Review of Solitary Man (2009) by Thomas W — 08 Sep 2010

Solitary Man has been praised for its lead performance by Michael Douglas (Wall Street, Romancing the Stone, Disclosure). Douglas is exceptional here -- his toughness is a put-on; his insecurity is disguised and his success as a suave casanova is up to the viewer to decide (just as it is for the ladies at the end of his glare to decide).

Douglas was a happily married man -- but after a routine appointment to the doctor six and a half years ago -- he's decided to live precarioiusly. He throws money around, flirts with any woman (pretty much those under the age of 25), drinks and begins to alienate clients, partners and friends.

Douglas is surrounded by a respectable amount of female talent in this film: Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking, Bull Durham), Mary-Louise Parker (tv's Weeds, Fried Green Tomatoes), Jenna Fischer (Truman State University alum and Pam of tv's the Office), Imogen Poots (Centurion, 28 Weeks Later) and an uncredited Olivia Thirlby (Juno, New York I Love You, United 93) are the various women in his life.

Sarandon is his still caring ex-wife; Parker is his current girlfriend; Fischer is his daughter; Poots is Parker's 18 year old daughter (uh-oh) and Thirlby plays an intelligent university girl who can actually see through him.

His life is still moving along because he is a highly successful car magnate (ugh -- a car salesman!) until he does the unthinkable and his life is destroyed and ruined by a woman scorned. There is some soul-searching and analyzing of past behavior and Douglas shines.

Poots is memorable as a young lady with a cold streak who is out for life experiences. This is one of Douglas's best roles -- probably his best since The Wonder Boys. It is a solitary picture as it really only concerns him.

Even with the large cast of supporting characters, this IS Douglas's film. I liked this as in introspective film but it might not have enough action and excitement to keep everyone interested.