Solitary Man (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• jay n

  
  Good acting from Michael Douglas but his character is a reprehensible creep so it is difficult to feel sympathy for his plight.

• paul s

  
  In Solitary Man, Michael Douglas once again plays the ultra smooth, shark of a man... a man's man type character that he took for a spin in Wall St. This guy has his own view of the world (a rather myopic one, to be sure), and therefore can look anyone in the eye and apologize… More
  In Solitary Man, Michael Douglas once again plays the ultra smooth, shark of a man... a man's man type character that he took for a spin in Wall St. This guy has his own view of the world (a rather myopic one, to be sure), and therefore can look anyone in the eye and apologize for nothing. That his outlook causes a fall of Learian proportions... well, he's not going to apologize for that either! The film has a tight script and some fine performances, including Mary Louise Parker, Danny DiVito, and Susan Surandon (who has the Herculean task of playing a sympathetic ex wife who, in spite of numerous infidelities and the king's ransom that Douglas lost, still loves and admires her man). In the final scene of resolution, Surandon tries her best to be natural, but the lines she has to utter... well, it's almost like she's the straight man, allowing Douglas to riff, and therefore explain through a simple incident, his own brand of megalomania. There seems to be a certain admiration towards this man whose credo seems to be, take a chance and doors will open; to the point where DiVito, happily married for 30 years still living where he grew up, tells Douglas that he was not alone when he was put on the cover of Forbes Magazine (in other words, DiVito was practicing hero worship and living vicariously through Douglas' exploits). I really don't know if this is the message of this film, or if one was even intended, but it certainly entertains, so just sit back and watch Douglas in fine form - a flawed character that you have no business rooting for, and yet, due to Douglas' charisma, you end up rooting for in spite of yourself.

• Lewis C

  
  "You can't cheat death, Benny. Nobody can, no matter how many 19-year-olds you talk into your bed." The topic of the mid-life crisis and men losing their identity and sense of self as they get older has been fertile ground for movies in the past, and Solitary Man is… More
  "You can't cheat death, Benny. Nobody can, no matter how many 19-year-olds you talk into your bed." The topic of the mid-life crisis and men losing their identity and sense of self as they get older has been fertile ground for movies in the past, and Solitary Man is another entry into that sub-genre. It's a drama with slight comedic elements. Michael Douglas stars as a once powerful man who lost his wealth and position when he was caught running a scam. He fills that void with ill-advised trysts with young women and depending emotionally on his exasperated daughter. When his last-ditch attempt to regain his past career is derailed because of another poor decision, he has to confront what his life has become, his own self-destructive behavior, and how his choices have affected the people around him. This isn't a ground-breaking story, but it's certainly watchable and occasionally emotionally involving. The real reason to see Solitary Man is the cast. Along with Douglas, the movie stars Mary-Louise Parker, Imogen Poots, Danny DeVito, Susan Sarandon, Jesse Eisenberg, and Jenna Fisher. Some of the parts are bigger than others (I really wish Sarandon would have been a larger part of the movie), but fans of any of them will want to see this. For everyone else, Solitary Man is a movie you should watch if it piques your interest. Will you be adding it to the list of your all-time favorites? Probably not. It's definitely worth ninety minutes on a Sunday afternoon, though.

• Everett J

  
  Michael Douglas is great and shows that he still has more charisma in his old age that most actors will never have. The only real problem with this "dramedy" is that it should have gone further in parts for laughs. It's like it wanted to be a comedy, but didn't… More
  Michael Douglas is great and shows that he still has more charisma in his old age that most actors will never have. The only real problem with this "dramedy" is that it should have gone further in parts for laughs. It's like it wanted to be a comedy, but didn't want to pull the trigger and relies on drama that doesn't feel authentic to the characters. Definately worth at least a watch.

• Cynthia S

  
  Entertaining enough.. However, there was a real loss for what exactly was Michael Douglas' character's past troubles.. At the end of the movie they tried to wrap it up in one conversation, but.. that wasnt good enough for me. This guy was a joke; 19 year olds? please.. not… More
  Entertaining enough.. However, there was a real loss for what exactly was Michael Douglas' character's past troubles.. At the end of the movie they tried to wrap it up in one conversation, but.. that wasnt good enough for me. This guy was a joke; 19 year olds? please.. not many redeeming moments for me to like his character - but Michael Douglass played him expertly!

• Mark H

  
  Talky drama about an aging New York businessman who finds his life falling apart, unable to control his salacious desire for young women. Well written script underscores this redemptive character study. Star Michael Douglas, perfectly chosen for the lead, gives one of his most… More
  Talky drama about an aging New York businessman who finds his life falling apart, unable to control his salacious desire for young women. Well written script underscores this redemptive character study. Star Michael Douglas, perfectly chosen for the lead, gives one of his most memorable performances in years. Not many actors could bring such a magnetic presence to this role. Let's face it, his personality is downright unpleasant. You wouldn't have any patience for a person like this in real life. Thus it's a tribute to his talent that he can make this figure so engaging. However at best, it's a magnificent achievement in a mediocre picture. The story plays out a little like a Lifetime movie from the male perspective. Call it <I>Ben Kalmen: Portrait of an Aging Lothario</I>. He's backed up by a distinguished cast. Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Mary-Louise Parker and Jesse Eisenberg have supporting parts. But it's Michael Douglas that elevates this chronicle beyond its humble objectives. He alone is the reason to see the film.

• Josh L

  
  A fantastic, honest, and emotional film with a great performance from Michael Douglas. He plays these sleazy womanizing characters in his sleep, but he imbues this character with heartbreaking honesty and even though his characters ending is left in question by the end, you feel for… More
  A fantastic, honest, and emotional film with a great performance from Michael Douglas. He plays these sleazy womanizing characters in his sleep, but he imbues this character with heartbreaking honesty and even though his characters ending is left in question by the end, you feel for the guy even though he honestly isn't trying hard enough to get his life back on track. It helps that the writing is witty and biting. It has a great supporting cast including Jenna Fischer as his daughter who is constantly nagging at him to better himself, Susan Sarandon as his ex-wife whom he loved but cheated on, Jesse Eisenburg as a college student he meets at the college he attended whom he tries to mentor and fails, Mary-Louise Parker as his girlfriend with huge connections thanks to her dad, and Imogen Poots as his girlfriend's daughter whom he sleeps with while on her college visitation and starts a chain of events that ruin him. This is not a happy film, but one that will stick with me longer than many others because of its honesty.

• KJ P

  
  Solitary Man provides great emotion throughout and a love story that moves far beyond a triangle. Loving more than one person is one thing, but when the other person is in the same family as the person your dating is entirely different. This film shows how complicated love and sex can… More
  Solitary Man provides great emotion throughout and a love story that moves far beyond a triangle. Loving more than one person is one thing, but when the other person is in the same family as the person your dating is entirely different. This film shows how complicated love and sex can truly get. With an outstanding performance by Michael Douglas and great supporting actors and actresses, this is a life lesson of a film that should no be taken for granite. It is a great dramatic story of familes who are split up with underage sex and job loss. Very, Very Good, but it is definitely missing something.

• Aaron N

  
  Find More at Whysoblu.com or thecodeiszeek.blogspot.com Ben: Here, give me a hug; It'll make her think we're married. Susan: Yuck, dad! A drama, or better - a comedic tragedy about a man who has washed away a persona he used to have in order to live his later days in life… More
  Find More at Whysoblu.com or thecodeiszeek.blogspot.com Ben: Here, give me a hug; It'll make her think we're married. Susan: Yuck, dad! A drama, or better - a comedic tragedy about a man who has washed away a persona he used to have in order to live his later days in life to the fullest. Michael Douglas puts in some of his best work as this character, and the supporting cast is quite good as well. While the film really only functions to give Douglas as much good material as possible to work with, despite the simple structure going on around him, there is enough in the way of what occurs to make it a good film. Douglas stars as Ben Kalmen, a man who was a very successful car dealership owner, loving husband and father, with things looking good. Cut to six years later, after learning of a possible heart condition, and Ben has gone out of his way to pretty much ruin his reputation. He is now essentially blackballed from selling cars, has divorced his wife, and remains a questionable person to be around. Despite all this, Ben pursues his broader life outlook. He lusts after women more than half his age and lays on the kind of charm that works better at a distance than once you get to hang out with him. Among the people in his life, you have Susan Sarandon as his ex-wife, Jenna Fischer as his daughter, Mary-Louise Parker as his latest mistress, and Imogen Poots as her daughter. During the course of this film, Ben is tasked to take the Poots character to the school he graduated from in an effort to speak well on her behalf. During this time, Ben meets Cheston, played by Jesse Eisenberg, who is essentially playing an older version of his role in a similar film, Roger Dodger. Ben of course gives Cheston some advice that Ben, himself, could have benefited from in years past. Ben also runs into an old friend played by Danny DeVito, who runs the local diner on campus. All of these various relationships are tested, as Ben continues on his path of self destruction. Ben Kalmen: You got your little jokes, you know, the Spanish thing, interests are the same, and the studying. But, um, are you getting it, you know, where it counts? As I've said, the work done by Douglas is some of his best. Easily one of his top performances. He is one of the rare older actors of today who could probably pull off a performance like this, where his actions can be described as despicable, yet be able to be likable due to the misdirection he can lay on a person with his charm. Helping out the film are many of these supporting players. Surandon is always a reliable actress, as is DeVito, but I was also impressed by Fischer, who manages to do more than just be Pam from The Office. Eisenberg is solid as well, and he continues to be a reliable young actor. The shortcomings of this film are the ways in which it turns to conventions towards the end, which aren't drastic enough to push this film off the rails, but it certainly doesn't become a feature greater than others like it. The film could have also benefited from some more exploration of the successful version of Ben's character. Written and directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, both of Rounders fame and frequent collaborators with Steven Soderbergh, who serves as a producer, the film certainly benefits from the way they write dialogue and allow scenes to play out with a natural feel. The script is fairly quick witted (despite it's poor choice to have a character refer to disc golf as "frolfing") and works well enough to keep us involved with the characters. Very solid character drama. Ben Kalmen: I say a whole lot of stuff. You know, some of it's even the truth.

• Steven C

  
  There is no doubt that Brian Koppelman and David Levien are talanted writers, but as directors they really don't bring anything new to the table. What makes "Solitary Man" memorable is Michael Douglas' central performance. He is doing some of the best work of his… More
  There is no doubt that Brian Koppelman and David Levien are talanted writers, but as directors they really don't bring anything new to the table. What makes "Solitary Man" memorable is Michael Douglas' central performance. He is doing some of the best work of his career here, reminding us of why he won the Oscar for "Wall Street". The scenes between him and his daughter, played by the lovely Jenna Fischer, are some of the pictures strongest. While the rest of the supporting cast is good, they are mostly underused, which is a shame. The film is so centered on Douglas that it can't deviate to focus on the wonderful array of supporters. While it certainly hurts the film, the cast is so uniformly great and the characterization that Douglas and Koppelman & Levien bring make up for the faults. "Solitary Man" is a solid film all around, but without Douglas, it wouldn't have been a very memorable one.

• Chris G

  
  Solitary Man opens with Ben Kalman (Michael Douglas) at his peak. Life is good and it's only going to get better for the BMW dealer of the greater New York area. He's at the doctor, bragging about his wife (Susan Sarandon) when he finds out that he needs some tests.… More
  Solitary Man opens with Ben Kalman (Michael Douglas) at his peak. Life is good and it's only going to get better for the BMW dealer of the greater New York area. He's at the doctor, bragging about his wife (Susan Sarandon) when he finds out that he needs some tests. There's some concern about his health. We jump to six years later. Ben is divorced. His dealerships are all gone, lost in a scheme that almost sent him to jail. He's reduced to borrowing money from his daughter and playing gigolo to rich divorced women for their connections. When his current flame (Mary-Louise Parker) gets ill, Ben is recruited to accompany her daughter Allyson (Imogen Poots) to a college interview at a school that just happens to have a library named for him. If things couldn't get any worse for Ben, it's this trip to his old school that really tests the way his life has turned out and the direction he is going. Solitary Man is the story of one mans mid life crisis. There seems to be a point in everyones life where they decide to say "Fuck it" and do what they want to do or, in some case, what they think they want to do. It's the life is too short attitude for Ben. The only problem is that his choices have been crap, even though he appears to be living the dream with a good line of bullshit to boot. The question that Ben never asks himself throughout the film is "was it worth it?". Did going to the extreme benefit his life in any way? Was the grass really greener? Ben may be surrounded by people and have a good line of BS, but he's really all by himself. His crisis has created a shell that nobody gets through. Michael Douglas is perfect in this role and the entire film is a great piece of film making that I feared that was a little over burdened by its cast and subject matter. My worries were unfounded with this good film. It's one of the better things to see in 2010.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Ben loves his family almost as much as he loves himself"</i> A car magnate watches his personal and professional life hit the skids because of his business and romantic indiscretions. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"Ben loves his family almost as much as he loves himself"</i> A car magnate watches his personal and professional life hit the skids because of his business and romantic indiscretions. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Solitary Man tells the story of Ben Kalmen (Michael Douglas), a car magnate who has to watch his personal and professional life hit the skids because of his business and romantic indiscretion. The story seems very simple but the subject however, it's quite complex. Solitary Man is much more then a quirky little comedy or small well written drama. While it combines elements from both genres, it's a journey of self-discovery that makes the viewers think...think about life, about themselves, about aspirations and desires and so forth and I really enjoyed it. I guess this is my favorite kind of film, a very personal story about every day life that focuses on the characters and their struggles and eventually tackles some big questions. So much better then a special effects bonanza without any real value or one of those A-list star studded comedies. Anyway, the script is pretty great and the film was extremely well directed. It has a great pace, very entertaining and never gets boring and more importantly, it's a clever film. One that you may actually think about a little after the credits roll. Having said that, this film wouldn't been the same without the acting. Imogen Poots and Jenna Fischer were great and then there's Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Mary-Louise Parker and Jesse Eisenberg who all had smaller roles but made the best out of it. And of course, the always charismatic Michael Douglas. He delivered an amazing performance that really made the film. Absolutely expectational work by the veteran actor. Overall, a great film that probably won't reach wider audiences and yet, this is the stuff good films are made of.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Mary-Louise Parker, Jenna Fischer, Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg, Richard Schiff, Jake Richard Siciliano, David Costabile, Anastasia Griffith, Arthur J. Nascarella Director: Brian Koppelman, David Levien Summary: Michael… More
  Cast: Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Mary-Louise Parker, Jenna Fischer, Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg, Richard Schiff, Jake Richard Siciliano, David Costabile, Anastasia Griffith, Arthur J. Nascarella Director: Brian Koppelman, David Levien Summary: Michael Douglas stars as a former car dealership owner who sees his personal and professional lives take a nosedive when the repercussions of years of shady business dealings and chronic womanizing finally catch up with him. My Thoughts: "This is a film your either going to love, hate, or be somewhere in the middle of that. I fall in the middle. Michael Douglas is great in this, there is a great list of supporting actors throughout this film as well. The only problem is that the film (although it is better then most of the one's I have seen) has been made plenty of times already. Not only that, but Michael Douglas has already been there and done that when it comes to this type of character. So the acting was great, but the plot is a rerun of many that have come before it. It also was a bit of a bore. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this type of film. But do see this if not for the story-line, then definitely for the performances. They all gave great performances in this film."

• Corey W

  
  One of the better films of 2010. Michael Douglas not only gives an excellent performence, but, an Oscar-worthy one as well. Now, "Solitary Man" may be a story we've seen more than once, but, this one is done better. We watch this character and as the movie progresses… More
  One of the better films of 2010. Michael Douglas not only gives an excellent performence, but, an Oscar-worthy one as well. Now, "Solitary Man" may be a story we've seen more than once, but, this one is done better. We watch this character and as the movie progresses and all we feel is emotion towards him and because of that, in the end, we just like the movie. The movie is beatifully written and filled with rich dialouge--including a couple funny lines. "Solitary Man" is sort of like last year's, "Up in the Air", its a story about the ups and downs of life and is also filled with a couple heart-to-heart scenes that really hit you. So, who knows, maybe "Solitary Man" could be nomiated for a couple Oscar's this year. I think its possible...

• William D

  
  "Solitary Man," from the relatively young filmmaking team of Brian Koppelman and David Levien ("Knockaround Guys"), is daring and unique. I respect very much what they were striving for. But Koppelman and Levien haven't quite developed the cinematic skill to… More
  "Solitary Man," from the relatively young filmmaking team of Brian Koppelman and David Levien ("Knockaround Guys"), is daring and unique. I respect very much what they were striving for. But Koppelman and Levien haven't quite developed the cinematic skill to pull something like this off. I wait excitedly for their next few films, in hopes that their skills start to match their ambitions. "Solitary Man" tells the story of a sociopath. The marketing campaign depicts lots of smiling faces, giving the impression this is a feel-good story, which couldn't be further from the truth. This is a grim story about people destroying each other and destroying themselves. There are quite a few good laughs, but by and large this is a bleak story. The solitude of the main character, who is played by Michael Douglas, is due to the fact that he mistreats people so spectacularly and is so completely self-involved that eventually no one wants anything to do with him. Watching him chase everyone away, including his children and grandchildren, leaves you feeling sick. But this is such a common human phenomenon that it's a pleasure to see filmmakers taking it on. You don't see too many films with the guts to venture into this territory in an artistically serious way. I don't want to give away too many plot details, but I'll mention one occurrence that captures the film well. The main character is dating a fortysomething woman with a daughter in high school. The girl is pretty much his step-daughter. He takes her on a trip to visit a college and proceeds to bed her. But wait, it gets better. The girl turns out to be as much of a narcissistic snake as he. All in the family!

• Walter M

  
  Would you buy a used car from Ben Kalmen(Michael Douglas)? He would like you to, as nearing sixty, he is close to getting back into the business of selling cars. He currently maintains a shaky relationship with his ex-wife Nancy(Susan Sarandon) and their daughter Susan(Jenna… More
  Would you buy a used car from Ben Kalmen(Michael Douglas)? He would like you to, as nearing sixty, he is close to getting back into the business of selling cars. He currently maintains a shaky relationship with his ex-wife Nancy(Susan Sarandon) and their daughter Susan(Jenna Fischer). In the meantime, he has to accompany Allyson(Imogen Poots), the daughter of his girlfriend Jordan(Mary-Louise Parker, now officially the poster goddess for bad motherhood), to his alma mater in Boston where a library is named for him. "Solitary Man" is a darkly funny movie about morality in a world where the virtuous are not always rewarded. So, the best choice is to lead a good life nonetheless. And then you have Ben who forgets there are consequences to one's actions and that one should never shit where one eats. This character plays perfectly to Michael Douglas' wheelhouse as an actor, as he is able to convey sleaziness and charisma simultaneously. He does this so well that it is entirely believable that Ben would still be attractive to much younger women.(There is one instance where it is not physical attraction that draws a woman to him and that is so disturbing I feel dirty just thinking about it.) However, the movie is not without its share of minor flaws such as slight predictability, forgetting the college campus/townie divide, detour through "Roger Dodger," the eerie feeling Kathleen Turner will turn up at any minute and odd product placement that my fellow New Yorkers might recognize. Plus, it badly needs an ending.

• Ryan R

  
  Solitary Man is about an older man named Ben Kalmen (Douglas), who finds out that he may be terminally ill. Upon hearing the bad news, he skips further counsel and treatment to go on with his remaining time, drinking, having as much sex as he can, and ruining his closest relationships… More
  Solitary Man is about an older man named Ben Kalmen (Douglas), who finds out that he may be terminally ill. Upon hearing the bad news, he skips further counsel and treatment to go on with his remaining time, drinking, having as much sex as he can, and ruining his closest relationships in the process. Michael Douglas does a fine job at carrying this story on his shoulders. He was definitely in his comfort zone, and it showed. In fact, the entire cast was good. Danny Devito, Susan Sarandan, Jesse Eisenberg, Jenna Fischer and newcomer (sort of) Imogen Poots round out an excellent supporting cast. My main complaint is with the narrative. To me it left a lot to be desired. The running time is about an hour and a half, but I feel like it should have been a little longer. There were details glossed over, and a few holes unfilled, but then again that may just be the way they wanted to tell their story. Either way, I left the theatre wanting more.

• Jeff T

  
  This movie starts and you have brace yourself for some overwhelming deja vu; there's Michael Douglas, our resident expert on The Great American Narcissist, spreading misery wherever he goes. And you can't help but think "I've been here before." And then,… More
  This movie starts and you have brace yourself for some overwhelming deja vu; there's Michael Douglas, our resident expert on The Great American Narcissist, spreading misery wherever he goes. And you can't help but think "I've been here before." And then, about 20 or 30 minutes in, something funny happens. You start to realize that even if you have been here before, it's been a long, long time since the "here" was this good. Douglas, in top form, working from an articulate, literate and delicious screenplay, is leading the way through a very satisfying tale that seems to never go quite where you think it will. And to the last shot, you may find yourself thinking (as I did) "this could fall apart at any second"; and it's that last shot that I held my breath for. "Please, please don't screw it up," I thought. Lucky for us, they did not.

• Sol C

  
  Michael Douglas's performance is the best reason to see this film. The problem with the film is that it is predictable and the pacing is off at times. The film reminded me of About Schmidt and another Douglas film Wonder Boys. His character reminded me of his character in Wonder… More
  Michael Douglas's performance is the best reason to see this film. The problem with the film is that it is predictable and the pacing is off at times. The film reminded me of About Schmidt and another Douglas film Wonder Boys. His character reminded me of his character in Wonder Boys. The film is well cast. Jenna Fischer is really good as his daughter and their scenes together are very good. Jesse Eisenberg has an nice on screen chemistry with Douglas in the film. The best part is all the scenes with Douglas and Danny DeVito. They have a great on screen chemistry and it shows.

• Naughtia N

  
  Michael Douglas does an awesome performance in the character of an aged playboy trying to keeping a good grip on his youth by being very irresponsible and careless. I liked this movie a lot and it shows how wrong things can go if you choose this irresponsible lifestyle. I especially… More
  Michael Douglas does an awesome performance in the character of an aged playboy trying to keeping a good grip on his youth by being very irresponsible and careless. I liked this movie a lot and it shows how wrong things can go if you choose this irresponsible lifestyle. I especially liked that they featured the Johnny Cash song in the movie.

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