Solitary Man

Bravi attori sprecati in film mediocre

Che cosa ci fanno attori come: Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Danny de Vito e anche Jenna Fischer e Jesse Eisenberg in una pellicola così mediocre? La storia: un manager che non vuole invecchiare specialmente dopo aver ricevuto il responso medico che il cuore sta traballando, la ex moglie nell’ombra, la nuova compagna algida e fredda, la di lei figlia che diventa l’amante di lui per una notte, più altre amanti occasionali, la figlia naturale che tenta di condurlo sulla retta via, il nipotino che continua »

Inconcludente

Il cast è decisamente di prim'ordine. Il film invece è di quelli di cui se ne può fare volentieri a meno, e di cui ci si dimentica in poco tempo. Buona la recitazione (Michael Douglas in primis), peccato che nel complesso il film sia poco consistente: sceneggiatura banale e dialoghi quasi mai profondi. La crisi di mezz'età (?) di un ricco rivenditore di auto è il nocciolo della questione: difficile appassionarsi ad un soggetto di questo tipo. Michael Douglas continua »

Michael Douglas stars as a hedonist fallen on hard times.

A modest but juicy character study of a horn dog in winter, "Solitary Man" stars Michael Douglas as the sort of fellow audiences can have a hard time warming to: the self-destructive hedonist, slouching toward redemption. With a wolfish leer peeking out from behind a facade of trustworthiness, Douglas plays Ben Kalmen, who made his fortune selling cars and lost it all cutting ethical and legal corners. His ex ( Susan Sarandon) knew the better Ben in the old days and still recognizes traces of him in the back-slapping, somewhat desperate character of the story's present. »

Family Matters

The new Michael Douglas film, “Solitary Man,” is heralded, over the credits, by the song of the same name. It is delivered by Johnny Cash, whose voice confirms that pain is on the way. As a description of the movie, though, the title has no kick to it, and it comes muffled with self-pity, whereas the daily—and nightly—task of the man whom Douglas plays, Ben Kalmen, is to be shot of loneliness, with a bang. Most of the time, he succeeds, either by striding forward with a hand outstretched or by firing a smile at any blonde who comes within target range. »

Michael Douglas deserves serious award attention for his triumphant performance as the tormented Ben Kalmen, a fast-talking, moneymaking New York car dealer facing professional and personal disasters. His method of warding off aging, job scandal and a heart problem is to screw women, the younger the better. That includes Allyson (Imogen Poots), the college-age daughter of his mistress (Mary-Louise Parker). His own daughter (Jenna Fischer) has given up on him, as has his ex-wife, Nancy (Susan Sarandon). »