‘Millions’ is sweet, not sappy

By By Stephen Shupe (Contact)

Friday, April 29, 2005

Played by newcomer Alexander Nathan Etel, Damian is a 7-year-old British boy with freckled cheeks and big, blue puppy-dog eyes. That face — open and innocent, the spitting image of childhood whimsy — is enough to carry Danny Boyle’s enchanting new family film, “Millions,” opening today at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts Street.

Damian and his big brother, Anthony (Lewis Owen McGibbon), have just lost their mother, so the boys move into a dreamy new house with their father, Ronnie (James Nesbitt). While Anthony pretends everything’s fine, Damian retreats into a fertile fantasy world. Saints come to visit him, from St. Peter to St. Clare of Assisi, ensuring the lad his mother is in the right place.

Then, in the midst of one of these saintly visits, a suitcase stuffed with cash drops out of the sky. Damian suggests reporting the money to the police, but Anthony has his doubts. Further complicating matters is a scary-looking stranger, played by Christopher Fulford, who starts hanging around asking questions about the money as if he knew where it came from. Also, the U.K. is about to switch its currency to the Euro, which will render the loot worthless unless the boys come up with a use for it fast.

Unapologetically religious, this kid-friendly fable represents a dramatic departure for Boyle, whose previous films include the Ewan MacGregor junkie drama, “Trainspotting,” and the zombie horror flick “28 Days Later.”

Boyle’s signature is all over this film, which he imbues with characteristic touches of surrealism. The construction of Damian’s new house flies by in a series of fast-motion effects and dizzying architectural details. And the scene when Damian finds the money begins with a memorable image of the suitcase bouncing along a train track like a basketball from heaven.

In fact, much of “Millions” seems heaven-sent. Frank Cottrell Boyce’s screenplay finds the right note of Spielbergian wonder before its fantastical conclusion, which not only packs an emotional wallop but also presents a positive social message for kids. The cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle, who also shot “28 Days Later,” pops off the screen in gorgeous primary colors, while John Murphy’s lush original score lends the film the magical feeling of a bedtime story.

But the real find here is Etel as Damien, who may be the first instantly lovable screen kid since Drew Barrymore in “E.T. The Extraterrestrial.” Damien exists on such a pure level between fantasy and faith that he captures your heart. It’s a place movies should go to more often, and one that suits Boyle’s artistic virtues as a director.

— Edited by Kendall Dix

**1/2 (out of four)

Director: Danny Boyle

Rating: PG

Run time: 98 minutes

Venue: Liberty Hall

Presidents Day: more than just a federal ...

Reporters Mike Montano and Max Rothman share interesting facts about our forefathers.

/news/2011/feb/20/presidents-day-more-just-federal-holiday/

Weekly Choice

/news/2005/feb/03/jayplay_weeklychoice/

Several KU offices offer extended hours

Several campus offices will offer extended hours to accommodate new and returning ...

/news/2010/jan/06/several-ku-offices-offer-extended-hours/

Graduation Schedule

/news/2005/may/19/features_graduation_schedule/

Five sickest food moments of all time

/news/2005/jan/20/jayplay_bite_five/

Better know a major: International studies

Academic program offers University students global learning opportunities.

/news/2009/dec/09/better-know-major-international-studies/

Athletics calendar

/news/2005/apr/05/sports_general_calendar/

Weekly choice

/news/2005/feb/10/jayplay_calendar/

Report Card

/news/2005/feb/07/opinion_reportcard/

Patterson, Beshears move to wide receiver

Kansas releases spring prospectus before spring practices begin Saturday.

/news/2010/mar/25/patterson-beshears-move-wide-receiver/

Legends Wayne Simien and Darnell Valentine return

Two Hall of Fame Jayhawk basketball players will return to play at ...

/news/2011/sep/16/legends-return/

On The Record

/news/2005/mar/28/news_camps_otr/

Editorial: Enjoy winter break like a Jayhawk

Here are four things to do over winter break to represent the ...

/news/2011/dec/07/break-jayhawk/

Prices increase for sports pack

The University of Kansas Athletic Department increased the price of student tickets ...

/news/2006/aug/18/tickets/

Morning Brew: Bets and booze at the ...

What everyone needs to know about the most exciting two minutes in ...

/news/2010/apr/29/morning-brew-bets/

Kansas vs. Texas: game day notes

Essential life skills: Fix a flat bike ...

In case of emergency, read quickly.

/news/2010/sep/02/essential-life-skills-fix-flat-bike-tire/

Inramurals Calendar

/news/2005/apr/01/sorts_intramurals_scores/

Free for All

/news/2005/feb/02/opinion_freeforall/

On Campus

/news/2005/mar/03/news_campus_oncampus/

Rush, Wright added to 'Legends' lineup

Former standouts Brandon Rush and Julian Wright are the most recent additions ...

/news/2011/sep/05/rush-wright-legends/

Survival guide to basketball camping

Maggie Young gives the quick and dirty of the essentials to one ...

/news/2011/dec/01/survival-guide-basketball-camping/

Living by the Book

/news/2005/jan/19/jayplay_features/

What can you buy with 11 million ...

The University of Kansas spent $11 million on terminating two coaches and ...

/news/2011/dec/01/what-can-you-buy-11-million-dollars/

The Science of Love

Do couples or singles see better impacts in their health?

/news/2011/feb/13/doctor-love/

Ten Things You Didn't Know About... Liberty ...

History lives right in front of us.

/news/2012/apr/26/ten-things/

Mastering the art of college cooking

Tired of frozen dinners? Cooking for yourself doesn't always require natural talent ...

/news/2010/apr/08/mastering-art-college-cooking/

Burglary reported at student apartments

A student awoke early this morning to spot a thief in the ...

/news/2012/may/03/burglary-reported-student-apartments/

Nest on the Ninth: Lemoncello Bellino

Taste of the town, one meal at a time.

/news/2010/oct/21/nest-ninth-lemoncello-bellino/

Sixth Street construction nears completion

Construction crews are in the phase three of a three-phase project.

/news/2011/aug/21/sixth-street-construction-nears-completion/

Keith: Dealing with Friends of a Significant ...

Dealing with friends of a significant other can be difficult. How much ...

/news/2012/mar/26/keith-dealing-friends-significant-other/

Dancing for the kids

KU Dance Marathon raised more than $60,000 for KU Pediatrics on Saturday.

/news/2012/feb/05/dancing-kids/

Fog causes no increase in accidents in ...

Follow the tips below for safe driving when it’s foggy.

/news/2011/feb/16/fog-causes-no-increase-accidents-northeast-kansas/

Assistant job suits former Jayhawk walk-on

/news/2005/mar/14/sports_basketball_mens_ballard/

Bennett: It's time to say goodbye to ...

Potter and his quidditch-playing tendencies were fun were to read as a ...

/news/2011/oct/23/goodbye-potter/

Cocktail of the week

/news/2005/apr/14/jayplay_venue_cocktail/

Good for you, bad for you-make-up

Ever wonder about this?

/news/2011/feb/16/good-you-bad-you-make-/

Rains: KU needs return to prominence

Negative news surrounding the Kansas Athletics Department has made being a Jayhawk ...

/news/2006/aug/18/rains/

Profiling the legends: Ostertag and Pollard

A quick look at former Kansas big men Greg Ostertag and Scott ...

/news/2011/sep/12/profiling-legends-ostertag-and-pollard/

Football team benefits from familiarity

Turner Gill's new practice format allows two full teams to participate at ...

/news/2011/apr/03/football-team-benefits-familiarity/

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID