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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Police Reports Schneider Art Museum installation re-imagines Rivera UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit 10 things to know for Friday Education New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Ashland Rowing Club hires highly touted coach and national-award winning team director to lead expansion Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Blazers fight back, edge Jazz Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory High school Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Letters to the Editor, March 27 Editorial Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Letters Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Theater Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Ticket Availability The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque App Finder: Best barbecue apps Health Watch: It’s OK to have a cheat day Inner Peace: The good, the bad and the spiritual Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... Movie review: In 'Danny Collins,' Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story By Ed Symkus More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Mar. 27, 2015 @ 12:01 am Updated Mar 27, 2015 at 6:31 AM By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Mar. 27, 2015 @ 12:01 am Updated Mar 27, 2015 at 6:31 AM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The true story that the fictionalized “Danny Collins” is based on goes like this: A 21-year-old British folk singer named Steve Tilston started to see his career rise. In 1971, he was interviewed by the British rock mag ZigZag, and the discussion came around to fame and fortune possibly getting in the way of artistic success. John Lennon read the piece and was moved to send a note of encouragement to the up-and-comer, along with his phone number, in case Tilston ever wanted to chat. But Tilston never received or even knew about the letter. It was sent to the magazine, where someone kept it as a collectible. In 2005 Tilston, who had made a living, but never achieved stardom, in music, was contacted by a collector and told of the letter. The fictionalized film goes like this: A 21-year-old American singer named Danny Collins is sent a letter by John Lennon — yes, that part is told close to the way it happened. But in this story, Danny Collins (Al Pacino) went on to huge success, reaching Neil Diamond-like heights. Now in his 60s — and wearing a truss! — he lives in a palatial house, his third-greatest hits album has just come out, and adoring fans — all of them of “a certain age” — know all of the words to his schmaltzy pop songs, and sing along at concerts. One day, his manager Frank (Christopher Plummer) surprises him with a gift: that letter, bought from a collector, Lennon signature, phone number and all, now framed. The rest of the film is worth the look on Pacino’s face, simultaneously realizing what a cool gift it is and wondering what his life would have been like if he got it all those years ago, and maybe dialed that phone number. The film turns into a great playground for Pacino. His performance, sometimes carefully nuanced, sometimes free-spirited, runs through situations that range from uplifting to downtrodden, from funny to straight-out crisis mode. First-time director Dan Fogelman has long known his way around words. Along with this film, his writing résumé includes the hilarious Disney film “Tangled” and the serio-comic “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” (Lots of punctuation going on in that title.) In “Danny Collins,” he seems to have picked the right actors to say his words, and shows a quiet flair for directing them in how to do it. It’s really a story of very different relationships between very different people, with Pacino involved in all of them. The best is between Pacino and Bobby Cannavale, as Tom, the son Danny walked out on decades earlier and now tries to mend fences with, even though Tom’s anger has never subsided. A much lighter side of things is seen with Pacino turning on the charm and trying to get a dinner date with Mary (Annette Bening) the manager of the Hilton where he’s settled in to reboot his life. But the most natural and relaxed relationship is the one between Pacino and Frank, whose day job is being his tireless manager, but is more like his best friend. The real drama comes in when Danny tries to visit not only the son he never got to know, but his son’s wife Samantha (Jennifer Garner) and their granddaughter Hope (Giselle Eisenberg), neither of whom he’s ever met. Some of that drama comes on a little thick, like in a double-header helping of one person with a chronic condition, and another with a disease. But these elements are pretty much treated with kid gloves and while presented seriously, don’t come across as cloying or depressing. In the end, the funnier stuff outweighs the sober stuff. It’s great to hear the older Frank, after so many years together, still calling the not-much-younger Danny “kid.” Fogelman tosses in a sweet, completely unrelated side story, of Danny trying to get a couple of young workers at the hotel — Jamie the receptionist (Melissa Benoist) and Nicky the valet (Josh Peck) to become, well, a couple. There’s also the amazing feat that Fogelman pulled off: using John Lennon songs, sung by Lennon, as a sort of Greek chorus to some of the plotlines. Another slight glitch is that an extra dose of drama finds its way into the script in the last act, and the idea of Danny rising and falling and rising again happens too quickly. But Fogelman and his cast pull it all together, and the film closes with an up-in-the-air, yet quite satisfying ending. Ed Symkus writes about movies for More Content Now. Written and directed by Dan Fogelman. With Al Pacino, Bobby Cannavale, Jennifer Garner, Christopher Plummer, Annette Bening. By Ed Symkus More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Mar. 27, 2015 @ 12:01 am Updated Mar 27, 2015 at 6:31 AM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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