The first I've heard of John Murphy was when I took note of his name following the film, "Millions." The music as heard in the film was very effective, and carried a whimsical charm to it. Thankfully, after seeking the album out, I'm happy to say that the music translates well onto CD and offers up a very surprising score!

If asked to offer a comparison with a more mainstream composer, I would say that Murphy's music resembles some of Danny Elfman's 'fairy tale' music. I mean that as a compliment. In fact, if this film was composed by Elfman himself, I'd say he'd garner a good bit of publicity for it. That's how solid this effort is.

The album begins with the opening titles called 'House Building', and this cue immediately sets the pace for the score (as early tracks most always should!). It's a choral/orchestral melody that acts as if one has just opened a fairy tale book and the story begins to unfold. In a sense, that is what the film is; a fairy tale, but one that's seen through the imagination of a young child who seeks to do only good for those around him. The real world blends with the fictitious, and with that comes the ups and downs of life. For that thematic reason, the music has a shade of sadness within it, and this ultimately provides a better payoff for the viewer (in this case, the listener).

The album comprises songs as heard in the film in addition to the orchestral score. The mix of song and score in this instance is fantastic. The tone of the music is such that it would be hard to tell some song and score tracks apart if there weren't any lyrics. Credit to Danny Boyle for producing such a seamless blend of the two contrasts.

Of particular enjoyment, the final track is a song entitled 'Nirvana' and it really does seem to jump out as a perfect variation of the score. A fantastic way to use songs within the context of the movie! This approach simply outshines the efforts of your local neighborhood pop artist who tacks on music at the end credits of a summer blockbuster!

Final Score: With moments of magic, good times, and some heartbreak, "Millions" serves as a pleasant surprise. Indeed, some things can be 'truly good.'