Billy's Holiday

It IS true: the voice heard on screen IS that of Max Cullen. The whole point to making this film is genuinely, that the producers found out that middle aged Australian koala Max Cullen could actually sing exactly like Billie Holiday. Therein lies the problem. How do you prove this? because, as other overseas comments on this site ask, is it really him singing; well it is....but so what? it it might just as well not be; it might just as well actually be Billie Holiday recordings all mimed. But it isn't. As a result there is now this curious movie that lacks the wow factor of seeing Max sing live in Billie's voice. It just doesn't make sense to make a film where the really really special thing about an actor's singing performance is not able to be convincing to a movie audience. BILLY'S HOLIDAY came out after Strictly Ballroom and Priscilla and Muriel's Wedding so I guess one musical too many and hence a flop. It really did not do any business...then LITTLE VOICE came along and managed to successfully do the same thing for Jane Horrocks, who like Max can sing in the identical voice to a famous diva like Garland and Dietrich, but in that film, was completely convincing. The BILLY musical numbers really harked back to STARSTRUCK from 1982 which was a big musical film hit. Sadly BILLY didn't advance the medium or the style and died the death of Billie herself at the box office.

I watched it on TV out of curiosity. How (and why?) could anybody make a movie about a white, paunchy, middle-aged, heterosexual, father named Billy in Australia who suddenly gains the ability to sing in the same high pitched voice and style as Billie Holiday from old Harlem, USA on the other side of the earth? Truly antipodal! The movie contains several entertaining musical numbers in swing style with dancing. The female characters seem more masculine than the men and the story seems to be about Billy becoming a better, happier person by accessing his "feminine side". I'm still not sure whose voice was used for the singing. I'm guessing it was, in fact, the lead actor's, Max Cullen which would be astonishing.

This movie is an Australian musical, and as far as I know, Its meant to be played in cinemas. Although it never rises above a "Hallmark Channel" quality at no point.

The story goes like this: Our hero, Billy is an ordinary guy between 50 and 60. He works at a shop (or wherever he works), and has a daughter. He's divorced, and her daughter hates her, for being a major embarrassment. But billy has a secret talent. He can imitate the voice of Billie Holiday (well, not exactly, but some old woman voice)! On the top of that, he sings quite well, so when people find out his ability, there's no stop till Broadway!

Yes, it is a stupid plot. What else could make a movie good? Breathtaking visuals. Nope, you wont find any here. The music parts look like they're from a music-video from the 80's. What else? Grabbing acts. Well, you might not share my opinion, but I find Max Cullen the most annoying actor, I've ever seen on screen. Imagine this guy. This old and chubby guy. He looks a bit like and old lady too (maybe just because those really big eyes of his)! And he's acting through the whole movie with that "oh, I'm just a miserable little old dick, please shoot me in the head, for I don't have the balls doing it myself!" look of his face. When happy, he looks like a Pedophile on a playground. Really a guy, you just want to ignore. And THEN, he starts singing in a female tone. In the end, the film is painfully kitchy, and it's totally tasteless. One of the most forgettable musicals I ever seen.

... unfortunately, there is little else for which to make this film a truly worthwhile expenditure of 92 minutes of your life, let alone a worthwhile cinematic experience. I suppose that Max Cullen's talent for jazz diva vocal mimicry is somewhat noteworthy. After all, it was by most accounts the reason this film was even made. However, when you throw in a rather haphazardly scripted story about an incredibly improbable scenario, all the vocal mimic heroics, big band swing numbers, and slick choreography can't transform the sideshow into the musical that it endeavors to be. I give this movie 2 stars, one for the excellent swing music that prevails throughout the motion picture and one for Max Cullen's freaky vocals.

This musical is lots of fun. The plot line is just sufficient to sustain the increasingly entertaining musical numbers. I doubt that any US troupe would ever do "Is you is or is you ain't my baby?"; think of the politically correct howling.

This movie has the potential to be a cult classic, similar to "Rocky Horror Picture Show."

Enjoy it; don't think about it.