Solitary Man (2009)
| Director: | Brian Koppelman, David Levien |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Michael Douglas Susan Sarandon Jesse Eisenberg Danny DeVito Mary-Louise Parker |
| Year of release: | 2009 |
| Running time: | 86 Min. |
| Age restriction: | 16 L |
| Category: | Comedy Drama Romance |
Solitary Man flirts with comedy, especially in its whip-smart dialogue and some great scenes between Michael Douglas (as Ben) and Danny DeVito (as Jimmy), who plays an old friend. But there is a darker current running through the story. Directors Brian Koppelman and David Levien previously co-wrote both Ocean’s Thirteen and The Girlfriend Experience for Steven Soderbergh.
As the film probes deeper into Ben’s compulsions, it becomes a character study. Why did he leave a wife as gorgeous and soulful as Nancy? What does he have to prove in befriending a young college geek (Jesse Eisenberg)? And when it comes to so many of his indiscretions, quite simply, how could he? Douglas has never been an Everyman on screen, but there are many men in their middle years who will identify with this character more than they’d care to admit. His is the id that never fades, even as the consequences mount.
Awards: 1 win & 2 nominations
