Niall McCloskey cashes in for Stephen Burke's latest feature.
Against the backdrop of the infamous 2004 Northern Bank heist – the biggest in British/Irish history – Australian cop Diana (Madeleine Madden) and Northern Irish detective Crayford (Christopher Eccleston) search for the missing £26 million. Northern Ireland, dry wit, action-packed cop thrills – just another day at the office, eh?
At the heart of this feature is the contrasting dynamic between Diana and Crayford as they navigate the highs and lows of the investigation. On this journey for justice, they chase leads, hit metaphorical brick walls, and desperately scramble to catch whoever pulled off a once-in-a-lifetime robbery, all set against a backdrop of post-conflict tensions six years into the peace process. As the case takes one bizarre turn after another, the duo learn to begrudgingly respect each other. Eccleston's time-honoured brand of wry delivery complements Madden's plucky attitude well. Their compelling chemistry carries the narrative throughout its 101-minute runtime.
An Irish/Australian co-production, Chasing Millions was shot over the course of five weeks across Dublin and Dundalk (which doubles for Belfast), but make no mistake, the lifeblood of the North is ever-present. Littered with classic Belfast-isms in the dialogue, Chasing Millions features many familiar northern names like Kerri Quinn (Hope Street), Andy Doherty (Our House), and Aaron McCusker (Bohemian Rhapsody). It’s clear that the cast and crew had a deep understanding of and respect for Belfast as a place and for its people... as mad and full of life as we are.
Dublin-born director and co-writer Stephen Burke may not be a native, however, he made a number of short documentaries on aspects of The Troubles early in his career, including After 68 (1994) and 81 (1996). Also, his last feature film, Maze(2017), dramatises the 1983 escape of 38 IRA prisoners from Maze Prison. Now, Stephen's latest offering marks a noticeable shift to humour; Chasing Millions juggles absurdism, drama, and a story so chaotic you wouldn’t believe it was real if it wasn't in the news.
Penned by Burke and Katherine Thomson, the script shifts between buddy-cop comedy and heartfelt family drama, all wrapped up in a story about finding yourself and where you belong – fairly apt subject matter for this day and age. In an interview with Film Ireland, Burke noted that balancing the tone was tricky, as he didn't want to make fun of the events but wanted to shed a comedic light on the more surreal moments when possible.
Earlier this year, Colin McIvor's No Ordinary Heist tackled the same story of the Northern Bank heist, albeit through a far grittier lens. A tense, classic heist thriller told from the perspective of the bank staff, Chasing Millions serves as an unofficial sequel of sorts.
The narrative itself is as well stocked as a bank vault with £26 million inside. There’s a lot in here. The plot covers the bank heist, Crayford's history with the IRA, his relationship with his wife, Diana's family history, Diana engaging with unionist gangs on her search to track down the money, Crayford and Diana's friendship, interludes with the thieves, and an entire court sequence that does slow down the action. Chasing Millions doesn’t have just an A or B plot; it goes all the way up to a Z.
With humour and warmth, this film tackles one of the strangest stories ever to come from our wee island, etching its name into the ever-expanding pantheon of Northern Irish features. Chasing Millions is a bold swing at the Northern Irish crime sub-genre. Does it hit bang on the money? Head to the cinema and support an entertaining independent to find out.
Chasing Millions is in cinemas 9th October 2026.
Film Ireland Editor
