Millions (2004)

Alex Etel is really quite good in this daft tale of, almost literally, manna from heaven. It's the day before the UK joins the Euro (so, yes - it's a fantasy/horror story depending on your perspective) and from the sky falls a bag of used twenties. Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth. Now he ("Damian") and his pal "Anthony" (Lewis McGibbon) are honest sort of lads - though not take it to the police station sort of honest - and they decide that they can become the benefactors for some people and institutions who need a bit of help. Clearly, though - they can't distribute it all in time, so they gradually start to include their friends and family in the disposal of their largess and that's when the story starts to take on a more critical aspect. We see humanity in many of it's guises emanating when lucre is involved - and some of that behaviour isn't so charming. The writing is often quite pithily amusing - the young lad has an habit of talking to saints, to whom he attributes his windfall, and writer Frank Cottrell Boyce quite cleverly uses this innocence and generosity of spirit to create a template for a look at just how we react when money is the raison d'être - too little, too much, sharing, hoarding, stealing... This is a well delivered testament to the acting talents of the two youngsters and to a bit of amusing, though-provoking, writing that I would not say is especially memorable - but it is enjoyable.

Recently, I decided to watch the movie "Millions," available on Disney+. I was unsure if it was an original Disney production or a film from another company that Disney acquired. Nevertheless, I had seen it on the platform multiple times and decided to give it a chance. The story follows two brothers who stumble upon a large sum of money. One brother wants to invest and grow the money, while the other brother starts seeing spirits of people from Jesus' time and feels compelled to donate the money to charitable causes. As the plot unfolds, the siblings clash over how to handle the newfound wealth, leading to a series of conflicts and decisions. The movie takes a peculiar turn when saints, apostles, and other spiritual figures begin appearing to communicate with one of the brothers. However, the narrative takes a surprising twist when it's revealed that the money was not a gift from God but rather the result of a robbery. This revelation shatters the boy's faith and leaves both the characters and the audience questioning the purpose of the spiritual encounters. The film's direction becomes muddled as it struggles to reconcile the spiritual themes with the materialistic elements of the story. The protagonist, already a spiritual and kind-hearted child, is left disillusioned by the origins of the money, raising doubts about the film's underlying message and the significance of the supernatural encounters. In the end, "Millions" appears to lose its focus, leaving viewers puzzled about the overall message and the relevance of the spiritual elements in the story. The film's attempt to blend spiritual themes with materialistic concerns ultimately leads to a disjointed and unsatisfying narrative.