Billi from a screenplay written by his wife Tessa, based on an original story they developed together.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Film reviews: Rush | Sir Billi | White House Down - The Scotsman
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