DANNY COLLINS

US, 2015, 106 minutes, Colour.
Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Christopher Plummer, Bobby Cannavale, Josh Peck, Nick Offerman, Giselle Eisenberg.
Directed by Dan Fogelman.

There is a lot going for Danny Collins, not the character himself until the middle of the film, but for the film itself. It is well written by the director, Dan Fogelman, and it is very well acted by a strong cast, led by Al Pacino. There is quite a bit of sentiment, but sentiment which most audiences will like.

And, of course, the question is who is Danny Collins. He is a singer and a composer. In a sequence set in 1971, we see the young Danny Collins being interviewed for a popular magazine. Then we get some idea of his career as a singer, with a series of posters and album covers (all featuring photos of Al Pacino when he was young or in some of his famous films, including The Godfather).

So, we come to 2014 and he is on tour, singing the songs that have been popular over the decades with a rather wide fan base, but more and more relying on silver-haired ladies (referring to some of them as The Golden Girls in the front row). He is older, has become tired, yet still playing to his fans.

Christopher Plummer, in an engagingly sardonic performance, plays Danny’s manager, friend and adviser, who becomes exasperated with Danny’s behaviour. When Danny gives up his tour and decides to go to search for his son he has never met, he moves into a New Jersey hotel which is presided over by straightlaced manager, played effectively by Annette Bening. Danny uses his charm, encouraging the young man at the door who does valet parking, with the young woman behind the desk, and develops a patter kind of conversation with Mary, the manager.

One of the important thing is that he takes his tour bus to a suburban street to the home of his son, the son of a one night stand, with the son hating the father has never met but has seen on television. Danny finds his pregnant daughter-in-law, Jennifer Garner, and a precocious granddaughter who has attention deficit behaviour. The son is played very effectively by Bobby Cannavale, who has his own life but has not got over overcome his anger, his rage, towards his father.

Danny becomes more and more involved in the life of the family, sponsoring a trip to New York City to see an expert doctor on attention deficit and offering to pay for his granddaughter’s tutoring. He also becomes involved with his son’s ill-health, again financing treatment and being supportive when he is to hear the final verdict on prospects for his health.

In the meantime, perhaps with the attraction to Mary, Danny begins to compose a new song. He wants to launch it during a gig arranged at a local club – but, after his attempt to sing, with Mary encouragingly present as well as the family, it is the ageing fans who urge him to go back to sing his most popular song. Danny had been in a relationship with a young woman half his age and she turns up with her boyfriend and persuades him to start drinking and taking cocaine again.

Where can Danny’s story go?

The deus ex machina, so to speak, is his manager’s finding a letter that John Lennon had written to Danny after reading his article in the magazine in 1971. Danny had never received the letter but is so touched in 2014 that it is the catalyst for him to think about changing his life. In fact, the screenplay is based roughly on a true story about British singer, Steve Tilston, who did receive such a letter from John Lennon, many of whose songs play through the film.

One pleasant thing about the finale of the film is that it has a certain ambiguity, the audience and the characters uncertain as to what is to happen but the smart dialogue just giving a small indication of what will happen either way and audience satisfaction in hearing the final result.

A likeable film, which did not receive a wide release, but would please an adult audience.


1. A strong story, performances, dialogue? The cast?

2. The 1970s, the office and the interview? 2014, the two, homes, hotels, New Jersey, the doctor’s office, concerts?

3. The musical score, the music, the songs, popular, classics? The use of the songs of John Lennon?

4. The title, the focus on Danny Collins, as young, the interview, the interviewer, the interest, the magazine article? The background Danny Collins story, the decades, music, concerts, success, his characteristic songs, the three marriages, drugs, drinking? His friendship with Frank, the bond between them? The Baby Doll song and the audiences, growing grey-headed?

5. Frank, Christopher Plummer, friendship, advice, sardonic observations, the money issues, supporting Danny? The later revelation of the story, Frank’s drinking, the car accident, and drying out, Danny and his visits, payments, the bottled water gift? Saying that Danny was a man of great heart – but it was up his ass?

6. Frank bringing the letter from John Lennon as a gift, the effect on Danny, the impetus to change? His wondering if he had received the letter earlier? What if…?

7. Danny, the concert and performance, the effort to go on stage? The friends? His act on stage, the dance, reaching out to the audience? Sophie at home, half his age, the relationship, Frank’s critique? The man at the gate, his later bypassing the gate, discovering Sophie with the lover? His leaving?

8. The Danny Collins bus, into suburban New Jersey, knocking at the door, Samantha and her amazement? Meeting Hope? Tom and his mother, the history, his not knowing Tom? The gift of the bagels, talking? Samantha and her pregnancy? Hope and her ADHD behaviour, excitement, talk? Tom returning, the talk, his anger, ousting Danny?

9. Danny going to the Hilton, his friendship with the boy at the door, the girl at reception, nice faces? His meeting Mary, inviting her to dinner, the refusals? Living in, bringing the piano? His composing at the piano? Attempts to change his life? The return after the visit to Tom, his drinking, Mary and her response? The tequila?

10. Mary, her personality, and managing the hotel, the story of her daughter, her ex-husband? At work, severity? The interactions and the pattern between them? Her response to the song?

11. Danny turning up at the house, the information about the doctor in New York City, for Hope? Sam and Tom and the reactions? Persuaded to go? The
specialist, the long waiting list? The doctor’s welcome, the tour, Danny and the cost?

12. The revelation of Tom and his leukaemia, not telling Samantha, the excuse of going to Delaware, the weeks of treatment? Danny and his presence and support?

13. Danny and the gig, trying out the song, the audience not responding? Frank’s organisation? Danny and his being anxious, going on stage, changing to the popular song, the response of the audience, Mary not singing? The family response?

14. Sophie and her lover turning up for the concert, his taking the drugs, Tom’s reaction, Danny returning, Mary’s reaction, wanting him gone?

15. His leaving, the gift of the car to the boy, urging the boy and girl to be together, their presence of the concert? His tidying the room, leaving?

16. The piano, Danny going on to, the piano going to Tom, in the house, playing the piano with Hope?

17. Danny, with Tom, with the doctor, waiting to see whether he would be referred to formally or as Tom? The sudden hopeful ending?

18. The future and hope and Hope?