Millions

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Kids & Family

What would you do if a bag full of money comes hurtling towards you? For 7 year old Damian Cunningham (played by newcomer Alex Etel), it was all too easy- give it to the needy. Danny Boyle, the director best known for violent films like Trainspotting (another personal favorite), helming a emotionally sophisticated, thickly nuanced, in what seemingly innocent movie like this can a be a little off-tangent. But of course, Mexican Alfonso Cuaron who directed a teen sex and drugs romp movie Y Tu Mama Tambien also directed the third installment of the Harry Potter itself.

The brothers and their Dad (James Nesbitt) just moved into their new home (pointedly named Serendipity) when the unexpected fortune drops onto the laps of Damian and his elder brother Anthony (Lewis McGibbon) and they were expected to spend the 265,000 GBP in one week before the United Kingdom switches over to Euro. Though the premise might sound very simple, the story is further spiced up by Damian's ability to see the saints and in the end, his dead mother. While this is the third time I have watched a movie that has similar themes finding unexpected huge sums of money (Alex de la Iglesia's La Comunidad and Pen-ek Ratanaruang's 6ixtynin9), this whimsical piece of having a good heart in the middle of a thoroughly materialistic society proves to be the film's defining character.

With clean and crisp cinematography, as well as a patient and an apt soundtrack, Millions is a very absorbing, non-preachy children's tale that would be a good film for adults alike - especially for the upcoming holiday season. Released in 2005, Millions was an official selection for the Toronto Film Festival. This lovable story was very-well paced and kept me glued to the whole film the entire time. Watch out for the "appearances" of Saints Nicholas, Francis of the Assisi, Joseph the Worker and the Ugandan Martyrs.

For executing a sweet-tempered family story without being condescending, Millions deserves 4 stars.