Millions (2004)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Must See Movie...

Fresh and Exciting

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Millions begins with the kind of colorful fantasy sequence that lent sparky life to Boyle films like Trainspotting and The Beach, and it continues with an appallingly funny segment in which 9-year-old McGibbon teaches his 7-year-old brother Etel that by mentioning their mother's recent death, they can extort all manner of gifts from guilty, uncomfortable adults. (When the moralistic Etel asks if this is "completely honest," McGibbon bitterly retorts, "Completely dead, isn't she?") But the film doesn't hit its stride until a sack of money falls from the sky onto Etel's head. After counting the loot, which comes to more than 200,000 pounds, McGibbon insists that they keep it secret, lest the government demand a cut, but he nonetheless proceeds to purchase high-tech toys, buy himself a cadre of followers at his new school, and start looking into real estate. Meanwhile, the more religious Etel clumsily attempts to share his bounty with the poor. With the mandatory changeover from pounds to euros fast approaching, the boys have to spend the money before it becomes worthless, but its previous owner is operating on the same schedule, and his ruthless efforts to retrieve the cash throw a threatening note into what's otherwise a sweet, almost-straight-faced family drama. Millions is a very special and moving film, with a superb staff. Watch it!

Damien is a strange seven year old boy. First, his mother has died. He has an older brother, Anthony, and lives with their father. They move to a new home and go to a new school. Damien sees saints and talks to them. He knows the years of their birth and death and why they died. Damien seems Christlike in some ways. When he finds a bag of British pounds before the Euro change (which never happened), he tells his brother who has other ideas on how to spend the money. For Damien, he prefer it all goes to the poor and less fortunate. When the boys learn that the money is stolen, things can get worse. In the end, the money didn't buy the happiness that we always associate it too. In fact, it caused more trouble and spent unwisely. The cast is great especially Damien and Anthony's portrayers. Damien comes across as saintly but flawed in his performance.

I'm not sure that any movie has left me in a bigger emotional mess at the end, ever. It is very hard to find a film where its driving force is good-natured, pure, simple innocence. Everything is cynical, dry or overly-clever.Millions manages to encapsulate the simple joys and pains of childhood and put it up on screen in remarkable fashion. Sure it's a little gooey, but it's a good kind of gooey. Here is a film with something of a spiritual backbone, but not in a way that is preachy or overly top-down.A gem of an idea is backed up with amazing style. Director of Photography Anthony Dod Mantle pulls all sorts of tricks out of his hat, each appropriate and enriching to the film as a whole. Alex Etel's performance is superlative; the camera goes right in his eyes and you can see palpable emotion from the child actor there.The storytelling device of introducing the Saints, Damian's "imaginary friends", is handled deftly and sweetly, not in a silly, obvious manner. The actors who portray the saints, including Enzo Cilenti and Alun Armstrong, have a down-to-earth, human manner about them that puts the audience at ease and allows us to enjoy their presence just as the character of Damian does.The film harks back to old-fashioned children's' films, with its slimy villain, morally off-center older brother, honest hardworking dad and larger-than-life backdrop. When the waterworks start to flow, the audience won't feel cheated, because the film worked hard at creating (not engineering) that emotion, and deserves it.

Danny Boyle is back yet again with something different and imaginative. Though 'Millions' centers around a 7 year old child, this isn't merely a children's film. The message is quite universal but this isn't some propaganda piece where the message is nailed to the viewers head. It is splendidly told through a wonderful story.In a nutshell, the story's about a little boy who is coping with the death of his mother and talking to saints when one day a huge duffel bag filled with money finally finds him. Now what's the boy going to do with it? He tells his brother. Now what's the brother going to do with it? After following the saints' advice, the little boy gives money to those he thinks needs them. Now what do they do with the money? Boyle is known to pay attention to all aspects of his films and thus the execution is top notch. Here too we are given some dazzling visuals (the English neighborhood looks amazing), lively cinematography, flowing soundtrack and sharp editing. The performances are first rate. The cast includes familiar actors like James Nesbitt and Daisy Donovan but the real star is young Alex Etel. This little actor beautifully underplays his part. He doesn't try to be cute (which is what you see the annoying young stars do) but rather acts the way a child should. In addition, Lewis McGibbon too is good as his older brother.'Millions' has heart and the moral of the story strongly applies to today's society. It is a fantasy mystery satire that demonstrates the greed excessive money can create hinting how the more money creates contributes to corruption. Boyle has another winner.