User reviews

I was in two minds as to whether I'd even bother with another Pacino film. He's been involved in a quite a few mediocre movies recently and I'd made a mental note to try and avoid them. However, I found plot summary of this movie quite intriguing and thought I'd give it a go. Incredibly this is one of his best films and I really enjoyed it from the start to the credits. Danny Collins has lived a hedonistic, excessive lifestyle for decades, but a surprising event causes him to look at his life and he makes substantial efforts to change and even to mend relationships. His quest may not be easy or faultless but it is still very satisfying. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

I went into this movie not expecting much, although i love the cast outright. But i was entertained throughout because this movie has heart along with its humor. Writer-director Dan Fogelman's nicely-scripted plot unfolds at a decent pace, albeit a little predictably. Al Pacino, as usual, delivers a full-on performance which includes some decent singing and dancing. He is ably supported by Annette Bening as a reluctant love interest and Christopher Plummer as his faithful manager. The icing on this cake would be the soundtrack featuring songs by John Lennon, with the numbers beautifully worked in. Too bad that Jealous Guy couldn't be included.

Al Pacino was great in the movie.

I would have never cast him has Danny Collins. Danny Collins is suppose to be a big folk singer in the 1970's. They used old photos of Al from the 1970's as album covers, i think one still from the God father, which made Danny Collins music seem instance and Dark (my kind of folk), but the music actually done was very pop and sounded weird actually being sung by Pacino, who looks more like a lounge singer.

But the movie is not really about the music. Danny Collins is more about Collins attempting to charm his way into his son's life, a man who he has never met and has a family of his own.

Pacino may have been slightly miss cast, but the man was charming and funny and was lighting up the screen with his charisma. similar to his role in Sent of A Woman.

Definitely go see if you are a Pacino fan.

This is one of those films when the title tells you nothing so, unless you see a trailer or have a recommendation, you could miss out on a real pleasure. It must have been tempting to use a title like "How A Lost Letter From John Lennon Enabled Danny Collins to Find Himself" but perhaps that would have said too much. Certainly the storyline is very loosely inspired by the true incident of English folk singer Steve Tilston's discovery that Lennon had written to him in 1971.

On the other hand, maybe knowing that the lead role is taken by Al Pacino would be enough for some people to view the movie, since this is an actor who consistently gives brilliant performances. Except that the character of Danny is much tenderer than most of Pacino's roles (think "The Godfather" movies all the way to "Righteous Kill") and the portrayal is much less histrionic than many of his earlier roles (think "Scarface" or "The Devil's Advocate"). Blow me, Pacino even sings in this film.

One of the many delights of "Danny Collins" though is that Pacino (now in his mid 70s) is not the only star. There are excellent performances from Christopher Plummer (even older in his mid 80s) as his agent, Bobby Cannavale as his son, Jennifer Garner as his daughter-in-law, and Annette Bening as a hotel manager. Writer and director Dan Fogelman has given good lines and meaningful roles to his ensemble cast and it pays off a treat. And we get to hear some Lennon classics.

First of all, I have to start by saying it felt really weird to see a super saying the movie was "sort of based on a true story". Sorry, but it is either based on true events or it's not. I guess it's only a trick to catch people's attention a little more…

The movie was OK, but it won't leave a long lasting impression. As for Al Pacino, the guy is an excellent actor, but for him to play a musician on the brink of retirement and to force him to show his singing skills was probably a bit of a mistake. He is such an awful singer that you wonder if the guy is singing or having a heart attack. Either way, it makes you question why they chose him and not someone else for the role… I suppose Al Pacino is still Al Pacino.

Also, I feel that you never really get the point of the Lennon letter, which is supposed to be central to this movie (Probably the reason why they made a movie only "mildly based" on true events). They had to add a lot of substance to this letter story to turn it into a movie. You could say it is the eye opener that makes Pacino reach out for his son and try to change his empty life around before it's too late. But that in itself makes the letter seem unimportant. Basically, you sense that the same story could have been told without the letter.

All in all, a decent movie but I really wonder how long it will stuck to your mind, I give it half a day.

Never done this before, but here are two reviews of this film. Pick the one you like.

The Positive Review

As he has so often done in his career, veteran actor Al Pacino takes this morality tale of a failed musician to heights never before imagined even by the screenwriter, and gives energy to a story which cannot fail to grab the viewer. Pacino's yeoman effort is aided abetted by Jennifer Garner and Annette Bening, both of whom infuse their characters with a spirit of optimism and decency which works well in counterpoint to Pacino's character, a character actually written in such a way that the audience, try as it will, cannot hope to see Danny Collins as simpatico. Props to Pacino for pulling this one out of the fire.

And the Review done from the heart...

Not even the astonishing and proved talents of a 75 year old Al Pacino can give life to this dreary tale of a fading musician whose chance encounter with a communication from his past (a letter from John Lennon that was never delivered) spurs him to seek a path of redemption. Keep in mind that Mick Jagger himself is only 71, so for Pacino -- who can't sing a note -- to take on this role was the most astonishing thing in the movie, and it happened before the cameras rolled. Garner and Bening try to raise the energy level but frankly don't have the screen time. When the ultimate body of Pacino's work is catalogued, this will not be at the top the list. In fact, the whole film is such a downer that the reviewer is compelled to note that SAINT VINCENT had a similar theme yet produced a great movie following a similar arc. Forget Danny Collins. Find a copy of Saint Vincent.

Inspired by the true story of folk singer Steve Tilston, 'Danny Collins' is A Beautiful Film, that offers great emotional depth! And Al Pacino shines in the title role, proving once again that he's among the greatest we've ever had!

'Danny Collins' Synopsis: An aging rock star decides to change his life when he discovers a 40-year-old letter written to him by John Lennon.

'Danny Collins' is at heart, a sensitive father & son story, that's emotionally charged. I was moved & overwhelmed by Danny Collins's journey, not only with his son, but also with his friends, his profession & himself. Its a fascinating character, that's been bought to life, with dexterity.

Dan Fogelman's Screenplay is top-class. Its emotional & also humorous. Fogelman's Direction, on the other-hand, is simple, yet effective. Cinematography is good. Editing is consistently crisp. Costume Design is fine. Music by Ryan Adams & Theodore Shapiro is wonderful.

Performance-Wise: Pacino is extraordinary as Danny Collins. He sinks his teeth into the part & brings it out with flying colors. Annette Bening is sweet. Bobby Cannavale is in fine form, as well. Jennifer Garner is subdued, while The Great Christopher Plummer is impeccable in his brief bit.

On the whole, 'Danny Collins' is a winner all the way! Among the best films from 2015 yet!

Everything a good drama should not be.

I went into the theatres with high hopes for this one, being a big Pacino fan. But boy I came out disappointed. It is a movie that wastes its hours on mediocrity, sometimes goes into the abyss of clumsiness and pointless melodrama. It stays away from profundity and lacks the luster of sentience. It was like watching a bunch of random guys act animatedly, to words that had no direction and that were headed nowhere. Screenplay so mediocre! It was like listening to random people talk. Humor was pathetic too.

Danny Collins began on a great note but then slowly died down as it stumbled with its poor script. The movie seemed to open with a strong musical backdrop but unfortunately it didn't even skim its surface. Lennon is only a reference. Even the transition of Danny doesn't exhilarate you. It is a very slow paced movie that simply scrambles towards the finish line without packing a good redemption.

If we try to focus on the good, the beginning bit with Nick Offerman was quite exceptional. Annette does a fair job with her role. Giselle Eisenberg is the cutest thing, who makes your heart melt with her sweet voice. Also the song that Danny seems to be penning turns out pretty good. Sometimes you could almost see the subtlety of Fogelman's direction when he manifests fingers knocking on the door even when there was a doorbell. Danny's disregard for his life and his decision to do what his audience loved was also brilliantly shown.

The fact that a lot of people knew Danny Collins was overused and eventually it just became sad. At the end it just seemed like a story heading towards a blank. There wasn't truly any inspiration. Barely a decision that got cashed out for a change. You could almost tell why this movie had Annette Bening, Josh Peck, Giselle, Jennifer Garner and Christopher Plummer - simply to spice things up and make things interesting.

I would only recommend it if you wish to see a movie where things don't go dark or grim and that is strewn with mediocre pleasantries.

"Danny Collins" is the kind of film ripe for emotional manipulation and mawkishness, so much so that its potential to squander its wealth of talent makes one clench in their seat, hoping for a different result than the one they foresee. While there is definitely sentimentality to be found in the film, such scenes are handled with pleasant restraint from writer/director Dan Fogelman (writer of "Tangled" and both "Cars" films). "Danny Collins" is likely one of the few commendable adult dramas we will get this year, and it's nice to see that it's a particularly winning blend of restriction and talent.

The film concerns the title character (played by Al Pacino in his best, most subtle role in years), an aging, alcoholic, cocaine-addicted singer, disillusioned with his current state of faking it through sold out performances, playing the same old tired songs (his most famous song echoes the tune of "Sweet Caroline") he has since he began his career in the 1970's. One day, he decides to drop everything, cancelling the remainder of his tour in order to venture out to stay indefinitely at a Hilton hotel and work on his songwriting, something he hasn't done in several decades, much to the dismay of his long suffering manager Frank Grubman (Christopher Plummer). While staying at the Hilton, Danny tries to make right with his son Tom (Bobby Cannavale), who has gone on to marry a beautiful woman (Jennifer Garner) and lead a solid life without the help of his father, whom views him as a deadbeat, as well as win the heart of the stubborn hotel manager Mary Sinclair (Annette Bening), who shoots down every dinner request he makes.

All of this angst and disillusionment arises when Danny receives a long-lost letter from John Lennon, following an interview at a magazine where Danny references Lennon as a major influence. In the letter, Lennon tells him to be true to himself and states that the money and fame don't corrupt a person, but personal choices and vices will always be the downfall of a man. With this, Danny becomes rather tumultuous and realizes he's been stuck in a dead-end, creative funk for years, unable to produce a winning record or anything of noteworthiness for years. He uses this opportunity to take a vacation and hopefully find creative inspiration and connectivity amongst those he should've been in contact with for many years.

Pacino is always the centerpiece of "Danny Collins," in nearly every shot of the film and always bearing some kind of discernible energy, whether it be boisterous or subtle. This is Pacino's most accomplished role in years, as he finds ways to create his own character and infuse him with just the right amount of life for the occasion. He is never overcome with theatrics, and plays everything in a genuine, low-key manner, something we haven't seen from Pacino in quite some time. His portrait of an aging alcoholic musician who realizes he hasn't done anything creative or for himself in years (perhaps there's some loose, real-life connection there, but that's all speculation, of course) isn't played in a manner where overacting prevails emotion and that's the key to a great deal of "Danny Collins"' success.

The supporting characters in "Danny Collins" all transcend the lines of typical supporting characters, as they branch out to become their own character and are brought to life thanks to a collection of great talent. Among the best of the lot is Christopher Plummer, who serves as Danny's best friend in the film as well as his financial and managerial guide. Plummer is just as wry here as he's ever been, never missing a comedic or dramatic beat, and turns up just in time to save the film from becoming too sappy or too dramatic. Bobby Cannavale also does arguably some of his finest work as Danny's understandably livid son, who has been left in the dark and in the working class region of the world while his father adores all the fame of show business, so he thinks, and leaves all other responsibilities unattended. Cannavale, like Pacino, acts within his own restraints of showing anger but not being overly dramatic about the entire affair, never breaking out in a fight with his father nor letting loose a monologue of vulgarities. Almost every conversation held between them conducts itself with a pleasant sense of situational realism.

"Danny Collins" is a surprising little film, and given how its small theatrical release is being expanded little by little, I have a feeling it will resonate with the baby boomer crowd as time goes on, giving them a little opportunity for cinematic enrichment as they're often forgotten. If that's the case, this is fine film to see, especially if you're only planning on seeing one, maybe two, films this year.

As much as I love musicians, they make me jealous. I'm an avid listener to hair rock and classical music (It's a strange set of tastes, I know) and would I've had the musical talent that I wanted, I probably would have tried to join their ranks. A set of nimble fingers for the piano or even the ability to hit the drums several times would have been fine in my books, but my musical talent is limited to whistling, and even then, I only do so in the car where nobody can hear me. Those that are lucky enough to play well are not just seen as gifted, but better then everyone else around them.

I remember attending a Who concert a few years back when they played the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. Despite the age of the rockers, the group was well loved by it's audience that ranged from the ancient to the cynical hipsters that would have otherwise called the group overrated. Because of their legacy, the members of the Who are now lucky enough to call themselves immortal. They probably get recognized in the streets and will forever be treated to the finest the world has to offer. But when one rocker is faced with a moral crisis in Danny Collins, is having the world at his feet enough?

A Neil Diamond-like rocker named Danny Collins (played by Al Pacino) is happily living the life as a still popular musician whose married to a girl half his age and living in a nice home in Beverly Hills. His lifestyle also encourages the use of cocaine and other drugs that you hear about with other rock stars. For his birthday, his manager Frank Grubman (played by Christopher Plumber) gives him a letter. Danny reads that the letter was written over forty years ago by John Lennon and had wanted to work with Collins.

Struck with the thought that his career could have taken a different direction, he tells his manager to suspend his tour as he needs time to think about his situation. He takes his jet to New Jersey and takes up residence in a Hilton, hoping that he will write his first hit song in thirty years. He takes this moment to makes advances at hotel manager Mary Sinclair (played by Annette Bening) and to try and reconcile with his estranged son Tom (played by Bobby Cannavale).

This should give you a good idea that Danny Collins is a redemption story; the one that for years has been doing wrong to others and wants to make up for it before it's too late. The story is nothing new as we watch this rich rocker do everything he can to please his family and those around him. The problem here is that as he makes his rounds to help himself, you know exactly what kind of path he's going to take. Not to mention the film goes into that route where he almost slips back into his own ways and he has to win their hearts again and apologize. It's get's tiring.

What's lost with a predictable story is made up by Al Pacino and his talent. The man proves that even in his seventies, he can still slip into any role and get lost into it. I totally bought him as a rocker, especially as he plows through a nice rendition of "Babydoll" in the beginning. Christopher plumber, Annette Bening, Bobby Cannavale, and Jennifer Garner all add up well in our ensemble as they each play off as an extension of the rock star's desires and wants.

I'll give this seven music sheets out of ten. I'd go as far to call this cute and adequate. Danny Collins is nothing new and merrily exists to show that Pacino is still a good actor (and to apologize for Jack and Jill). It's clearly a movie for an older set and I enjoyed it a lot more then The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. As long as you don't mind the predictable story, you'll probably like this.

"What would have happened if I got that letter when I was supposed to?" Danny Collins (Pacino) is a rock star who peaked years ago. He is coasting through life playing concerts when he can and playing the same songs over and over. When he is shown a letter that John Lennon wrote him many years before he rethinks his life and career. With a new look at life he heads to New Jersey to find the son he never knew and start writing again. As many of you know by now I am a huge Pacino fan. I think he is the greatest actor working today but some of his recent movies I haven't been a big fan of. He was great in The Humbling but I thought the movie was a little slow. This is a role that seemed like a stretch for him (he does his own singing) but because he is so great he pulls it off and it seems like a role he was made for. The movie is very fun and easy to watch. The cast is great and the writing is funny and heartfelt. Only an actor like Pacino can turn a clichéd cheesy line like "some dinners are worth fighting for" into something that is meaningful. Overall, I am a little biased because Pacino is my favorite actor but this is a great movie and his best movie in a few years. I give it an A.

"Danny Collins" (2015 release; 106 min.) brings the story of an aging rock star Danny Collins (played by Al Pacino). As the movie opens, we are reminded that the movie is "kind of based on a true story a little bit". In the opening scene, Danny Collins is interviewed in 1971 for the Chime In magazine, on the verge of his big breakthrough. The movie then switches to July 12, 2014, when Danny performs at a sold-out Greek Theater. The next day, at his 'surprise' birthday party, Danny's manager (played by Christopher Plummer) has a birthday gift: a letter John Lennon wrote to him after reading that 1971 interview, which never arrived. In the letter, Lennon urges him to "stay true to yourself and to your music". Danny has a "d'oh" moment and decides to change his life. He flies out to New jersey and sets up shop in a Hilton room, and the first order of business is to visit his grown-up son whom he's never met. At this point we are about 15 min. into the movie. To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Several comments: this is the directing debut of screen writer Dan Fogelman, of "Crazy Stupid Love" and "Last Vegas"., both of which I have seen, and I have to say that "Danny Collins" is perfectly in line with both those movies: a pleasant, if non-challenging, movie experience. The differentiator here, though, is the music, which obviously plays a HUGE role in the movie. First, Fogelman able to convince Yoko Ono to allow the use of a bunch of John Lennon songs (from his solo career). I counted at least 7 in the movie (Working Class Hero; Whatever Gets You Through The Night; Imagine; Nobody Told Me; Beautiful Boy; Dream #9; Love Is Real). On top of that, the original songs that appear in the movie are composed by none other than Ryan Adams (yes, THAT Ryan Adams) and Theodore Shapiro. But what makes this movie ultimately click are the winning performances: let's start with Al Pacino, now 74 if you can believe it. He looks like he's having a blast with this role. Annette Bening is just perfect as the 'mousy' Hilton manager and Danny's potential love interest. When Danny first arrives at the hotel, Danny jokes with her that "while you're checking me in, I'm checking you out", ha! Bobby Cannavale as Danny's son and Jennifer Garner as his wife do very nicely as well. But in the end, it's mostly about Pacino and he oozes charm from start to finish. Stay for the movie's end titles, though, where it is revealed on whose real life musician this is (very loosely) based on (I admit I have never heard of him before).

"Danny Collins" finally opened this weekend here in Greater Cincinnati, playing on a handful of screens. The early evening screening where I saw this at was not attended well (and I'm being mild), which sort of surprised me, as the trailer for this has been playing regularly in theaters for quite some time. Bottom line: if you are in the mood for a perfectly pleasant rom-com with a winning cast, you cannot go wrong with "Danny Collins".

This is a truly bad movie. It pains me to say that since I basically love everything Pacino has ever done. Here I simply felt sorry for him and wondered why he would lower himself to do such garbage.

The movie is overwhelmingly trite and clichéd. I gather it's "patterned" in some way, shape or form after a real person, but who cares. Not every real person merits having a move patterned them – in fact, few do.

Seeing Michael Corleone on stage trying to emulate an aged rock singer was almost too much to bear. I could barely contain my laughter. Only the pain of seeing this stopped me from cracking up.

And I won't even speculate on the bizarre outfits he wore. We've all seen aging rock singers but I don't recall seeing anything so completely lost at sea.

On the other hand, the movie has gotten some good reviews (what doesn't anymore). So maybe I am wrong. Nah, spare yourself the pain.

Because this film is intellectually and emotionally stimulating in a subtle way, I had to drive 65 miles, from Lafayette to Baton Rouge, where it was in was in one compartment of a multiplex. That the compartment was Number Nine was a nice touch. But New Orleans had it in three theaters. My review: I enjoyed it. Been a fan of Pacino since Dog Day Afternoon, Plummer since Sound of Music, Lennon since fall, 1963. And I've never seen a movie with Annette Bening that I didn't' like. The script was good; I didn't see anything not to like. So why didn't the movie come to me rather than vice versa? Apparently, the theater owners where I live won't bet on a movie without car chases, guns, shooting, war, all sorts of violence, or juvenile, senseless humor, or mainstream sports. Perhaps a little thriller/horror/sci-fi/blockbuster (Titanic, JFK) might seep through. The sad thing is they may be right. A movie devoid of the aforementioned criteria might lose money here.

DANNY COLLINS (2015)

Al Pacino as aging rockstar Danny Collins seemed weirdly miscast to me, but hey, it's Pacino and he pulled it off in movie star style. This story was loosely inspired by an event in folk singer Steve Tilson's life: Tilson recieved an encouraging letter from John Lennon, (with Lennon's phone number on it), decades after it was sent. He wonders how it might have changed his life if he got the letter at the time it was written. In this film, the rocker goes through a Hollywood movie sort of change and goes to New Jersey to make things right with a son he never met. In fact, in real life Tilson has several children that he has solid relationships with. The cast, including Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Bobby Cannavale, and Christopher Plummer, all turn out solid performances, (Bening is fantastic, actually), but the enjoyable movie never catches fire with me. I thought it was good, but not great; easy to watch, but it felt contrived and not deeply memorable to me.

Not a perfect movie by any means, but the kind of film that rarely gets made by studios anymore: an ensemble cast of stars, a simple plot and very few explosions (okay, none). Yes, there were logical leaps and imperfect plot twists. But there were also great performances, which went a long way.

I want to give this an 8 but it's not quite there for me. The first 15-20 mins wasn't great and I tapped out. I came back to continue it and I'm glad I did.

It's definitely an enjoyable family film, not for little kids but for teens upwards - I'd definitely watch this with my mum and I think my elder daughter would like it

It's heart warming and funny. In this world, yes I am buying this product! This is what I want. Some positivity.

I'll watch it again soon and file it alongside Yeaterday, About Time and other "nice" films.

Give it a go, I very much doubt you'll regret it!

Dadadadadadadaa.

This movie is about aging and about finding a reason to live. An aging rock star, Danny Collins, who is still popular, receives a letter from a famous rock star, forty years after the letter was written. The letter contains advice that if followed, may have changed Danny's life for the better. Basically, the letter's message was that you don't have to let material things erode your creativity. The problem for Danny is that after forty years of performing, he now finds himself wallowing in that creative and spiritual rut that the letter warned him about. He hasn't written a new song in thirty years and the material he does perform over and over again is stale to the point of being toxic. None of his props - his huge house, expensive car, young fiancé, the alcohol, the drugs - help inspire him. He feels an emptiness that is nagging him. After reading the letter, Danny decides to retire. He does this in order to try to revive his creativity and prove to himself that he can still produce. The rest of the movie reveals more about Danny's character, showing that under all the the boozing and drugging there exists a decent person. To find out whether Danny finds happiness and fulfillment, watch the movie. Al Pacino gives a strong, yet appropriately nuanced performance as an aging man who is searching for meaning in his life. After decades of using music as much as an escape as well as a source of income, he finally begins to confront the truth about himself. What he discovers makes this movie worth watching.

Danny Collins is the story of an aging musician who receives a long- lost letter from John Lennon telling him to not give in to fame and to strive to write from the heart. This letter forces him to look back on his life. He begins to regret selling out and decides to cancel his current tour and sort his life out by reuniting with his son and writing some new songs. I rather admire this film. The characters are well developed and flawed. They don't feel like typical movie characters but rather act like real people. Their conversations don't flow perfectly at all times, there are awkward pauses and the topic of the conversation doesn't always flow in the desired direction. These flaws really attached me to every central character in the film. All of this was portrayed with great talent by just about every actor on screen. Humor was injected quite often and skillfully into dialogue to keep a rather sad story hopeful. The pacing was well done as I was never bored and wanted to see what was going to happen next after every scene. Sure some scenes moved slower than others, but I felt that the slower moments were utilizing tension to make the payoffs feel more satisfying. While some of the events can be seen as a little cliché, they are typically done in original ways that make the clichés feel fresh. Unfortunately the final moments of the film fall apart. It's not like what happens is terrible or out of character or anything that negative. It's just that I feel that the film ends a little earlier than it should have. A rather large stumbling block appears towards the end of the film and it is not resolved in a satisfying way, if at all. The focus of the film completely changes and several plot points that were building up the entire film just end without resolution. While this doesn't completely ruin the film by any means, it does drop my grade a couple of points. If the film had continued for another ten to fifteen minutes to resolve some of these issues I would have loved this film. Still, I did enjoy watching the movie and would recommend watching Danny Collins if you want a good character driven story as long as you understand that the ending might fall flat.

Al Pacino puts on yet another good performance as an aging rock star who finds out that he received a letter from John Lennon and decides to make some changes in his life by getting to know his son's family. The soundtrack consisting of Lennon songs is really what helps the movie. It's not the most profound story, but who doesn't love hearing a Lennon song (whether with the Beatles or on his own)? Aside from Pacino, Annette Bening puts on the other really good performance. Her hotel clerk comes across as someone who needs as much of a change in her life as Danny needs in his. They both need a second chance, and Danny's quest for redemption just might be the opportunity.

That this is based on a true story makes it all the more interesting. A letter from John Lennon would be worth more than I can imagine. I hope that Steve Tilston appreciates what's in his possession, and I hope that he appreciates Al Pacino's performance.

I have to confess that the storyline of Danny Collins is extremely engaging. In common with a number of real life musicians Danny (Al Pacino) was a talented musician who sold out his artistic talent in favour of commercial success. A letter from John Lennon makes him question whether he took the right artistic path. Whether this was something that he chose to do or was pressured to do are story lines which would have been very interesting had they been explored more in the film. The film is at it's best with the interplay between Danny and Frank (Christopher Plummer) who is his long time manager.

Instead the film chooses to focus on the difficult relationship he has with his estranged son (Bobby Cannavale). There was something about that which didn't quite feel realistic to me. Anyway Al Pacino is excellent in the lead and the film is certainly well worth a watch.

Greetings again from the darkness. He who was once Michael Corleone is now Danny Collins. With a career spanning 40 plus years with 8 Oscar nominations, including a win for Scent of a Woman, Al Pacino must be considered Hollywood royalty. Upon closer analysis, that last nomination and win came more than 20 years ago, and he is now the go-to guy for a demonstrative, (more than a) few years past his prime type. So on paper, we get why Pacino was cast as Danny Collins (think modern day Neil Diamond).

The film begins with a very young Collins being interviewed by a rock journalist (Nick Offerman) after the release of his first album. Flash forward 40 years, and Collins has made a career of re-hashing the same songs to the same concert goers. He lives in a mansion, throws lavish parties, has a fiancé who could be his granddaughter, and absorbs coke and booze between flights on his private jet. It's only now that Frank (Christopher Plummer), his agent and best friend, presents him with a long lost letter written to Collins by John Lennon after that interview so many years before. Cue the bells and whistles … it's time for a redemption road trip.

It's only at this point that we understand the cute "kind of based on a true story" tag at the opening credits. See, Lennon did write a letter in 1971 to British Folk Singer Steve Tilston, and the letter did take many years to find its way to him. However, Tilston never lost his creative vision the way that Danny Collins did (otherwise, there would be no movie).

What happens next is predictable and a bit formulaic. Colllins tracks down his adult son (Bobby Cannavale) from an early career backstage fling, and does all he is capable of doing to cannonball into his life, and that of his wife (Jennifer Garner) and young daughter (Giselle Eisenberg). Expect the usual TV melodramatics as far as disease and suburban family challenges, and tie-in a flirty back-and-forth with the Hilton manager (Annette Benning), and you can pretty much fill in the blanks for the balance of the film.

Cannavale and Plummer certainly do everything they can to elevate the storyline. Cannavale's emotions are all over the place as one would expect and he is the most believable of all characters. Plummer adds a sense of reality and humor to his interludes with Pacino – wisely controlling his movements against Pacino's histrionics.

Stories involving a characters seeking redemption have one thing in common … a character who is not so likable. We never really buy him as the aging rock star, or even as the once promising songwriter, but we do buy him as the guy who was too busy for his family and is clumsy and unaware of the pain he causes, even while trying to do the right thing.

Writer/director Dan Fogelman takes few risks in his first shot at directing. His past writing includes the excellent Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) and the not so excellent Last Vegas (2013). His common theme seems to be the emotional struggle of men, and we definitely know that's an unsolved mystery. His effort here may not be a bull's-eye, but it's not without some merit – despite the Pacino distraction.