Review of Solitary Man (2009) by Benjamin M — 15 Sep 2010

While returning a few other red box rentals I noticed 'Solitary Man', to my surprise, had already been out for a week. I had watched the trailer for the film a few months ago and thought it would be opening in theaters at some point, too bad it didn't because the film won't garner near as much recognition as it should with its direct to dvd release.

It has become an interesting fact that lately more and more really good, quality films are being dropped straight to the dvd release bin without a shot at the big leagues. I also rented another direct to dvd release,'The Jones's', at the same time I did 'Solitary Man' because of such good word of mouth.

While this is an interesting topic to discuss and the reasons for it are most likely purely financial, this is supposed to be about the movie so let's get to that. 'Solitary Man' is a story we are sadly all too familiar with.

A man, who has everything going for him is struck down by a heart condition and in a rebellion to prove his body wrong he begins acting like a complete jerk really. Leaving behind all that made his world wonderful before and screwing everything up just to get a taste of what its like to do whatever he wants.

We get that Ben Kaleman wasn't this hugely upstanding guy before he got the news, but he was surely a better man than he is after. Michale Douglas, as he will always be able to do, plays creepy slimeball perfectly.

He gives his character no reason to be liked and his actions are inexcusable, but in a way we understand why he is doing what hes doing. We don't agree with it, its obviously neither the right or the best choice, but it is how he feels is the best way to deal with it and so he went for it.

This ideal of living life for him begins to backfire and what we see in the film is the quick decline of what was once an honorable man. Michale Douglas is simply terrific here, though he has surely played this character countless times before it fits the tone and emotional pull of this film greatly and the film is much improved because of his performance overall.

The movie has a great ensemble cast that lifts the familiar story up even more. From a satisfying turn for Jenna Fischer to a slew of cameos by other favorites like Jesse Eisenberg, Danny DeVito, Mary Louise Parker and Susan Sarandon, it is wonderful to see them interact and deal with a father, husband, friend that is going through something really terrible and dealing with it in an even worse way.

We wonder why none of them ever seem to try and stop him or how everything went down when Ben first lost it, but non eof it really matters in terms of understanding the main character for who he really is and what his life has turned out to be.

Douglas should have recieved more attention than he will ever get for the role, not a bad deal for me though. Great movie for a dollar instead of ten at the theaters.