Review: Solitary Man

90 min - Comedy | Drama | Romance

Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon and Jesse Eisenberg

"I don't change things when they are still working, that's your move"

Nancy Kalman(Susan Sarandon) speaking to Ben Kalman(Micheal Douglas)

For me to use some overused words to describe a movie is very uncommon but here we go

"A Tour De Force for Micheal Douglas"

"Bravo, may we see an encore sir"

"The Best film of his long career"

Those are just some of the sayings I could come up with, I really have never been a fan of Micheal Douglas(per say)I have seen allot of his work mostly because I love movies of all types and genres.

I enjoyed his father Kirk's work more and also his movies.

That being said Micheal Douglas has outdone himself here as Ben Kalman this is somewhat similar to the character he played in "Falling Down"(not one of his better films)however there is so much more going on than meets the eye.

He is divorced from his wife Nancy(Sarandon)but still have fondness here and is quite enjoyable to watch these two together in a room.Here she tells him the line that is quoted at the beginning of this page.Susan Sarandon is one of my favorite actresses and she doesn't let down here either, she is softer in this role as Nancy but as we know her from previous roles she can light them up with the best of them.

His current love interest is Jordon Karsh(Mary-Louise Parker) she asks him to escort her daughter to campus in Boston where she wants to attend, things go poorly for him.One night around drinks they start to speak of sex and more drinks and they end up in bed together(Insert Hollywood lovemaking scene)

For me there is hardly any passion in Hollywood love scenes and here was no different aside from throwing her on the counter this was reminiscent of "Fatal Attraction".

While on campus he meets Daniel Cheston(Jesse Eisenberg) who is the campus nerd that he somewhat takes under his wing and tries to make him a ladies man.

Jimmy Merino(Danny Devito)is an old friend of his and helps him try to get back on his feet when things go rough for him by letting him work at his diner.

These two go back in time to 1975 when Micheal Douglas produced a small film called "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" starring Jack Nicholson and Danny Devito.They would star in films over the years including:

Romancing The Stone(1984)

Jewel of the Nile(1985)

& War Of the Roses(1989)

I found this film to be profound some scenes are quiet when he wakes up each morning and strokes his hands through his hair and takes some baby Aspirin.Other scenes like the one at the top of the page he sits there quietly glancing away.

The rest of the cast is clearly there to support Mr Douglas and even though this might be late, I have a new found respect for one

Micheal Douglas.