Millions 2005

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Millions ★★★ 2005 (PG)

Boyle shows he can do sweet family entertainment with the same ease he does violent and creepy (a la “Trainspotting” and “28 Days Later”). Set just before Christmas, practical 9-year-old Anthony (McGibbon) and his dreamer 7-year-old brother Damian (Etel) have just moved with their recently widowed father Ronnie (Nesbitt) into a new neighborhood outside Liverpool. Damian is hanging out near the rail line when a bag filled with (stolen) English pound notes literally comes flying through the air. Damian, who sees and talks to a variety of saints, wants to use the money to help the poor while Anthony would prefer to keep it for themselves. In any case, the boys have only a few days to use the loot since the currency will become scrap paper as Britain makes an (imagined) switch to the euro. Child-centered story may be whimsical but stays firmly away from the sappy. 97m/C DVD . James Nesbitt, Christopher Fulford, Alun Armstrong, Kathryn Pogson, Alex(ander Nathan) Etel, Lewis Owen McGibbon, Daisy Donovan, Pearce Quigley, Jane Hogarth, Enzo Cilenti, Nasser Memarzia, Harry Kirkham, Cornelius Macarthy, Kolade Agboke; Cameos: Leslie Phillips; D: Danny Boyle; W: Frank Cottrell Boyce; C: Anthony Dod Mantle; M: John Murphy.