Review of Solitary Man (2009) by Aalt S — 30 Aug 2010

A new spin on a conventional story; the despicable male who is forced to reflect on his past transgressions and contemplates a shot at redemption. These parts are typically a terrific showcase for the male actor who chooses to take it on (whether it be Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler" or Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart").

Where Douglas goes in a different direction with his performance of Ben Kalman is with the trademark Douglas charm amped up with and laced with an oily, acidic tone. Both Rourke and Bridges played disgraced figures who had some decency at their core from the beginning, there was just so much sewage that had to be sorted through to find it.

Ben Kalmen doesn't seem to be stricken with that veiled decency; he's a pretty legitimate scumbag from the get-go. He takes his then-girlfriend's daughter up to a college orientation, only to seduce her into bed with him even though she's 40 years his junior.

He makes blunt statements to just about everyone without considering the consequences. But with the reveal that he is physically dying begins to force him to have a different perspective on his actions.

He is not a man who seems to have decency at his core and finally lets it show itself, but instead an indecent man who finds a way to acquire actual humanity. It is a fantastic performance that I'm sure will get Oscar attention, and a pretty solid movie overall.