Review of Millions (2005) by Chris W — 18 Jan 2013

In this dramedy from Danny Boyle, we get the story of young Damian Cunningham- a precocious child who, along with his older brother and recently widowed father, have moved to the suburbs to start over. During the process, Damian comes across a huge stash of cash from a gym bag that literally falls out of the sky.

Less concerned with where it came from, and more worried about how to spend it, Damian ultimately decides to try to spend it more altruistically, a task easier said than done considering he's trying to keep it a secret from his dad as well as avoid a mysterious man out to claim the money for himself.

Considering this is a kid friendly family film, it might seem odd that it's from Danny Boyle, but it actually fits into his oeuvre quite nicely, especially since it shares the theme of greed with some of his other films. Plus, the idea of someone known for making hard edged film then doing a 180 is not that new, with David Lynch being a great example.

I do like this though. Quite a bit actually. It's fun, quirky, whimsical, and very heart warming. Even odd little touches like Damian talking to saints doesn't seem to stick out, and very much feels at home.

The film has Boyle's usual flair for energy and drive, and it has some pretty neat artistic touches throughout. The music is quite nice, and I liked how it sometimes reminded me of Danny Elfman's score for Edward Scissorhands. It's also shot and edited pretty well, but that's probably to be expected.

You should give this a look. It's a family film that has kids in mind, but it's well meaning, has a great message, and is done very well, so it actually makes sense why it should be recommended.