Review of Solitary Man (2009) by Asif K — 11 Oct 2010

At 65 years old, Michael Douglas can still command the movie screen. In recent years, his choice of parts has looked somewhat desperate to me. Solitary Man got little publicity and is playing largely art houses around the country.

And it is quite a film. It is very much Douglas at his aging best. His character is true to the Neil Diamond song by the same name, a version of which is sung (badly) over the opening credits. In short, it's one of the best performances of Michael Douglas' career.

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.

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.

Wicked, blunt writing, a great supporting cast and Douglas doing variations of other sleazy womanizers he's played make this a tart, terse treat. Michael Douglas is at his best when playing a character at his worst.

one of the best movies this year, loved it. awsome.