Millions
Every once in a while you come across a gem among the massive pile of mediocre on-screen stories. Not since ET has there been a family movie this genuine and heartfelt. Danny Boyle, director of the heroin addition epic Trainspotting and zombie flick 28 Days Later has traded in hard violence and hallucination sequences for honest, down-to-earth characters and childlike imagination.
The fantastical world of Millions is seen through the eyes of Damian (Alex Etel), a young boy who recently lost his mother. When he relocates with his father and older brother to a new neighborhood, he escapes into a cardboard fortress where he talks to his heroes–the Catholic saints and martyrs. From Saint John to Saint Francis of Assisi, Damian converses with the heavenly hosts, asking them if they have seen his mother. When a bag of money falls from the sky, he and his brother do their best to keep it a secret, but Damien wants to emulate his role models and give the money away to the poor.
The casting for this film was flawless. Alex Etel was perfect. I don’t know that I have ever seen a family movie that promotes charity and good will, while at the same time avoiding the cheesy pitfalls that those morals are often associated with in films (e.g. Hallmark movies of the week). As a testament to how different Millions is compared to other so-called childrens films, there’s actually a “product” placement for a real-life charity (wateraid.org) that eventually weaves its way into the story.
With a Burton/Elfman-like soundtrack and an ending that falls more closely in line with the Beatitudes than the conventions of Hollywood, Millions is a wonderful family film. The characters are sincere and the story is beautiful.