Danny Collins (2015)

Top comments

1. 

   lachyas

   I really enjoyed this. It's nice to see Pacino tackling a meaty role, and the parallels between the current state of his career and his character, an aged musician who is attempting to recapture his artistic integrity, adds an extra layer of depth to his performance. The film embraces clichés rather than trying to avoid them, particularly in the forgotten son subplot, but thanks to the always magnificent Bobby Cannavale what could have been a fatal flaw turns into one of the strengths of the movie.
   
   My one misgiving is that I'm unsure of how I feel about the final gig scene. For a film that has been fairly tropey and predictable up until this point, it feels

   a bit strange to suddenly try to subvert the typical climax of films such as this by having Collins play an underwhelming and unsatisfying show rather than just giving the audience what we want in the form of the musician's triumphant return to form, even if that would be clichéd. The fact that the final act of the film basically falls for this trope anyway, just without the cathartic moment of celebration, makes this feel all the more pointless

   . Thankfully the very last scene is beautifully written and performed by both Cannavale and Pacino, meaning that I was still left with an overwhelmingly positive impression after the movie ended.
   
   Even with this one problem with the film I consider Danny Collins among the top ten 2015 releases I've seen thus far, which was certainty not what I expected going in. There's an undercurrent of such sincerity and well-meaning to every element of the film that I think it would take a pretty cynical viewer to not fall for its charms to at least some extent, and hopefully this signals a bit of a return to form for Pacino. Even if he didn't get a letter from John Lennon. 8 years 10 months ago
2. 

   frankqb

   While the story is cliched, something about Pacino's attitude and Benning's winning smile makes this film watchable. Pacino's Neil Diamond-esque persona keeps this film above water, and the family drama keeps it breathing.
   
   3 stars out of 5 9 years ago
3. 

   Earring72

   Pleasant suprise. Fun comedy/family drama. Predictable story but great cast and Pacino is really good. 6 years 9 months ago

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