I can’t help but have a soft spot for a film that starts with: “This is sorta based on a true story, a little bit”. I am often hesitant about a film that contains this much talent, but not much is known about it. Not usually a recipe for movie gold. While I won’t say ‘Danny Collins’ is movie gold, I will say it is an immensely watchable and just an enjoyable movie experience. If you are a Pacino fan, it is probably one of his best roles in years, where he gets to be over-the-top Pacino (whoo-ah), while at the same time exploring some very human and subtle issues. I can see why Pacino was attracted to this film and I’m glad he didn’t just phone it in.
Danny Collins (Al Pacino) was an immensely popular Rock star in the 70’s who is approaching the end of his career. He feels he is a hollow joke as he hasn’t performed a new song in 30 years and the one that made him famous, he didn’t even write. He feels he has become a parody of himself and not the artist he wanted to be. While still able to afford the lavish lifestyle of a Rock legend, his birthday causes him to reflect on his career and that he has nothing he is proud of. Danny is stunned when his manager Frank, his only true friend (played by the legendary Christopher Plummer) gives him a present that could have changed his life years ago. It turns out, that at the beginning of Danny’s career, John Lennon sent him a letter admiring his early work and urging him to stay true to his art. While elated, Danny does feel that had he received this back then, he would have been inspired to pursue his art instead of taking the easy road of rock stardom. Danny examines his life and decides to take one last stab at making his life mean something
Danny travels to New Jersey and checks into a local Hilton hotel with two goals in mind. One; to hole up in a room with a Steinway piano and try to write again. Two; to connect with the only son he is aware of having. An offspring from a one night stand with a groupie years ago. Trying to connect with his son proves to be the more challenging as his now grown son Tom (played outstandingly by Bobby Cannivale) is living a very normal life with a wife (Jennifer Garner) and daughter in the suburbs. Tom is aware that his father is Danny Collins, but has spent his whole life trying to disassociate himself from him and tries to lead a normal life. Despite his claims that he is ‘over it’, you can tell Tom is angry and resentful for not having a father growing up and is not interested in reconnecting just because Danny is having an end of life crisis of conscience
Despite his depression, Danny displays his learned charm and charisma with everyone he runs into as only Pacino can play. It’s a great showcase that allows Pacino to be Pacino, yet dig deep into some great emotional areas. Along the way, he tries to work his aging charms on the manager of the Hilton, Mary (played straight laced by Annette Benning). Despite her professional distance, they have a ‘patter’ that is fun to watch and Mary proves to be both inspirational and grounding to Danny who is used to a life and people of excess. Mary is cordial and professionally distant, but continually encouraging as the two become more comfortable with each other. Mary guides Danny emotionally through the uncharted waters of normalcy that the family connections he is pursuing.
If I have one critique of this film is that some of the scenes and plot lines felt emotionally manipulative. Truly great scripts and writing takes you on emotional journeys without the audience realizing it. Usually, there is nothing I dislike more than a script trying to gratuitously play on your emotions. That being said, I did travel the emotional gambit the film intended despite being aware of what it was trying to do, so that has to say something about the quality of the writing.
There is nothing ground breaking in this film. This isn’t even Pacino’s best work (but probably his best in a decade), but sometimes a small low budget film can be a nice story and a pleasant experience. I would call this a guilty pleasure, but there is nothing guilty about it. It’s a great cast working well in an ensemble. The story is fun, while pulling at the heart strings. Like I said at the beginning, if you are looking for a nice time at the movies, this is probably a good way to spend an afternoon.
I give this film **1/2 stars.
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