{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox film | name = Bootmen | image = Bootmen poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[Dein Perry]] | writer = [[Steve Worland]]<br />[[Hilary Linstead]]<br />Dein Perry | producer = Hilary Linstead<br />[[Antonia Barnard]] | starring = [[Adam Garcia]]<br>[[Sophie Lee]]<br>[[Sam Worthington]] | cinematography = [[Steve Mason (cinematographer)|Steve Mason]] | editing = [[Jane Moran (film editor)|Jane Moran]] | music = [[Cezary Skubiszewski]] | distributor = [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]] | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2000|10|05|Australia|2000|10|06|United States}} | runtime = 92 minutes | country = Australia<br>United States | language = English | budget = | gross = $2.7 million }} '''''Bootmen''''', known as '''''Tap Dogs''''' in Japan, is a 2000 Australian [[romantic comedy]] film directed by [[Dein Perry]]. It stars [[Adam Garcia]], [[Sophie Lee]], and [[Sam Worthington]] in his film debut.
==Plot== Sean and Mitchell are young adult brothers, having grown up in the rugged Australian steel city town of Newcastle. The father is a tough coal miner and they have no mother. Mitchell is a small-time criminal, while Sean dreams of being a professional dancer. Their father does not approve of Sean's dancing, so he hides his passion. Sean meets local hairdresser Linda at a dance class and falls in love with her. Things look promising between them, but Sean leaves to make his mark. Mitchell confesses his love for her and she thinks Sean has left, so they end up getting drunk together and having a one-night stand.
Meanwhile, Sean gets a role as a dancer in a show. The star's girlfriend flirts with him and the star gives Sean a difficult time, culminating with Sean outdancing him. They get into a shouting match. Sean punches the star and is fired.
Sean returns to Newcastle and tries to pick up where he left off with Linda, only to be told that she is pregnant with Mitchell's child. He breaks ties with both Linda and Mitchell, creates his own dance troupe and plans to show the people of Newcastle what they can do. Their father's work is closing, and the workers need money to retrain so Sean plans a benefit show.
Mitchell gets in trouble with local thugs and escapes on his motorbike. They later catch him in a warehouse and he plunges to his death. The police immediately charge the culprit. Sean, depressed over the death of his brother and that he was unforgiving, thinks about quitting until he finds a tool that Mitchell designed, solving a technical problem with the show. Realizing that his brother believes in him, Sean is determined to honor his memory. The show goes on.
They charge $10 a head and estimate 5,000 patrons will attend the event, even Sean's proud Dad who now accepts his son as a dancer and tells Sean even his mother would be happy. Sean realises his dream of being a respected dancer, reconciles with Linda and pledges to help take care of his brother's child.
==Cast== *[[Adam Garcia]] as Sean Okden *[[Sophie Lee]] as Linda *[[Sam Worthington]] as Mitchell Okden *[[Richard Carter (actor)|Richard Carter]] as Gary Okden * Andrew Kaluski as Colin * [[Christopher Horsey]] as Angus * Lee McDonald as Derrick * [[Matt Lee (dancer)|Matt Lee]] as Johnno * William Zappa as Walter * [[Susie Porter]] as Sara * [[Anthony Hayes (actor)|Anthony Hayes]] as Huey * [[Justine Clarke]] as Kim * Grant Walmsley * Andrew Doyle * Bruce Venables * [[Tony Butterfield]] * [[Craig Anderson (actor)|Craig Anderson]]
== Production == The film was funded by the [[Australian Film Finance Corporation]]. Production took place from 19 June to 18 August 1999 in [[Sydney]] and [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]]. It was shot by cinematographer [[Steve Mason (cinematographer)|Steve Mason]].
It was the debut film of Dein Perry, who was previously involved with stage shows such as ''[[Tap Dogs]]'' and ''[[Steel City (show)|Steel City]]''.
== Release == The film was distributed by [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]], and was released in Australia on 5 October 2000 and
It is also known as ''Tap Dogs'' in Japan.
==Awards and nominations==
===Awards won=== *[[Australian Cinematographers Society]] (2001): **Award of Distinction (awarded to Feature Productions Cinema – Steve Mason) *[[Australian Film Institute]] (AFI) (2000): **Best Achievement in Cinematography: Steve Mason **Best Achievement in Costume Design: Tess Schofield **Best Achievement in Production Design: Murray Picknett **Best Achievement in Sound: David Lee, Laurence Maddy, Andrew Plain, Ian McLoughlin **Best Original Music Score: Cezary Skubiszewski *[[Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards]] (FCCA) (2001): **Best Cinematography: Steve Mason **Best Editing: Jane Moran **Best Music Score: Cezary Skubiszewski (tied with Edmund Choi for [[The Dish]] (2000)).
===Award nominations=== *[[Australian Film Institute]] (AFI) (2000): **Best Achievement in Editing: Jane Moran **Best Film: Hilary Linstead **Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Sam Worthington
==DVD release== The film was released on home video on 27 February 2001 by [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]].
==Soundtrack== The ''Bootmen Soundtrack'' was released by [[RCA Victor]] in 2000 and composed by [[Cezary Skubiszewski]] and other various artists.
# Rumble – [[You Am I]] # Opening Sequence – [[Cezary Skubiszewski]] # Strange Human Beings – [[Regurgitator]] # Tease Me – [[Paul Kelly (Australian musician)|Paul Kelly]] # My Family – [[Banana Oil]] # Sign Post – [[Grinspoon]] # Love Theme – [[Cezary Skubiszewski]] # Radio Loves This – [[Deborah Conway]] # Hit Song – Custard # Giveway – [[Supaskuba]] # Better Off Dead – [[Grinspoon]] # Don't It Get You Down – [[Deadstar]] # Nothing on My Mind – [[Paul Kelly (Australian musician)|Paul Kelly]] # Nipple – [[Icecream Hands]] # Deeper Water – [[Deadstar]] # Finale Part 2 – [[Cezary Skubiszewski]] # Shiver – [[Oblivia (band)|Oblivia]] # "[[Even When I'm Sleeping]]" – [[Leonardo's Bride]] # Junk – [[You Am I]] # Tap Forge – [[Dein Perry]]
==Reception== ===Box office=== ''Bootmen'' grossed $2,720,302 at the box office in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://film.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/AA4_Aust_Box_office_report.pdf|title=''Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office''|website=Film.vic.gov.au|accessdate=9 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218045303/http://film.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/AA4_Aust_Box_office_report.pdf|archive-date=18 February 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Critical reception=== On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 39% based on 17 reviews, and an [[Weighted arithmetic mean|average rating]] of 4.90/10.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bootmen (2000)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bootmen|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=May 14, 2021}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 14 critics.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bootmen Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/bootmen|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=May 14, 2021}}</ref>
==See also== * [[Cinema of Australia]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|0210584}} *{{rottentomatoes|bootmen}} *[https://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/bootmen Bootman] at Oz Movies {{AACTAAward BestMusicScore 2000-2019}}
[[Category:2000 films]] [[Category:Australian comedy-drama films]] [[Category:2000 comedy-drama films]] [[Category:Films set in New South Wales]] [[Category:Fox Searchlight Pictures films]] [[Category:2000 directorial debut films]] [[Category:2000 English-language films]] [[Category:English-language comedy-drama films]]