Millions (2004)

Ethics, being human and the soul come to the fore when a 7-year old finds a bag of Pounds just days before the currency is switched to Euros and learns what we are really made of.

Director:

Danny Boyle

Writer:

Frank Cottrell Boyce

Stars:

Alex Etel, James Nesbitt, Daisy Donovan

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The UK is about to switch its currency from Pounds to Euros, giving a gang a chance to rob the poorly-secured train loaded with money on its way to incineration. But, during the robbery, one of the big bags falls literally from the sky on Damian's playhouse, a 7-year old given to talking to saints. The boy then starts seeing what the world and the people around him are made of. Ethics, being human and the soul all come to the forefront in this film.

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Plot Keywords:

watching television | police officer | 7 year old | 7 year old boy | euro | 

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Taglines:

Five saints, two boys and millions of pounds! The countdown is on.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, language, some peril and mild sensuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Damian favourite book is called "Six O'Clock Saints". Popular in the UK in the 1950s, it is surprising that any parent would give a copy to their child, as the screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce points out at 03:08 in the DVD commentary, since it contains all the gruesome stories that Damian tells in class, plus many more. Its inclusion is a sort of homage to Martin Scorsese, who, according to Boyce, has cited it in interviews as one of his favorite books growing up and that it gave him a wider understanding of the human experience than had been revealed to him as a child. Roger Ebert's 18 March 2005 review of the film, mentions that Boyce "got the inspiration for the screenplay from an interview in which Martin Scorsese said he was reading the lives of the saints."

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Goofs

Damien creates a bonfire of currency on a rail track. A train passes by and leaves the fire intact. We might expect the wind from the train to scatter the banknotes along the track.

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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.

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Crazy Credits

When the Pathe logo comes up, the shadow of the hen has a halo over its head.

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Connections

Spoofs Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

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Soundtracks

Nirvana
Written by Rojotua and Loxatus
Performed by El Bosco
Licensed courtesy of EMI Records Ltd
Published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd

User Reviews

As entertaining as movies can be.

Too few films are able to capture the innocence and wonder of childhood. This film is one that does so with relative ease. Most filmmakers are too cynical to capture the amazement by which children see life. Danny Boyle, much like Steven Spielberg in "E.T.", has done so in this film. "Millions" is not very similar to "E.T.", other than that it involves young children in extraordinary circumstances. "Millions" is much deeper and more provocative than "E.T." It covers a whole slew of topics: ethics, boyhood, loss, faith, greed. One of the main themes of the film seems to me to be the loss of a parent. This film very deftly handles the boys reaction to their mother's death. At times, the boys seem almost flippant in regard to her death, as when they use her death to gain sympathy from adults. In reality, they are either running from it, as in Anthony's case, or running to it, as in Damiens case. Neither boys are quite sure what her death means, and how to deal with it. Their reactions to the money symbolize their reactions to their loss. Anthony tries to forget it and wash it away with stuff. Damien tries to find his mother, who he sees as the greatest saint, by becoming a saint himself. Both boys are unrealistic in their goals, and both boys come to some type of terms with her death. This film deals with serious issues, but it deals with them in a very lighthearted, child-like way. Boyle has to be one of the most inventive visual directors. Many directors use frenetic pacing and quick editing to their detriment. Their films are nothing more than a long music video. Boyle uses these techniques with flair and restraint. Like Spielberg, he knows how to dazzle and delight. The boy actors in this film are very good. Or I should say Boyle uses the actors with a master touch. These are two very strong performances. Each of them is cute, but their performances are much deeper than their adorableness. This is a very good film. I hope more people watch it.

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight [United States]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 April 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Millions

Filming Locations:

East Lancashire Railway, Bury Bolton Street Station, Bolton Street, Bury, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$70,224, 13 March 2005

Gross USA:

$6,584,159

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,782,282

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pathé Pictures International, UK Film Council, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1