Today’s quick review: Solitary Man. Ben Kalmen (Michael Douglas) has fallen on hard times. Once the owner of a lucrative car dealership, Ben has lost his reputation, his wife Nancy (Susan Sarandon), and the respect of his daughter Susan (Jenna Fischer). With his money running out, Ben tries to stage a comeback using his girlfriend Jordan’s (Mary-Louise Parker) connections. But his roving eye and impulsive behavior threaten to ruin everything.
Solitary Man is a dramatic comedy about a smooth-talking man and his self-destructive tendencies. Solitary Man follows Ben Kalmen as his flagging career and strained personal relationships deteriorate even further. In spite of his superficial charm and knack for business, Ben soon finds himself grasping at straws. The movie features a convincing performance from Michael Douglas and a strong supporting cast, but its story leaves something to be desired.
Solitary Man is a character portrait, and this is where its strengths lie. Ben is not as likable or as sympathetic as other characters who are cut from the same cloth. His troubles are self-inflicted, and he shows few signs of remorse. But his flaws are believable, his behavior is consistent throughout the movie, and Douglas’ performance manages to walk the razor’s edge between Ben being irredeemable and merely going through a rough patch.
The focus on Ben leads to an odd story progression. Everything hangs together reasonably well, with Ben’s actions early in the film coming back to haunt him later on, but the events of the story still feel piecemeal. Ben gets shuffled among the large supporting cast without a clear plan in mind. Changes to his life happen in fits and starts. Solitary Man eventually gets where it’s going, but its trajector isn’t as tightly handled as in some other films.
Solitary Man will appeal to those who enjoy flawed characters, organic plots, and wry cynicism. It does a good job of fleshing out its protagonist, his strengths, and the choices that are ruining his life, but it has a harder time tying everything together into a cohesive emotional arc. The result is a drama that touches on some interesting themes without ever getting too dark, but one that lacks the raw payoff of other films like it.
For Michael Douglas in a similarly unscrupulous role, watch Wall Street or Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. For a quirky comedy about a similarly flawed husband and father, try The Royal Tenenbaums. For a black comedy about another womanizer trapped in a downward spiral, try Igby Goes Down. For a more subdued tale of romantic misadventure, try The Graduate. For a more extravagant saga of self-destruction, try Leaving Las Vegas.
6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for solid character work and a mixed payoff.