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| Author | Zoe Aresti |
Danny Collins hits the big screen this week and DCM’s Head of Film, Tom Linay, caught a preview of the film earlier this month. He outlines what audiences can expect from the comedy hit, while also reflecting on other upcoming, high quality films that will target ABC1 audiences across the summer months.
Al Pacino and a wonderful cast look to be having the time of their lives in this satisfying comedy about an aging rock star who is forced to re-evaluate his career. Pacino plays Collins, a musician who found fame early and has been coasting off his past successes ever since. When his manager (Christopher Plummer) presents him with a letter written to him 40 years previously by John Lennon, warning him of the perils of fame, Collins, for seemingly the first time, takes a pause and begins a period of introspection. He decides to cancel his tour, start writing new music again and reconnect with his estranged family.
There’s little surprising here but it’s all played with such verve and brio, that it’s infectious. Debut director, Dan Fogelman, wisely decides to give his starry cast ample opportunity to riff off each other and the scenes with Bening, Pacino and Plummer just drinking at a hotel bar are the most purely pleasurable in the film. Cannavale, as Pacino’s son has to shoulder the more emotional scenes and he pulls it off, while Giselle Eisenberg as his ADHD affected daughter is the most engaging child actor I’ve seen for some time. While it’s ideal for an older audience, looking to escape the more populist fare currently filling cinemas, there’s much to enjoy here for anyone who enjoys seeing great actors sparking off one another.
Danny Collins also continues the high quality films looking to reach an upmarket, ABC1 audience across the summer months. Last year Boyhood was released in July and managed to snag the big prize at the BAFTAs in February and this year, Far From The Madding Crowd has already been a big success going up against the behemoth of The Avengers: Age Of Ultron. There’s plenty still to come with Sir Ian McKellen, Meryl Streep and Al Pacino returning in meaty starring roles…
Mr. Holmes 19 June
Ian McKellen stars as an aged, retired Sherlock Holmes, who looking back on his life, grapples with an unsolved case involving a beautiful woman. Last time McKellen and director, Bill Condon collaborated it resulted in the Oscar winning Gods and Monsters.
She’s Funny That Way 26 June
Oscar nominated director, Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show, Paper Moon) returns with this all-star farce about a married Broadway director who falls for a prostitute-turned-actress and works to help her advance her career. The cast includes Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston and Imogen Poots.
Ricki And The Flash 7 August
It may have a similar plot to Danny Collins but you could put Meryl Streep in the lead in Paul Blart: Mall Cop and I’d be first in the queue. Streep plays a musician who gave up everything for her dream and returns home, looking to make things right with her family. With Jonathan Demme (Silence Of The Lambs) directing and Diablo Cody (Juno) scripting, this is has huge potential.
Manglehorn 7 August
Pacino stars in his second film of the summer as a small-town locksmith, heartbroken by the woman he loved and lost many years ago, who tries to start his life over again with the help of a new friend. The low key lead role should provide an interesting contrast to Pacino’s larger-than-life persona in Danny Collins.
Absolutely Anything 14 August
Monty Python’s Terry Jones, the man who directed Life Of Brian returns with this comedic sci-fi. Simon Pegg stars as an ordinary man who is conferred with the power to do absolutely anything, by a group of aliens. Jones utilises his extensive contacts book and gets his Monty Python chums to lend their voices to the aliens, while Robin Williams voices Pegg’s dog.