User reviews

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.

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.

After directing the Scottish junkies' tale "Trainspotting" and the zombie horror story "28 Days Later," the latest from Danny Boyle is a real departure. "Millions" is the story of Damian Cunningham, a pious young dreamer who walks and talks with saints. When a huge satchel of money falls out of the sky, he assumes it came from Heaven. This is a charming movie with a tender story, and whimsical visuals. (Keep your eye on the saints' halos!) There are moments of comedy, of suspense, and thought-provoking elements. One scene has St. Peter giving a theory on how the miracle of the loaves and the fishes may have really happened. Above all, "Millions" may make you think about being more charitable. Whether that was Boyle's original intention is not clear, but it's a very nice sentiment.

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.

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

"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.

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?"

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.

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.

Have you noticed the movie has scored more over meta critic audience than over general audience? I will tell you why!

The nature of miracle is portrayed in a more clear way. A instance comes to my mind. The miracle in Christian Bale's version of Exodus.

Other than that money could precisely end the problems if spent wisely. But here it's questioned . Will it..? & then it's finally burnt!

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)

MILLIONS is the type of movie that you can sort of just watch without paying too much attention and you'll have some fun here and there. The story is simple but still just original enough to keep you entertained.

The acting and directing are all fine. Danny Boyle has made some really great films, but this is not one of them. This is one of his more forgettable films that looks like it was put together fairly quickly and without too much thought. Recommend for family night.

'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.

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.

This British film has been praised a lot. It is not bad, the children actors are "sympathiques" - to use a French word without an English translation - one does not regret seeing it, but don't expect too much. It is the Brit's version of a Hollywood Christmas box-office hit. The plot is not believable - nor does it pretend to be. It however seems to pretend to inspire and offer wisdom but it does not do much of either. The symbolism is pretty direct and its ideas rarely raise above clichés. It tries to add some "action" by introducing a bad guy and some suspense - I did not really see the point of that. I did not regret spending an afternoon watching it, but the film is rather forgettable. It's a "safe" film to see with a girl on a date; you leave the theatre feeling nice and warm and fuzzy inside.

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!

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.

I am a 52 year old man with 3 kids, working in the business world. Being reminded about the importance of goodness is something I needed. I have seen the movie 4 times, my wife has seen it 7 times. I cry every time. The movie will help me to be a better person. A movie has never had a "true" impact on my life before. I found the characters, charming, warm, and realistic. I truly thank Mr Boyce, Mr Boyle, the cast and the crew for this movie. I tell all of my friends about the movie, hoping it helps them in the same way. I know this sounds "sophmoric" but so be it. It should be very rewarding to those involved in the movie to know that their message was heard and it will change the way at least one person leads his life.

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.

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.

This has got to be the best feel good movie i have ever seen. I took my little brother to this and he loved it and so did i you do not have to be a little kid to enjoy this film.

There are some times where the film is horribly frightening, but not too scary for lets say a 10 year old.

The little boy who plays Damien was absolutely magnificent. His performance was so beautiful, pure and subtle. That i had forgotten i was watching a child act.

I encourage everyone to go out and check this movie out because this is truly one of the very best films i have ever seen.

A beautiful story with heart that anyone can enjoy.

This film was a first - a film with kids under 14 that didn't make me want to strangle them.

That aside, this film was full of quirks and neat ideas - including Damian's obsession with saints and their appearance as guardian angels and advice givers - his naming of them was always good for a laugh - and is brother Anthony's stock broker mind. Sure, they were a few years ahead of their apparent age, but a suspension of disbelief - at least as far as that went - wasn't unacceptable.

The inherent problem within this film was a bucketful of clichés that started early on and kept rolling forth as quickly as the high speed trains that we felt so prominently. The dialogue was so predictable at times that I mouthed the words before they sprang forth from the characters' mouths - and don't get me started on the scene between Damian and his mother, followed by Anthony seeing the 'saint' for the first time. When she tells Damian that her miracle 'is you', after I rolled my eyes and mumbled the predictable words myself, I almost choked to death - and it wasn't on tears.

The film dragged on for quite awhile, with too many little plot offshoots, and too many little twists and turns to the story to try and provide a little suspense. And what was with that final scene??

Nope, this film didn't cut it for me, and Boyle can do better. When my friend, Jeff, remarked after it was over that he was itching to see Shallow Grave again I agreed, but for different reasons. He enjoyed this film and wanted to enjoy that one again. I just wanted to be reminded of Boyle when he was sharp and made great movies. 4.5/10