Review of Solitary Man (2009) by Victoria B — 09 Sep 2010

"Solitary Man" should be retitled "Selfish Man" because Michael Douglas as Ben only cares about his ego...ur...libido. It's an excellent screenplay and the dialogue is real, intelligent, and sarcastic. One of the best movies about aging and the mortality fears facing middle-aged men.

The movie doesn't try to analyze the issues but presents it in a straight-forward style with a cynical view. Douglas is in almost every scene and this is his best role to date. Unfortunately for him, it mirrors his Gekko role in "Wall Street" so he might not get the attention he deserves. He also breezes through the movie so it might seem he's not really acting. Though not a great actor, Douglas can be very engaging when he finds the right role. Writer Brian Koppelman also gives all the supporting actors some scenes with substantial dialogue. Susan Sarandon, Mary-Louise Parker, Imogen Poots, Jenna Fischer, and Jesse Eisenberg make their minor roles worth watching and remembering.

In the end, "Solitary Man" is a movie for grown ups. While watching, I wondered how much of the movie is actually experienced by the writer and directors. It plays less than a movie drama but more like the camera was hidden in the walls observing these likable characters despite their flaws.