Millions

What’s the Story?

In MILLIONS, British brothers Damian and Anthony have recently lost their mother and have moved with their father to a new home to start over. Younger brother Damian (Alex Etel) has become obsessed with the lives of the saints, memorizing their stats like baseball cards, and seeing and conversing with them in visions that he (and the audience) can't tell from reality. He constructs a hermitage for himself down by the railroad tracks out of leftover moving boxes. And one day a bag full of money falls out of the sky and crashes into the hermitage. Damian is sure it's from God, and wants to use the money to help the poor. Anthony just wants to spend it as fast as he can. But there are two problems: England is converting to the euro in one week, after which the money will be worthless, and the money may have been sent by God, but it was delivered by a burglar -- who wants it back.

Is It Any Good?

Based on screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce's children's book of the same name (Millions), this is a rare movie that has equal appeal to kids and adults -- not a kid's movie that has a few arch jokes to keep the adults happy, but a genuine cross-generational gem. Children will appreciate the funny and suspenseful story, and the respect Boyle and Boyce have both for their young characters and their audience. Adults will like the literate script, which doesn't pander or condescend, and the stylish and original direction.

Newcomer Etel's luminous performance anchors the film and provides its heart and soul. For ultimately, after you cut through all the intellectual and emotional layers, the brilliant cinematography, and the humor and excitement, this is the story of a lonely, loving child trying as hard as he can to be good, to do what's right, and to connect with the world of spirit, but in a way that is never less than believably childlike and real. It's not often a movie like this comes along for the family to share, and talk about.