Solitary Man

Intelligently written, intensely emotional, and elegantly enigmatic, Solitary Man is the kind of mature film rarely made these days. Renowned as “New York's honest car dealer” and featured on the cover of Forbes, Ben Kalmen (Michael Douglas) is deeply disturbed when, after a routine physical, his internist recommends further heart tests. Six-and-a-half years later, 60-year-old Ben's life has changed completely: corporate malfeasance has decimated his automobile business, while only the payment of a stiff fine has kept him out of prison. Despite his glib denials, Ben's name is permanently tainted by scandal. Persistent philandering has destroyed his marriage to his college sweetheart, Nancy (Susan Sarandon), and his unreliability has strained his relationship with his daughter (Jenna Fischer) and grandson. Restless and relentless, Ben bounces from one inappropriate seduction to another, never allowing scruples to influence his choice of young women. But when his current girlfriend (Mary-Louise Parker) asks him to accompany her 18-year-old daughter (Imogen Poots) to a college interview at his Boston alma mater—where he's generously endowed a library—Ben oversteps the line. Co-directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, Solitary Man may start out slow, but this sensitive film eventually achieves acerbic resonance, anchored by Douglas's potent and unforgettable performance, and a strong supporting cast that also includes Jesse Eisenberg, Olivia Thirlby, and Danny DeVito. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by writer-director Brian Koppelman, director David Levien, and costar Douglas McGrath, an “Alone in a Crowd” making-of featurette (12 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a winning film.] (S. Granger)