Movies

It reminds me the classic Russian literature. A character with deep traits of looser.And the world around him. A splendid performance from Michael Douglas. And the right atmosphere. A film who you know. In each detail. Maybe, except the end. Short - bitter, honest, cruel, ironic.

SOLITARY MAN (2010) ***1/ 2 Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Mary-Louise Parker, Jenna Fischer, Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg, Richard Schiff, Olivia Thirlby, Jake Richard Sicilliano, David Constabile, Ben Shenkman, Anastasia Griffith. Douglas is in top form as a self-indulgent well-to-do car salesman who finds himself in tailspin when a few setbacks including the varied relationships in his life with family and lovers which results in a clear-eyed moment of clarity for a suddenly aging lothario who may not be the end result of the sum of his means. Interesting character study by rookies Brian Koppelman and David Levien allows their star a fine role to sink his teeth into (and serious consideration for a Best Actor Oscar); sublimely subtle yet with a dollop of fine gravitas.

This film is about a once successful car dealer who becomes increasingly solitary and helpless through his actions.What is there to like about "Solitary Man"? It has a strong cast that is put into good use. Michael Douglas carries his unlikable character well, he is very believable and convincing.However, everything else seems to be unlikable. The plot revolves entirely around a unsympathetic and unlikable person, which gives me no reason to like the film. Everything Ben Kalmen does sends him further down the bottom. Just when you think he cannot mess up anymore than he already has, he messes up again. This continual provocation is not fun to watch. As for the ending, I find it almost condescending to have a debriefing of the plot, and then an ambiguous ending. After sitting through 90 minutes, the viewers really deserve better treatment than that.