Millions

Cast: Alex Etel, Lewis McGibbon, James Nesbitt, Daisy Donovan, Christopher Fulford
Director: Danny Boyle
Screenplay: Frank Cottrell Boyce
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Rated: PG mature themes, low level coarse language, mild sexual reference
Running Time: 97 Minutes

Can Anyone Be Truly Good?

Synopsis:
Danny Boyle ('28 Days Later', 'Trainspotting') once again reinvents the cinematic experience with a heart-warming story of two little boys, faith, miracles... and lots of money. Starting anew after the death of their mother, 9-year-old Anthony is ever practical, while his 7-year-old brother Damian uses imagination, fantasy, and faith to make sense of his confusing world. When a suitcase full of money falls out of the sky at Damian's feet, it sets the boys on the adventure of a lifetime that leads them to realize that true wealth has nothing to do with money.

My Verdict:
Damian Cunningham (Alex Etel) is a seven-year-old dreamer. Along with his older brother, Anthony (Lewis McGibbon), and his father, Ronnie (James Nesbitt), they move into a new house after the death of their mother. Damian is also very knowledgable, especially regarding saints and often sees them and converses with them. Damian builds a fort/cubby house out of cardboard boxes alongside the nearby railway tracks and it is here one day that a bag of money literally falls out of the sky and into Damian's cubby. Now Damian believes in miracles and so thinks the money was sent to him to do with as he please, but with one week to go before the euro becomes the official monetary unit in England, the pounds in the bag will need to be used or exchanged, and quickly. Damian takes the bag home, shows Anthony and then this is where the fun really begins. Damian and Anthony devise many plans to spend the money, most of which result in disaster.

Imagine if you had a million dollars but had to spend it in a week without being detected. Harder than it first seems, Damian decides on a totally altruistic approach and wants to share his surprise wealth, not knowing that the money is really part of an elaborate robbery and he is being pursued by a shady crim in search of the bag, 'The Man' (Christopher Fulford). Meanwhile, Ronnie is developing a relationship with a charity worker from the boys school, Dorothy (Daisy Donovan) and is oblivious to Damian's plight.

Alex Etel is such a find and such a joy to watch as the young impressionable Damian. He has the right balance of naivety and wisdom and his interactions with the various saints are simply divine! Damian calls on the saints to help him deal with life and their answers are often so wickedly astute that one could almost sit in the cinema taking notes. Of course, Damian is the only person who can see the saints and so is often sprung for talking to thin air.

Lewis McGibbon carries off the older brother perfectly - it is sometimes hard to believe that these two boys aren't really brothers in real life. James Nesbitt is perfect as the boys now single father, struggling to deal with the loss of his wife and their mother but manages to soldier on.

'Millions' is a movie about wishes and how to be careful what you wish for, especially when money is involved. Damian tries desperately to help those he feels would benefit from a windfall, often with hilarious results.

Every now and then, along comes a movie that is just so warm and fuzzy it is totally adorable and 'Millions' is one of those rich gems.

Rating : ****

Christina Bruce