Uan old glory of discography and a letter from John Lennon. These two elements are already sufficient to arouse curiosity. And if the singer has the features and the talent of Al Pacinothe game is done. Danny Collins – The Song of Lifebroadcast tonight at 21.25 on Rai 1it’s a movie 2015 written and directed by Dan Fogelman e inspired by a true story.
Danny Collins – The Song of Lifeplot
Danny Collins is an elderly singer, who still enjoys great popularity thanks to the glories of the past, but struggles to find the creative vein and most importantly, he spends the days between alcohol and cocaine. He lives with his much younger girlfriend, Sophie (Katarina Čas)and leads an almost dissolute life. The only one she trusts is Frank (Christopher Plummer)longtime manager and sincere friend.
And it is Frank who does him the gift that will change his life. In 1971 Danny Collins had given an interview to Chime Magazine. His words had caught the attention of John Lennonwho had written him one letter with his contact details. Collins receives the letter 40 later, thanks to Frank, who buys it from a collector.
Lennon’s words have a shattering effect. At any moment, Danny regains the will to live, leaves his girlfriend and says goodbye to substances. It leaves for the New Jersey and befriends the employees of the hotel where he is staying. Among all, Mary Sinclair (Annette Bening), the charming hotel manager, that he tries to conquer between a joke and a whiskey. During her stay, the relationship between the two will transform and Mary’s initial distrust will give way to a deeper feeling about her.
Al Pacino in the film “Danny Collins – The song of life”. (IPA)
In the cast, Annette Bening and Jennifer Garner
Danny’s decision to move to New Jersey is no accident. He there he lives the son she never wanted to meet. When she shows up at her door, she knows daughter-in-law Samantha (Jennifer Garner) and granddaughter Hope (Giselle Eisenberg). The first meeting with Tom Donnelly (Bobby Cannavale) it is far from peaceful, but, also thanks to Mary’s precious advice, Danny does not give up and insists.
He strenuously insists that the family is forced to accept his presence in their life. When she starts to savor theto the beauty of a life made up of affection and sincere human relationshipsmust face a mocker twist of fate. The son Tom is ill with leukemiahis wife Samantha knows nothing and is pregnant with their second child.
It’s a blow to Danny, but the devastating news, coupled with John Lennon’s words carefully framed by his friend Frank, awakens his creative streak. He writes the song of life, but it will take some time before he finds the courage to present it to the world. The song, in fact, differs from the hit Hey baby doll, with which he conquered and continues to delight his audience. For the first time in many years, he leaves the comfort zone and talks about sides of himself hitherto duly hidden.
In “Danny Collins – The Song of Life” Annette Bening is Mary Sinclair. (IPA)
The true story from which the film is based
Danny Collins – The Song of Life is inspired by the true story of English folk singer Steve Tilston. In 1971, during an interview on the occasion of the release of his first album, he declared that if he became rich, his music would probably be negatively affected.
His words did not please John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who decided to express their disappointment in a letter, at the bottom of which was the telephone number of their home in Ascot. Unfortunately, Tilston discovered Lennon and Ono’s gesture only 34 years later. “If I had received the letter when he sent it, I could have called him. This is the most frustrating thing “he explains at the end of the film, during the credits.
Steve Tilston and Al Pacino at the premiere of the film “Danny Collins – The Song of Life” in London. (Getty Images)
Skinny box office but quality film
With Danny Collins Al Pacino gets his 17th Gloden Globe nomination. Despite the not-so-exciting box office takings ($ 10.8 million against a budget of $ 10), the film is a quality comedy-drama. Certainly, thethe caliber of the cast gives depth to the scriptbut the story turns out to be interesting in its own right from the start.
There is not only the private lapel of a pop star struggling with her vicesbut also the transformation of a man who for the first time puts himself aside to make room for others. On the one hand, there are the shadows of the tormented artist, then drugs and alcohol as life companions, as well as the cliché of the mature man engaged to a much younger woman so as not to feel the weight of advancing age.
Bobby Cannavale, Jennifer Garner and Giselle Eisenberg. (IPA)
On the other hand, there is its nature. “A big heart,” Frank points out at a pivotal moment in the film, and that’s right. Behind the facade of the rich and famous star, he hides a simple, good man, used to stifling emotions perhaps out of fear or perhaps because for so many years it was easier this way.
In the film Al Pacino gives yet another proof of his versatility. His Danny Collins alternates between traveling logs tones of drama, without forgetting the light shadestypical of comedy.
Dan Fogelman’s directorial debut
With this film, Dan Fogelman marks his directorial debutfollowed in 2018 by Life in an instant. Born in 1976 in New Jersey, he began his career in the world of cinema as screenwriter of Cars – Roaring Engines. Afterwards he signed Bolt, Rapunzel, Cars 2 And Crazy, Stupid, Love. The public, however, remembers him above all for having written one of the most successful TV series of recent years: This is us.
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