Millions (2004)

Director:

Danny Boyle

Writer:

Frank Cottrell Boyce (written by)

Release Date:

8 April 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Family

Tagline:

Can anyone be truly good?

Plot:

Ethics, being human and the soul all come to the forefront on this masterly-written, directed and acted, fun, very rare film when a 7-year old finds a bag of Pounds with a few days to spend before the currency is switched to Euros and learns what we are really made of.

Plot Keywords:

Euro | Money | Train | Saint | Robbery

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Alex Etel	...	Damian
Lewis McGibbon	...	Anthony
James Nesbitt	...	Ronnie
Daisy Donovan	...	Dorothy
Christopher Fulford	...	The Man
Pearce Quigley	...	Community Policeman
Jane Hogarth	...	Mum
Alun Armstrong	...	St Peter
Enzo Cilenti	...	St Francis
Nasser Memarzia	...	St Joseph
Kathryn Pogson	...	St Clare
Harry Kirkham	...	St Nicholas
Cornelius Macarthy	...	Gonzaga
Kolade Agboke	...	Ambrosio
Leslie Phillips	...	Leslie Phillips

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements, language, some peril and mild sensuality. (edited for re-rating)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Sweden:7 | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-7 | Canada:PG | Malaysia:U | South Korea:All | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Ireland:12A | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (PCA #40907) | USA:PG (edited version) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

East Lancs Steam Railway, Bury, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

Pathé Pictures International

Trivia:

Instead of making cast and crew T-shirts, production donated the money to Water Aid, to build a well in Africa (like the family did in the film).

Goofs:

Continuity: When they are covering the bedroom wall with pounds at 01:17:29 on the DVD, Dorothy is wearing one of Damian's mum's dresses (disclosed as such in "Duffel and Wallpaper" in the deleted scenes of the DVD). However, the same dress is also used as a curtain for Damian's cardboard fort (shown when "the man" is examining it at 29:20 on the DVD).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Damian Cunningham: [voiceover] The French have said au revoir to the franc, the Germans have said auf wiedersehen to the mark, and the Portuguese have said... whatever to their thing.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Star Wars (1977)

Soundtrack:

Tumble & Fall

Heartwarming but not saccharine

Millions reinforces the fact that Danny Boyle cannot be pigeonholed as a director. One does not expect to see the director of acclaimed drug abuse and zombie movies come out with such wholesome entertainment. Though this is accessible for the family, do not let that mislead you into thinking the movie does not have weight. The sincerity of this film saves it from becoming too lovey, and Boyle's personal connection with Manchester certainly adds to the depth of the environment. The story is told from the children's' point of view, bright with color, and those children give extraordinary performances. The use of stop-motion and accelerated exposures is characteristic of a style Boyle enjoys, and it accents the scenes where it is employed well. I highly recommend this film, and only wish it had been released for the past holiday season.