The
most fascinating part of Millions came for me after the film was over. You see
I had no idea it was directed by the great chameleon of cinema Danny Boyle and
once I’d found that out, I decided to watch it again. The second time through
I have to confess I was watching it through different eyes. Boyle is without question
the most unpredictable director on either side of the pond. From his nightmare
opus on drug abuse Trainspotting, to the surreal Leonardo DiCaprio vehicle The
Beach, to my favorite of all the zillions of zombie films, 28 Days Later, it could
be argued that Boyle is a schitzocinemiac. Though divergent as his resume may
be, the one common thread is his unique vision. His preternatural ability to compose
every shot like it were the most important in the film. Perhaps no other director
has a knack for connecting scenes in order to drive a narrative with so much steam
as Boyle. His movies have a look about them that is uniquely his.
Having
said all this, and having read so many glowing reviews of Millions, I can only
agree that it is an enjoyable family film, that takes a most unique look at the
different ways that money effects people. Millions revolves around two brothers
Damian (Alex Etel) and the elder Anthony (Lewis McGibbon) who have recently lost
their mother and are soon to lose their home as their father has decided to escape
the painful memories by moving the three of them to a fancy new development in
the suburbs. Damian is the film’s heart and soul, who, since the loss of
his mother, has taken an all-consuming interest in saints. He has studied them
and imagines visitations from them (an interesting lot) from whom he hopes to
glean information about the disposition of his mother.
Damian
takes to building cardboard mansions in the fields near his new home, close enough
to a busy railway to keep things from getting to lonely. One day Damian is hanging
out in his cardboard castle, conversing with this saint and that, when a large
Nike duffel bag stuffed with British currency comes crashing down as if bestowed
by God himself. The event happens just a week before the mandatory conversion
to the Euro, thus his newfound status as a boy of wealth is a tenuous one. After
lugging it home, he shows the incredible wad to his brother who persuades Damian
to keep it all on the hush hush, so that they won’t lose it all to governmental
taxes..
The boys
lives are instantly changed as a result of their boost up the socio-economic ladder
- but they have widely divergent ideas as to what should be done with such a once-in-a-lifetime
score. As pure of heart as the baby Jesus, Damian soon becomes obsessed with giving
the money to the needy, whereas Anthony has focused his interest in real estate
investment as well as buying the friendship of several kids in their new school.
He offers them all a regular allowance under the stricture that they not breathe
a word or have the cash flow cease.
After
a time, the brothers become aware that the money was a lost parcel in a major
railway robbery (the pound notes were being shipped off to be burned in preparation
for the monetary conversion) which brings about a major re-examination on the
part of Damian. Particularly after the thief who was to pick up the duffel of
cash shows up and starts a campaign of terror and threats. All the while Damian
stays in touch with his cadre of saints who all have plenty of advise for the
young lad.
One
day a woman shows up at school who is soliciting donations to the underprivileged
in third world countries and Damian arouses suspicion after donating a healthy
wad that amounts to 1000 pounds. Thinking fast Anthony concocts a story whereby
they had stolen the money from a trio of local Mormon missionaries and for the
time they dodge the bullet. In the process, their father is called to school and
before you can say “months of deprivation” he has developed a thing
for the charity worker.
After
returning home from a Christmas pageant, the family discovers that the thief has
paid them a visit and has effectively wrecked their expensive new home. This inspires
Anthony to come clean about the bag of money and the next day the four of them
(including Dad’s new girlfriend) are out on a mission to convert as much
of the soon to be obsolete currency to Euros.
The
movie draws most of it’s strength from the young actors who play Damian and
Anthony. They don’t seem like they’re actors, but rather real life people
which lends the film an almost documentary-like authenticity. Though older children
are sure to relate to much of the film, it is still more suitable for an adult
audience and in this sense Boyle doesn’t condescend in the least. Which makes
the scene where Damian decides to burn the money in order to reclaim their lives
the way they had been, and his eventual meeting with his deceased mother, genuine
and unpretentious. The fresh faced Damian will win over audiences of all ages
and his innocent philanthropy is wonderfully metaphorical as the Christmas season
sees him cast in the role of Joseph in the school play. You can’t help but
roll your eyes on occasion, particularly when Damian has to flee the production
to escape the thieves clutches, and the real Joseph steps in as an understudy.
The
film’s biggest problem lies in the huge gulf between the style of writer
Frank Cottrell Boyce and Boyle. The story is a bit to whimsical to be a good match
for Boyle’s strengths. Still just the idea of seeing wealth through the eyes
of children is enough to earn the film a slightly reserved recommendation.
