Review: Solitary Man

 

Michael Douglas plays self-made man (and pants man) Ben Kalmen, a 60ish car dealer who still thinks he’s in his 20s. But Ben is falling on hard times, his business reputation having been damaged by the revelation of some dodgy practices. He is also finding it hard to connect with his loved ones (daughter Jenna Fischer, ex-wife Susan Sarandon), whom he has spent a lifetime neglecting for whatever piece of tail catches his eye. Not that Ben has any plans of changing his ways, he even beds the daughter (Imogen Poots) of his current girlfriend (Mary-Louise Parker) after accompanying the former to a college interview (He knows the dean). Ben is also afflicted with a serious health issue that he is trying to ignore whilst he focuses much of his energy on trying to regain his business cred in between quick shags. Meanwhile, he has taken an awkward college student (Jesse Eisenberg) under his wing, hoping to impart some ladies’ man wisdom on him. Did I mention that Ben is a complete narcissist? Will he mend his selfish ways before it’s too late? Danny DeVito plays a former friend and high school acquaintance of Ben’s who is happy living a modest life, Olivia Thirlby is a college girl Eisenberg is keen on, and Richard Schiff plays a banker.

 

It won’t win any awards for originality, but this 2009 film from Brian Koppelman and David Levien (the former of whom also wrote the screenplay for this and the enjoyable “Rounders”) makes up for its lack of originality with perfect casting, especially Michael Douglas. Douglas elevates this mixture of Arthur Miller flawed family man drama and (Douglas’ own) “Wonder Boys” with an authenticity that is invaluable. I wasn’t even sure of Douglas was even acting at times, that’s how perfect he is for this material. He’s ably backed up by the lovely and underrated Jenna Fischer (I love her and I don’t even watch “The Office”), the always appreciated Susan Sarandon (once again doing as much as she can with an estranged wife role), right down to smaller turns by Mary-Louise Parker, Jesse Eisenberg, Richard Schiff (who deserves better than the functionary bit roles he gets these days), and a strangely uncredited Olivia Thirlby, who is becoming a favourite of mine and who steals her every scene here. She has one really effective moment where she puts Douglas in his place. Sarandon, as I said, is always great to have around, here playing a woman who has become comfortable with her own life that she no longer harbours any anger towards her foolish, philandering ex.

 

It’s great to see the inimitable Danny DeVito in something worthwhile, and he has an obvious warm chemistry with Douglas, whom he acted opposite in “Romancing the Stone” and “Jewel of the Nile”, as well as directing Douglas in the black comedy “War of the Roses”. DeVito is easily one of the best character actors around, as this, “The Rainmaker”, “Get Shorty”, “Heist”, and “Throw Momma From the Train” are evidence of.

 

It’s a small film, and too similar to “Wonder Boys” for my liking at times, but if you’re a Michael Douglas fan you owe it to yourself to see this, one of his best roles to date. It’s kinda scary that he had real-life health concerns after this film was made, and he is surprisingly redeemable and vulnerable (or at the very least, pathetic enough that you don’t hate him), underneath that selfish, pants man exterior. Terrific use of Johnny Cash over the opening credits, too. Not the kind of film you’d expect from “Knockaround Guys” filmmakers Levien and Koppelman (both of whom also wrote “Oceans 13”), I must say, but a much better one.

 

Rating: B-