Millions
Directed by Danny Boyle

The suddenly wealthy grade-schoolers in Millions are more interested in purchasing real estate than buying video games and toys. That’s a vital part of Danny Boyle’s movie about money’s allure of “adult” responsibility. For a while, there’s real flare to it. Motherless Anthony (Lewis McGibbon) and his younger Saint obsessed brother ironically named — wait for it -- Damian (Alex Etel) discover a Nike bag holding 229, 000 pounds. Keeping the money a secret, Damian upsets Anthony by handing out large sums to anyone claiming to be poor. He’s tough to buy as a real kid, largely because Boyle envisions him as an idealized adult.
This setup of the kids seeing their world anew skewers how capitalist privilege is used to define many contemporary lives. And between the 30 and 60 minute marks, Boyle’s children’s movie feels like his best work yet. But it quickly spirals in too many directions. Succumbing to preachiness and drag-on fantasy encounters with saints and spirits, the material doesn’t approach the sendup of grownup roleplaying in Catch Me If You Can.
Millions is set on the downside of Damian and Anthony’s find, never indulging in much of the nasty fun.