Millions (2004)

8/10

A family film that isn't going to cause cavities

cosmic_quest16 December 2006

'Millions' was a film that, in the wrong hands, could have turned into a saccharine dumbed-down mess that only appeals to under eights. However, thankfully, it avoided that trap and the result was an under-rated little gem about the goodness and innocence of the very young.

The film sees a bag of money fall from the sky and land on the playhouse of five-year-old Damian, a motherless child who is pure-hearted and a firm believer in God. The little boy believes the money came from God, unaware it was stolen by a gang who seize the chance to steal from money due to be incinerated in the days before the UK is due to switch currency from pounds to Euros (yes, now we all know it's a film since it will be a cold day in hell before that happens! But I digress...). While Damian has many good intentions for the money, determined to help the poor and less fortunate, his eyes are sadly opened up to the greed in the world when he sees how it changes those around him, including his father and nine-year-old brother Anthony.

Alexander Nathan Etel, who played Damian, was excellent as this wide-eyed, sweet-natured child. He carried the story and gave the film the heart it needed to be successful. He was well-supported by Lewis Owen McGibbon, as the more streetwise and business-minded Anthony, and James Nesbitt, who was in the role of the boys' loving, if rather stressed, father Ronnie.

'Millions' is a thought-provoking film about how many young children see the world so differently from their 'greedier' and less considerate elders. It touches upon a child's feelings of bereavement and grief at the loss of their innocence as well as religion without the need to preach to the audience. The script also refuses to condescend down to small children and instead it's told in a manner that would appeal to a wide audience age range.

This is definitely a film for those seeking something family-orientated and heart-warming without being cavity-inducing. It's just a shame it never received more recognition since it has a unique and enjoyable story.

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8/10

Shallow Grave through the eyes of children

robotjohnny14 September 2004

Tonight's screening of Danny Boyle's Millions at the Toronto International Film Festival was the film's world premiere. Boyle was in attendance along with the two young stars of the film, and he introduced what obviously is a project that he feels very dear about.

Two young brothers in Manchester come across a gym bag overflowing with cash, British pounds, days before the bank of England switches over to the Euro.

Damian (Alex Etel) is a young philanthropist who spends his time learning (and daydreaming) about the saints. He believes the money, which seems to have fallen from the heavens, is a gift from God and wants to use the money to help the poor, while his older brother Anthony (Lewis McGibbon) is a hot-blooded capitalist who is already thinking of exchange rates, inflation, and the cost of property. He uses the money to buy the affection of his new classmates.

There are obvious parallels to be drawn with Boyle's first film Shallow Grave, (reviewed here) which also tells the story of a group of friends who find a mysterious surplus of cash, and the morals of what to do with it.

Millions, however, is like a feel-good retelling of Shallow Grave through the eyes of children. It's sweet without being saccharine, and it's altogether enjoyable. I was incredibly refreshed to see a movie with a situation like this not make the characters look bad for wanting to keep money that isn't theirs. This isn't a film that chastises the greedy or denounces the almighty dollar; it's one that celebrates the chance to make a difference in one's own life, and the lives of others.

I particularly enjoyed the fantasy elements in which Damian seeks advice from various saints who appear to him in visions that blur the line between imagination and spiritual visitation.

Screened in the gorgeously ornate Elgin theatre, the film garnered a standing ovation, which may only have been for the benefit the two young stars of the film, but I couldn't help but get a little emotional to see the two of them, standing beside their director and surrounded by audience members, cry at the outburst of love and applause from a room full of strangers after such a tender and affectionate movie.

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8/10

St. Alex: Patron Saint of Cute Children.

Son_of_Mansfield21 April 2007

Warning: Spoilers

Alex Etel is perfectly cast as a saint obsessed young boy who has a bag of cash fall into lap. Etel gives off a very addictive air of innocence as character tries desperately to do the right thing with money. He finds it really hard to give it away as people are more interested in finding out how he got then in accepting his charity. The best quality of the movie may be how Danny Boyle lets us into the mind of Damian with the use of the saints. They are his imaginary friends, but, better than that, they are an extension of his conscience. Damian's brother, Anthony(Lewis McGibbon) does his best to get his brother to take advantage of their new found wealth. This is the kind of sweet and funny movie, geared towards younger audiences, that there should be more of.

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A tribute to a director who makes children interesting and wise and movies for everyone.

JohnDeSando29 March 2005

Cash virtually falling from the sky has been a staple of moralized tales at least from Chaucer, whose Pardoner's Tale tells of men looking for wealth only to find death. So too for John Huston's Treasure of Sierra Madre, the best of the lot for sheer power of greed backed up with uncommonly good acting by Humphrey Bogart and Walter Huston. A few years ago the Burton sisters directed Manna from Heaven using older actors such as Cloris Leachman and Shirley Jones to tell of dollars from God, elderly greed, and a nun with other ideas. More recently, money again from the sky fatally changes three ordinary men in Sam Raimi's A Simple Plan.

Along comes Millions, a delightful British entry with a new twist: Kids find the money, argue about the best way to spend it, and finally get the help of adults to dispose of it. Unlike most greedy types, who eventually suffer the consequences through lame goddess Nemesis, the two brothers are not at the larcenous stage. They simply have different philosophies: Damian wants to give it to the poor; his older brother, Anthony, prefers fiscal responsibility, which does not feature giving away the money. Along the way they learn about the responsibility that sticks inextricably to every note, which they must cash in quickly before the pound is changed into the euro.

Danny Boyle's eclectic imagination has Alex obsessed with the saints, who appear to him regularly in visions to talk candidly about the world as they see it and saw it. Memorable is Clare of Assisi, who smokes a cigarette and claims to be the patron saint of television. Saint Nicholas helps Damian deliver cash to needy Mormons, who turn around immediately and buy a foot massager and digital TV. It's refreshing to see the saints almost human in their little scenes that illuminate the realistic side of religious fanaticism. But it is that devotion that lets Damian fight the forces of greed and a forceful brother, not to mention the crooks and citizens now fully engaged in extracting the cash from the blameless kids.

Boyle's hyperactive camera ushers in some magic realism at the beginning with a house building itself in seconds and later a rocket launch to an exotic paradise. No one ever accused Boyle of being unimaginative or reverent. The ornery Millions is a tribute to a director who makes children interesting and wise and movies for everyone.

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7/10

Mixed bag

Fong_Chun_Kin24 April 2005

Before I watched the show I knew that 'Millions' has generally garnered favourable reviews from tons of critics, with a local reviewer raving about it and allocating it the full 5 stars. With great reviews come great expectations.

Disclaimer: I have yet to rid the disease of reading too many reviews of a film before watching it. Perhaps I'll carry that sickness forever, because I simply love to read about movies, every single one of them, regardless of whether I'll be watching them or not.

That said, the movie did not meet my expectations. 'Over-rated'... the initial thought. But first, the good points. Alexander Etel is perfectly cast as the highly imaginative and innocent young protagonist. Through the many 'appearances' of godly beings throughout the film, the audiences share his holy world, a world of angels and saints which he uses to replace the loss of his late mother. The boy convinces with his doe-eyed expressions and intimate heartfelt conversations with the saints who visit him every now and then.

The cinematography is unique, the settings are interesting and the way the whole movie was shot is very unusual... which could be a double-edged sword in terms of plot development. For me, this style achieves cinematic originality but compromises on the flow required for simple story-telling. There are far too many interjections and interruptions in the story... there are many moments when just as you are about to catch hold of something, the scene stops abruptly and leaves you dangling midway. This is all a little bit frustrating really, which ultimately results in a lack of emotion and inspiration in my mind as the movie reaches it ending.

The film is definitely watchable and deserves to be commended for having many special features not commonly seen in other movies. Whether these features are pulled off effectively is a matter of subjectivity; they didn't work too well for me but may leave a huge impression on you.

Rating: 7.4

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6/10

A promising film that left me wanting more from less.

huladog5523 December 2005

I'd love to say that I enjoyed "Millions" immensely, but I can't. The young leads were delightful. Alex Etel and Lewis McGibbon carry the film well. Somehow, the overbearing message of the film just beats the heck out of the viewer. At nearly every turn, the director seems to shout, "See? These are good children! Aren't they lovely? Don't you want to be like them?" The actors were very capable of conveying this message, but the script and direction takes this power away from them, and puts it into an overwritten script.

The basic premise of the materialistic versus idealistic is just fine, but the story is muddied with the "Water For Africa" storyline. While this might be a pressing need, it's inclusion draws attention away from the story, which suffers from a very weak introduction. The element of the saints in the film was hastily introduced. A pity, since this was a load-bearing element of the film. Lovely visuals, good music, and linear directing saved this movie for me.

All in all, a nice effort, but by no means a home run. I think "Millions" tried to hard to be the 'Successful Little British Film' from the outset, a la Billy Elliot, etc. Better to just have a solid story, a fine cast and a great director, and see where it leads. "Millions" had the elements, but unfortunately, seemed bogged down by the responsibility of being an 'important' film.

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10/10

Great, overlooked film

michele_inla20 September 2005

This is one of the best films I have seen in recent years. Unfortunately not too many people have seen it. Hopefully good word of mouth will gain a wider audience.

Although it stars two child actors, Millions is not a "kids" movie, but can be entertaining and meaningful for all ages. Although the Catholic religious imagery plays a significant role, I would not call this a religious film. As the characters are Catholic, their religion provides their reference point for morality.

This film has humor and mystery, and is quite touching as well. There are some striking visual images. Plus it makes you think. Basically it asks the question: "What does it mean to live a 'good' life?"

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6/10

A decent but not wonderful movie.

Pavel-85 May 2005

"Millions" is just about the last sort of film one would expect from director Danny Boyle, whose three best known films are probably "Trainspotting", "The Beach", and "28 Days Later", all of which bear little resemblance to "Millions".

The movie centers on a British family, consisting of a widower father and his two boys, the younger of which possesses an ethereal and comprehensive knowledge of all the Catholic saints. When a duffel bag filled with cash almost literally lands in the lad's lap, Damian and his brother Anthony have a problem most would love to, but never will, face: what to do with the money and whom to tell about it. That sets up the focus of the film, how people react to such monetary circumstances.

"Millions" is a decent film, in the truest sense of the word, both morally and cinematic ally. Those looking for any remnant of morality in film or life will ecstatically find it here. Rated PG, Millions is nearly appropriate enough for family viewing, with one gratuitous close-up (that should probably merit a PG-13 label) the exception. But because this movie fills the void of films that appeal to both kids and adults, it is receiving an excess of praise, primarily due to the lack of competition.

Those who have standards, particularly of the religious variety, may not enjoy it quite as much, because its theology seems inconsistent, being used as a convenient crutch rather than a plot device. The movie lays a solid religious foundation, but then lapses into often misguided clichés for much of the movie. That's disappointing for a couple reasons. Firstly, the concept of a modern young boy interacting with saints of yore pleads for further exploration it is denied. Secondly, an accurate portrayal of the collision of money, greed, and faith, could have only augmented the story, which was set up beautifully before falling short of its ultimate goal.

The music of John Murphy helps the cause, ranging from Harry Potter-esquire magical strains to the hard-Coldplay sounds of Muse to standard ominous thriller tones. This rightly reflects the composition of the movie. "Millions" merges pieces of familiar genres into a puzzle that fits together both well and unevenly, lacking in degree of difficulty. The result is a unique combination of unoriginal fragments, worthy of both praise and shrugs.

An issue I often have with this sort of film is how the children are portrayed. As is frequently the case, the kids in "Millions" come across as precocious. Despite the semi-supernatural explanation, they still seem too wise for their age, and fail to do what most all children would do upon discovering a large amount of money: tell their father. Maybe I'm incorrectly imposing my own thoughts and actions on the characters, thus negating the willing suspension of disbelief. I also realize that characters wise beyond their years are a grand cinematic tradition. But unlike Haley Joel Osment in "The Sixth Sense", the two boys seemed to be adults in shrunken bodies, rather than a kid dealing with kid problems in kid ways.

Watching "Millions" is like turning on your car's vent on a hot summer day. While initially refreshing, it soon grows stale and less enjoyable as you become inured to the mediocre temperature it establishes.

Bottom Line: Decent, but not nearly as brilliant as many would have you believe. 6 of 10.

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9/10

Heartwarming but not saccharine

jkchang17 February 2005

Millions reinforces the fact that Danny Boyle cannot be pigeonholed as a director. One does not expect to see the director of acclaimed drug abuse and zombie movies come out with such wholesome entertainment. Though this is accessible for the family, do not let that mislead you into thinking the movie does not have weight. The sincerity of this film saves it from becoming too lovey, and Boyle's personal connection with Manchester certainly adds to the depth of the environment. The story is told from the children's' point of view, bright with color, and those children give extraordinary performances. The use of stop-motion and accelerated exposures is characteristic of a style Boyle enjoys, and it accents the scenes where it is employed well. I highly recommend this film, and only wish it had been released for the past holiday season.

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7/10

pounds to euros

kairingler11 March 2010

Warning: Spoilers

thought that this was a great human feel good story. those two little boys did a remarkable job with it, the story goes like this,, a boy playing outside his house happens to get lucky when a bag is tossed out of a train,, unbeknownst to him at first it has over a quarter million pounds in it, well at first he doesn't know what to do with it, so he shows it to his older brother, then they come up with a few ideas for the money, one being to give away some of the money to the poor.. along the way the meet several characters,, "saints" , like Francis of Assisi, and so on and so forth, you see their mother is dead so they are really trying to find their mother, but as the movie goes on having all of this money leads to chaos and more problems for the boys, as they start getting people following them and pretending to be their friends,, soon they realize that having all of this money does more harm than good,, all in all i liked this movie very much,, i was surprised to find out that Danny Boyle from 28 days later had directed this one,, congratulations Danny on a job well done.

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4/10

A rather shallow grave of clichés about money

MiloMindbender24 May 2005

Warning: Spoilers

I went to this because I loved Trainspotting & there were lots of favorable reviews of it here on IMDb. Big Mistake. This movie irritated me like no other of recent memory. That is not to say that it is the worst film I've seen this past year, but rather that the devices the director used in Trainspotting to great effect (fast-paced editing, music, narration) fail to overcome the plot holes, implausibilities and mediocre acting, and hence, make it so obvious the director is toying with the audience's sentiment.

The film concerns a family (two boys & their father) whose mother passed away & moves to a neighborhood. The youngest boy, who develops elaborate fantasies of saints, builds a fortress in the field next to their house out of cardboard boxes. One day, as a train whizzes by, a bag of money lands on the fortress. He shows the money to his brother. The UK is converting to Euros & the due date is coming up fast upon them. They try to spend the money, however have a difficult time doing so.

** Spoilers**

The film is completely implausible. First of all, Damian (the young boy) never reads or watches DVDs or goes to church, so his rather fantastical fascination with saints is completely out of the blue. After the kids find the money, the older boy tells the younger never to tell his father because he believes he'll have to pay a 40% tax on it (but then he tells the younger that 40% is most of it). Now if the kid knows about estate taxes & can do basic math computations others his age can't, why doesn't he understand 40%? It's clear that it's just one more (rather weak) plot element Danny Boyle added to the film that may pass by the casual viewer, but the implausibility of which Will annoy more learned viewers. There are a dozen other such implausible developments, like the older boy's showing the stack of money to other kids & then paying them not to tell anyone, the younger one stuffing money into the mail slot of a house of Moromons, a police officer who intrudes into the houses of the neighborhood without any notice or objection by the residents, a woman who scams for a Christian Aid agency to young kids in schools (but completely forgets about that mission once she meets Damians dad), and I could go on..... Most of what happens in this movie is completely implausible and the way that Boyle slips into & out of Damian's fantasy world, only obfuscates what happens in the movie. Most annoying is the ending: a mysterious man shows up at exactly where the money was found, the kids first just thinks he's poor, but never seem to put together the (implausible) story told to them from a son of a cop about a heist & money being thrown from a train. The mysterious man pops up in very unlikely places & threatens Damian to get him the money (this time the implausibility of the film goes through the roof).

*** End Spoilers***

By about 10 minutes before the sappy ending, the entire audience had left (ok, there were only about a dozen others in the theater). I only (regrettably) stayed because it was a double feature & I really wanted to see Kung Fu Hustle (the second bill).

What is most annoying about the film is Danny Boyle's overly simplistic theme running through the film that money is evil. The film hints at the complexities of the issue (money can buy badly needed wells in developing countries, money can buy you friends, money is temporary & only useful in this world). However, the film never really engages directly with these issues, but rather only drops them into the film as plot devices. As a result, the film is intellectually dishonest. Danny Boyle may have had a good idea, but this is a poor exaction of it. Download Pink Floyd's "Money" & listen to it, you'll save $8 and 94 minutes of your life, and use that time & money on Kung Fu Hustle instead.

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9/10

Feel good film without sentimentality

cossie9325 October 2004

I saw this as part of the London Film Festival and loved it.

The story was very well told through the eyes of the two pre-teens and the usual sibling rivalry you would expect in real life was present. James Nesbitt was very good in the roll of the boys father although his 'northern' accent was a little strange, and its always nice to see Daisy Donovan in anything

Once the film ended the audience must have applauded for about 5 minutes, something I have not witnessed for some years now.

See this film, tell your friends to see it and go again with them. (There is also a Clash song used in the soundtrack which is always a good sign)

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7/10

Even if the film doesn't work on all levels, it's worth applauding.

khanbaliq211 September 2010

Warning: Spoilers

With only days to go until the UK converts to the Euro, two young brothers (Alex Etel and Lewis McGibbon) find an abandoned holdall full of 20 pound and 50 pound notes, and wonder how best to spend it. Christian publications weighed in on the film, many adding stock to its religious message.

Millions offers a gorgeous twist on a familiar narrative device: Danny Boyle, one of Britain's most versatile directors, had already employed (for darker purposes) a plot that hinged on a found bag full of money in Shallow Grave (1994). In contrast, this is a terrific family feature that manages to be profoundly moral without ever patronising either its young audience or any grown-ups looking on.

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5/10

Millions mostly misses

stevegle27 May 2005

Warning: Spoilers

(Possible Spoiler!) Something of a disappointment this one. Outwardly all the components were there for a good story but the plot gets tangled up where it didn't need to be. I got the feeling that the movie didn't know quite what it was meant to be. Kids film? Comedy? Thriller? Feel good? Fantasy? For example, the introduction of the villain was more of a sub plot than a driving force, the schoolboy who knew the story of the robbery was the tired old Harry the Explainer (but he'd taken toys to school to demonstrate it all), the love interest was more of a convenience - or were we meant to think the girl was no good and would split the family? And how does the boy get that huge camel-like construction upstairs on double-deck bus? I didn't even buy the timing of Britain's switch to the Euro. But above all I really can't be doing with a film purportedly set at Christmas that was shot in the summer. Sadly, this should have been a lot better but it had the air of a British-made film where the script and the directing just weren't tight enough. More subtly, the structure seemed to shift slightly at least once if not twice in the film leaving me more confused than entertained.

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A warm, thought provoking tale for everybody

Gordon-118 July 2007

This film is about how 2 young kids tried to get rid of 200,000 pounds that literally fell from the sky.

I thought this film would be a simple straight forward kids film like Home Alone. I was so wrong! The story was gripping, and it was told so well that I really felt for the kids. Damian, who had a morbid fascination with Saints, wanted to do good to go to heaven. I really could see his frustration and confusion when the money gave him all sorts of trouble. I really liked the fact that it had a moral side as well, as it taught kids about charity, how money blinded people etc. II never thought Dany Boyle would make such a warm and thought provoking film that could be viewed by everybody! It is a definitely welcomed departure from his usual genre.

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7/10

Feelgood factor 9 Mr. Sulu

pandabat17 June 2005

There are no big surprises in this movie. No deep secrets or brain-mashing twists. It's a straightforward tale of a kid who gets an unexpected windfall of cash, which he thinks is from God. Oh, I forgot to mention that this boy also has regular conversations with saints from throughout history. The usual money trouble ensues; the kind of trouble that comes from having too much money rather than too little. The child's brother wants to spend it all and use it to win friends and influence people whereas the child himself merely wishes to give to the poor and do good with it. There are many humorous moments and all the cast fit well in their roles and turn in good performances. There are some good shots with good use of primary colours which reflect the power and beauty of the innocence of childhood. Towards the finish it does lose the plot slightly with some character's behaviours awkwardly stepping out of sync with what had gone before, especially in the case of the father and the very last scene feels somewhat forced and a little twee and empty. I can't help but feel that they could have done something more with the 'launch sequence' (don't want to say any more in order to avoid spoiling something). Sometimes it's all nearly too sickly sweet but one can't help but feel good watching this movie. It's a light-hearted drop of fresh water in the ocean of cinema and there's nothing like a bit of freshness every once in a while.

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7/10

Sweet Littel Movie

iohefy-21 April 2005

My wife and I went to see the preview of this sweet little movie last night and we thoroughly enjoyed the plot and especially the acting of a young little actor named Alexander Etel. This is the story of a youngster who by accident comes into a fortune while playing in his cardboard train he built alongside the railroad tracks. Young Mr. Etel is charming in his role, and steals the picture. The only objection I had was the heavy Irish accent which I missed some the dialog because I was not used to hearing the accent. If you want to see a cute little movie with no real message go see this delightful movie. It is nice to see a movie that is pleasant in this day of bad movies.

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8/10

As entertaining as movies can be.

jdoan-428 December 2005

Too few films are able to capture the innocence and wonder of childhood. This film is one that does so with relative ease. Most filmmakers are too cynical to capture the amazement by which children see life. Danny Boyle, much like Steven Spielberg in "E.T.", has done so in this film. "Millions" is not very similar to "E.T.", other than that it involves young children in extraordinary circumstances. "Millions" is much deeper and more provocative than "E.T." It covers a whole slew of topics: ethics, boyhood, loss, faith, greed. One of the main themes of the film seems to me to be the loss of a parent. This film very deftly handles the boys reaction to their mother's death. At times, the boys seem almost flippant in regard to her death, as when they use her death to gain sympathy from adults. In reality, they are either running from it, as in Anthony's case, or running to it, as in Damiens case. Neither boys are quite sure what her death means, and how to deal with it. Their reactions to the money symbolize their reactions to their loss. Anthony tries to forget it and wash it away with stuff. Damien tries to find his mother, who he sees as the greatest saint, by becoming a saint himself. Both boys are unrealistic in their goals, and both boys come to some type of terms with her death. This film deals with serious issues, but it deals with them in a very lighthearted, child-like way. Boyle has to be one of the most inventive visual directors. Many directors use frenetic pacing and quick editing to their detriment. Their films are nothing more than a long music video. Boyle uses these techniques with flair and restraint. Like Spielberg, he knows how to dazzle and delight. The boy actors in this film are very good. Or I should say Boyle uses the actors with a master touch. These are two very strong performances. Each of them is cute, but their performances are much deeper than their adorableness. This is a very good film. I hope more people watch it.

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7/10

Sparkling film by Boyle

rosscinema30 May 2005

Warning: Spoilers

With "Millions" director Danny Boyle shows that he's more than comfortable in making films that are not necessarily about dark subjects and he once again proves that he's one of the more versatile directors working today. Story is set in a new housing area outside of Liverpool, England where we see 7 year old Damian (Alex Etel) who has built a cardboard fort next to the train tracks and he frequently talks to the images of various saints throughout history.

*****SPOILER ALERT***** Damian and his older brother Anthony (Lewis Owen McGibbon) have lost their mother and have moved to a new home with their father Ronnie (James Nesbitt) but things change even more when a bag of money is tossed from a train and lands on Damian's fort. In the bag is 265,000 pounds and the two brothers now must try and figure out what to do with it but they (of course) start spending it although Damian wants to give it to the poor. One day a mysterious stranger starts hanging around the neighborhood and it doesn't take long for him to figure out that young Damian has his money and proceeds to threaten him to get it back.

The premise of the story sounds simple but the truth of the matter is that there is a lot more going on in this film than what I have described and I haven't even mentioned the incredible visual style that really separates this from your basic "kid finds a bag of loot" script. In the story Damian talks to all the famous saints throughout history and asks them for advice and this part of the script gives viewers the thought that he's in need of guidance that maybe his own father can't give. The visuals that highlight this film are not just put in for style but are used to push along the story and give certain scenes a depth that they probably wouldn't normally have including the scene where their future home is constructed right before our eyes. My only quibble comes at the end where Damian meets his dead mother for one last chat which I found totally irrelevant and I don't know why filmmakers think that audiences need to view this like it gives some sort of (unnecessary) closure for the character. Aside from that one of the main strengths of this film comes from the fact that the script isn't really aimed at a younger audience (per say) but like "Whale Rider" it's an effort that has young characters in the lead and with any luck other directors and screenwriters will pick up on this because this is a splendid film.

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8/10

A feel-good movie that really does feel good

MOscarbradley16 April 2008

This magical, phantasmagorial feel-good movie really ought not to work but it does, and beautifully. It's certainly Danny Boyle's best film since "Trainspotting". Alex Etel and Lewis McGibbon are the children whose discovery of a bag of money from a, not the, great train robbery has a somewhat traumatic effect on their somewhat humdrum lives. At first it's a case of spend, spend, spend, certainly by the older boy, Anthony, or give, give, give in the case of Damian, the younger one whose sleeping and waking moments are filled with visions of the saints. Their foolhardy behaviour soon draws the attention of both the authorities and one of the villains and their problems are further exacerbated by the fact that they only have a few days to get rid of the lolly before Britain converts to the Euro.

This is a sweet movie but it isn't a cloying one. At its centre is a truly wonderful performance from Alex Etel as Damian, acting as if he believed every minute of it, (and banishing our doubts in the process). It helps, too, that the film has a very solid script by Frank Cottrell Boyce that blends fantasy and realism so seamlessly. It's funny and it's moving and the old chestnut of the dead mother paying one last visit to her children is handled without sentimentality. A credit to all concerned.

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7/10

Echoes of Earlier Films

cineaste-422 December 2005

Warning: Spoilers

A couple of scenes in "Millions" swiftly brought to mind key scenes in earlier films. I've scrolled through numerous comments posted here, but found no references to these "homages".

I presume the director and/or writer knew that audiences would be put in mind of "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" when we see the long line of "poor people" waiting patiently to ask the family in "Millions" for financial help. Did they also knowingly reference "Ponette" in creating the scene where the young boy is granted a 5-minute "visit" from his dead mother? This second "homage" is tweaked, though, in having a second person also witness the visitor from beyond the grave.

Overall, I was drawn into the movie until the last third of the film. I could go along with having the boy's imaginative world explicitly portrayed. I can endorse this approach which, I believe, reached an apex in Jackson's "Heavenly Creatures". I didn't have much of a problem with the visitations of the saints. For myself, however, I began to regain disbelief when the very homages I mention above arrived.

Interesting that this thin line between creativity and recreativity would also become the point at which my "belief" in the film was lost.

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5/10

Overrated and rather dull.

drillkiller15 October 2008

Its hard to tell what this film is trying to be or trying to achieve.

After seeing Boyle's most famous titles, I was expecting a rather deep, gritty look at how money can affect the life of a child in england, and those who surround him. Instead we are subjected to poorly acted, childish nonsense with religious undertones. I may well have shown this to a child, but the religious aspect puts me right off.

I find child actors are sometimes very hard to take seriously and in this case they aren't too bad, but after seeing 'This Is England', it seems almost animated and forced. Even the adults in this film didn't really convince me, so I began to think that maybe this was a scriptwriters problem which does take some blame off the actors/actresses. Boyle's direction is very good I'll admit, and there is some great camera work here.

Also, the darker side to this picture is not very dark, and fails to make an impression, although it may do to a younger audience.

All in all a weak film hence my rating of 5/10.

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10/10

A misunderstood picture

madha77er26 February 2005

From reading the comments, I wouldn't judge this movie by the trailer. It really doesn't reflect what the movie is about. Just the way Fox cut it.

The ideas of the Euro and Money in general are really just used as creative tools. The real plot is quite brilliant, telling a great story of a very pure heart, a young boy and his brother. These two kids did an amazing job, one of which has had no previous experience.

I was fortunate enough to attend a special screening where Mr. Boyle showed up (San Fran). Thanks! I wish more directors did this :) I found it quite entertaining, funny, light and complex. A great way to relax after a long day of flying.

I commend Danny for trying something different, on the opposite spectrum compared to 28 Days and Shallow Grave.

A great movie for 2005!

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7/10

Amusing But Shallow

jdasal8 March 2005

I saw MILLIONS at a free screening in Los Angeles. It's a cute little film with a fun premise, some enjoyable performances by its youngest cast members and an uplifting ending. That said, it was only a serviceable movie.

Danny Boyle is known to make some highly quirky, often dark yet entertaining films with endings that come out of nowhere (think: 28 Days Later, Trainspotting, Shallow Grave). Here, he goes for a softer, kinder Boyle mixed with quirk and ends up only marginally hitting the mark. Boyle's trademark over-cranked camera and twisting plot points fail to save what, in the end, is an amusing but shallowly executed story. And that's a shame.

Blame it on Boyle's inability, or unwillingness, to make a firm decision on tone and stick with it. Instead, he splits the difference to appeal to both his core fan base and the families with kids that will see the film based on the poster, and ends up with mediocrity. Albeit his mediocrity is light years beyond some of Hollywood's "best".

MILLIONS might be a poor use of theater money, but it's not a bad rental. Or a matinée when you need a spirit lifter.

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2/10

Unrealistic boring nonsense

ksutton7827 August 2005

I took two 11 year old boys to see this movie and their comment summed the movie up 'too PC'. This is the north of England yet despite heavy northern accents the actual words seem to be Queen's English and yes its nice to have no swearing but ... realistic ... NO. The kids in the school are all too nice to each other and the scenes featuring teachers just nauseating. The 'baddie' looks like a baddie and dark brooding music is introduced every time he appears and the ending to the film is a damp squid. The actual story line has potential and should have been developed into a good funny snappy family movie but there were very few laughs in the cinema - in fact 3 teenage girls walked out in the middle.

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