'Solitary Man'

'Solitary Man' (R) (3 stars)

Writer: Brian Koppelman
Directors: Brian Koppelman and David Levien
Starring: Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Mary Louise Parker, Jesse Eisenberg, Imogen Poots, Danny Devito, Jenna Fischer

Michael Douglas has had an amazing and diverse career. He is sometimes criminally under rated as an actor. He had his 70's period producing fine movies like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and acted in masterpieces like "The China Syndrome". He made a huge comeback in the mid 80's after some flops with the extremely fun "Romancing the Stone". He then made his controversial potboilers like "Fatal Attraction" and "Basic Instinct" and also his first acting Oscar win for "Wall Street". He has a grace, confidence and every man appeal to him that makes him a cherished star. He is not afraid to play shallow and flawed men like he does in the very good movie "Solitary Man". Douglas plays Ben Kalman, a car magnate who has gotten in trouble with financial scandals and romantic infidelity. He has an ex wife played by Susan Sarandon, an estranged daughter played by Jenna Fischer ( The Office) and a girlfriend played by Mary Louise Parker. The woman he is dating has a daughter who is about to go to a college for an interview. The girlfriend wants him to take her daughter to the school since he has connections. They go on the trip and as soon as they get there Ben gets in a fight with a college student. Ben is pretty much an arrogant and not to nice man who is a complete womanizer. He will have to do some soul searching as he visits his old college home.

This is not a great movie but it has a well written screenplay and one of Douglas's best performances of his career. It reminds me of Paul Newman's work in "Nobody's Fool". It is a joy to watch Douglas act and he has great support and a wonderful few scenes with friend Danny Devito. Jesse Eisenberg plays a student who tags along Ben and shows the daughter the campus. Eisenberg is building a stellar career and I love his work. He was wonderful in last year's best movie "Adventureland" and he is again solid here. Jenna Fischer is very good in "The Office" but I think she has what it takes to build a nice film career. She handles drama very well here and shows her range well. I always love watching Mary Louise Parker and also Imogen Poots makes a nice debut and is very beautiful. This movie should be watched just for watching how smooth and great Michael Douglas can be. This is a very good character study with a performance by a man who is now mastering character roles. When you watch Michael Douglas you realize what a presence he has and what a true movie star he is.