Review of Danny Collins (2015) by Alan W — 15 May 2015

Admittedly, a generous rating due to the fact that it was a free preview and I was under the influence of a glass of Chardonnay but it is also due to the very obvious and commendable attempt on the writer-director's part to (1) steer himself away from sentimentality and conventional plotting - though not always successfully and (2) to give an acting ensemble headed by Pacino and Benning a half decent script and something to do other than to chew the scenery.

Now, where else can you see Pacino plays a Rod Stewart/Neil Diamond-esque character while singing like Leonard Cohen? Nice performances, nice story, some decent Lennon tunes and overall a nice enough film, perhaps, to see on a plane or with your parents - and that isn't trying to condemn it with faint praise either.