Danny Collins (2015)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Did you people see the same film I saw?

The acting in this movie is really good.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

I really liked this one. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be, well truthfully I didn't know much about it going in but I wasn't expecting a charming family story. Al Pacino is very likable as an aging rock star who discovers a 40 year old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon. This inspires him to give up his hard living ways and reconnect with his estranged son. Apparently inspired by a real story about a folk singer (they may have taken some liberties here) as Al appears more like a lounge singer, throughout I got a kinda Neil Diamond vibe from him, his one hit song that he's sick of but keeps having to sing sounded a lot like Sweet Caroline... dun dun da. Anyways a very sweet movie, watching 'Danny" try to change his ways and charm his way into his sons life. Great cast, cute romance with Annette Bening as his hotel concerige /girlfriend, the fabulous Christopher Plummer as his frustrated manger and Bobby Cannavale as the estranged son.The precocious little girl (granddaughter) was a scene stealer.

Another wonderful Al Pacino film where he stars as an aging rock singer who wishes to seek meaning to his life when he discovers an autographed letter from John Lennon.Collins travels to New Jersey to meet his illegitimate son and his family. Kind-hearted, he meets immediate rejection by the son, nicely played by Bobby Carnivale. As the manager of the hotel, Annette Bening is completely unrecognizable and very effective as the straight-laced manager who comes to understand and appreciate Danny.Christopher Plummer, also very good, looks like he came out of a fitting for The Exorcist in a few scenes.This is a story of family, redemption and pulling together in crisis. A true winner all the way.

In those dark ages of American movies, along the hollow sequels, childish animated movies, a new despicable genre has arisen: the Biopic ! When they are about politicians or artists, you can a sure awful expect a stinky turkey: Along Vatican, Hollywood is in making saints: with those Biopics, they kiss asses so much that it ends up like excruciating hagiographies! Usually they start with the caption - inspired by true facts - so it means that it's not the reality but the reality they want to find: However as PKD said, truth can't allow revisionism and at the end, even small changes means something else... With politicians, you end with propaganda and with artists, you end up with advertising... Focusing about those 2 categories is a slap in your face: you should understand that the more they consider them great, worthy, unique, historic, irreplaceable, talented, the more they tell us, the common, ordinary people that we are valueless, unworthy, all the same, untalented, uneducated and expandable! So it's your choice to accept being ridiculed, but for myself and from now, i won't never watch again those kind of biopics! Actually, this Al movie can't really be considered as a Biopic even if it lies upon a true fact. In a way, it's a sort of companion to his recent Humbling as in the two movies are drama / comedy in which Al plays an artist: it's funny to notice that indeed the 2 movies opens just moments before the show! Here all the stupid sexual content of the other movie has been (almost) cut and it's more a movie about family commitment so a topic Al has already visited but no in such funny way! Al is rather convincing as a singer and the more he gets old, the more he connects with kindness and heart with the other characters! His lost family is well played and it was great to see again Alias now a mature mother! The only big thing that i regret is the way big money and celebrity addiction comes so easily to solve all problems as the audience is ordinary and not ultra wealthy, meaning that our problems just stay! The last scene is really well done but the after credit just kill its emotion!

When I started watching this movie I thought it was some stupid, low budget movie. I was mistaken. It first portrays how (shown in many movies) superstars land up at some point in their career, with drugs and alcohol. Al Pachino played a good role in this movie and I think it's worth being one of his best.When Danny Collins gets this surprising letter from John Lennon he decides to finally come out of his drug stage and, in a way, start fresh. First by mending - actually creating a bond with his son that he has never met before who has his own family and hates his guts. There the story of this movie builds! I took the time to pay attention to this movie and I enjoyed it but I don't think all will because it was a bit long and it dragged out. None the less it was brilliant, good acting, good actors (and actresses) along with a humorous side to the movie. A well deserved 8!