14 Awesome 2015 Movies Everyone Thought Would Suck

3. Danny Collins

Why It Should Have Sucked: Al Pacino's not exactly been cranking out the masterpieces lately, and seeing him playing an aging musician was always going to go one of two ways: a monumental success or a catastrophic embarrassment. Given that this was Dan Fogelman's first directing gig and his scripts have been wildly all over the place (Cars, Fred Claus, Cars 2, Crazy Stupid Love), it was probably fair enough that many were skeptical that this was a solid vehicle for the acting vet. Why It Was Awesome: Fogelman delivers one of the most affecting dramas of the year and gives Pacino a fantastic stage to turn in one of his best performances in years. There's never a moment where he isn't entirely believable as the charismatic, wild and inherently sad musician, and had the film been released at a more opportune time, it may have given Pacino yet another Oscar nomination. Performances from Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Plummer and Annette Bening are also excellent, giving Pacino perfect support while Fogelman's script balances its hilarity and poignancy elegantly. It may seem overly familiar at first, but its charm offensive will likely win you over in due course.