The Popkorn Junkie

      For years now, Danny Boyle has been one of the most creative and versatile directors working. None of his films are the same, though they all bare that remarkable touch of his that separates a 'Danny Boyle picture' from every other film released. His first film of serious proportions was "Trainspotting", which became an instant cult classic and jumpstarted the career of Ewan McGregor. Next he attempted a glossier, more mainstream Hollywood picture -- "A Life Less Ordinary" -- a film that would also become a cult classic, but not fully find its audience. "The Beach" was an underrated masterpiece and an amazing literary adaptation, showcasing DiCaprio's post-"Titanic" talent and showcasing Boyle's amazing flair for cinematography. His next effort was the zombie flick to end all zombie flicks, the frightening "28 Days Later", returning Boyle to his indie roots. Now we have been given "Millions", the farthest thing from a Danny Boyle picture imaginable -- a family film. However, despite the oddity of the subject matter for Boyle, he has created an inspiring, entertaining, and emotional journey, and one of his finest works to date.

      This film centers around two brothers, Damian (Alexander Nathan Etel) and Anthony (Lewis Owen McGibbon) -- Damian is the youngest and tends to have conversations with Saints that only he can see, while Anthony is the oldest who tries to act much older and more intelligent that he probably is, though he does possess a keen intellect for finance. When their father (James Nesbitt) moves them to the suburbs following the death of their mother, they do their best to adjust. Their lives change when a large sack full of money falls into Damian's lap -- literally. The bag is filled with over two hundred thousand quid and that is more than enough to turn any motion picture upside down. Damian wants to give the money to poor people because he wants to go to heaven. Anthony wants to either invest the money or spend it -- but he does not want to give it away. Most of the film deals with the boys finding ways to unload the money, while also avoiding a mysterious stranger (Christopher Fulford) who seems to have even more interest in the money than they do. When the boys discover the money came from a bank robbery, natural moral dilemmas ensue, dilemmas which become even more complicated when their father discovers their secret.

      There are several themes in "Millions", the primary one being the separation of morals and values. Damian represents the best of both -- he is a child who wants to do good and wants to make other people happy. He never once considers keeping the money for himself -- he thinks it is from God and believes keeping it will be disobeying God's orders, thus keeping him from seeing his mother in the afterlife. Anthony is the 'yang' to his 'yin' -- he wants to keep the money and use it for his own personal gain -- he wants to either purchase a house or invest the money, in order to make more. When their father discovers their secret, his first desire is to give the money to the government. When their house is burgled, he feels bitter and angry, this prompting him to decide to keep the money and spend it all on meaningless material goods. Is he a bad man? Of course not. No one knows what they would do if confronted with the same situation, not even the most just and righteous among us. This predominant theme is partially narrated by the various Saints that Damian encounters throughout -- including Saint Peter, Saint Nicholas, and Saint Francis of Assissi -- just to name a few. Are these Saints merely apparitions to Damian, or can they cause actual trouble? We are uncertain of the answer until the nativity scene where one of the Saints is actually heard by the audience. This adds a level of fairy tale to the film.

       Beneath the action of the film is the underscore of the changing of the British Pound to the Euro, something that is mentioned on numerous occasions in the film. One wonders if Boyle might not have been using the action and the crux of the story to preach to the masses concerning his feelings of such a conversion? As for the cinematography, there is nothing too outlandish. This is very much a Danny Boyle film, but not in the way "The Beach" was a Danny Boyle film. Here we have simple camerawork, much like that in "28 Days Later" -- we have the imagination of a child brought to life in incredible ways, whether it be the opening scene in which a house is constructed on camera, or Damian's visit to Ethiopia at the end of the film. Danny Boyle seems to be very informed on what it means to be a child, and this drips off every frame of the film. I kind of felt like I was watching "Radio Flyer" with thick British accents. Remember Elijah Wood speaking with the buffalo? The Saints in this film are the buffalo. And, the final scene between Damian and Saint Mum (Jane Hogarth) is so sweet and so sad -- Boyle directs it perfectly and there was not a dry eye in the theatre when all was said and done. That scene sums up the film, and ends it on a very satisfying note.

      As for the performances, I cannot say enough about the two young actors who play Damian and Anthony. Danny Boyle seemed to have plucked them out of nowhere, but they have a natural ease about them and that makes their performances even more memorable. As Damian, Alex Etel has the most complicated role, but he delivers it with such convictions and such grace. James Nesbitt is also equally moving as their father. He kind of plays the Dad as a bumbling, good-hearted man who wants what is best for his kids, and we never doubt that, even when he decides he wants to keep the money. Daisy Donovan also delivers a wonderful supporting performance as Dorothy, a woman who assaults the school children with a trash can for charity -- only in a Danny Boyle film could something like that happen and seem plausible. So, what are you waiting for? I've given you plenty of good reasons to run out and catch "Millions" -- you can find it somewhere. And, if you are feeling hesitant because Danny Boyle is behind the helms, don't be -- he is growing as a director with each new film and "Millions" is something entirely different...and special. If the conversion rate in the United States was 50 - 1, I would have paid 'millions' to see this film again.

-- Billy Ray ( 3 1/2 out of 4 pops )

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