Film: "Danny Collins"; Cast: Al Pacino, Jennifer Garner, Annette
Bening, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Plummer, Josh Peck, Michael Caine,
Melisa Benoist and Giselle Eisenberg; Director: Dan Fogelman; Rating:
***1/2
Released under the PVR Director's Rare banner, writer Dan
Fogelman's maiden directorial venture "Danny Collins" is a fictional,
melodramatic redemption story of an ageing rock star with an indulgent
past. It is based on true incidents.
In 1971, British folk singer
Steve Tilston, then 21 years old, was a promising talent on the scene.
Unbeknown to him, John Lennon of the Beatles fame wrote a letter to him
after he read Steve's interview in the now defunct music magazine
ZigZag. Unfortunately, Steve received this letter 34 year later.
Similar
to Steve's experience, the narration of this film takes off with Danny
Collins (Al Pacino) being interviewed by the music magazine called
Chime-M on June 30, 1971. He was featured in the magazine for being a
creative genius on the road to stardom.
But over a period of time, Danny Collins is a disillusioned artist, playing to the gallery.
Forty
years later, Danny Collins is now an ageing singer. He prances
awkwardly in a lacklustre manner on stage crooning his signature song,
"Hey baby doll". He still has his audience eating out of his hands, but
deep within, he is a lost soul.
Midway through his tour which
also happens to be his manager Frank's retirement plan, he receives the
long lost inspirational letter from John Lennon, which was written forty
years ago. Stunned, he abruptly cancels his tour, gives up on drugs and
decides to discard his bohemian lifestyle. He emphatically tells his
manager: "I've decided to make some changes in my life."
So
making Woodcliff Lake Hilton in Jersey his base, he sets out to
re-examine his life and songs. He charms his way into the lives of the
hotel staff, manager and his estranged son, Tom's family.
Fogelman,
who had earlier written "Crazy, Stupid Love" and "Tangled", has finely
crafted "Danny Collins". Narrated in a linear mode, the screenplay is
non-complicated, simple and schematic. While the first half indulges in
Collins' extravagant lifestyle, it lays the foundation for an intense
later half that delves into his personal life.
The characters are
well etched and rounded and the dialogues are shrewdly witty and
emotionally manipulative. The script is backed by ace performances.
The
film truly belongs to Al Pacino. He is undisputedly a brilliant actor.
He shines as the mature, lacklustre rockstar. He is intense, charismatic
as well as creepy at the same time. It is his "never-give-up" attitude
that makes his character endearing and adorable.
His lack of
onscreen energy for a singer is camouflaged by his interpersonal
histrionics -- be it the melodramatic father-son scenes or love interest
dynamics with the hotel manager Mary Sinclair. The scenes elicit tears
and chuckles from the audience.
Pacino is aptly supported by
Annette Bening as the prim and proper professional Mary. Her strictly
professional demeanour is not only fascinating, but also intriguing at
the same time. She charms you with her smile when Danny keeps referring
to her as a ""Dinner tease, for she keeps moving the goal post".
Bobby
Cannavale as Tom Donelly, Pacino's son who he has never met, on the
other hand, offers the right emotional balance to the otherwise playful
script. His expressive performance as the understandably damaged
character tugs at your heartstrings. Together with Jennifer Garner as
his wife and Giselle Eisenberg as his hyperactive little daughter, they
make an adorable family.
Music plays an integral part in the
narration and John Lennon's works like "Imagine", "Working Class Hero"
and "Beautiful Boy" are marvellously incorporated into the narration.
This film with high quality production values truly makes for fine viewing and should not be missed.
