Solitary Man

The first effort from filmmakers Brian Koppelman and David Levien since 2001’s Knockaround Guys, Solitary Man casts Michael Douglas as Ben – a once-successful car dealer who has become a shadow of his former self following a business scandal that has essentially left him broke. There’s little doubt that Koppelman and Levien have created a low-key character study that’s primarily held aloft by Douglas’ expectedly ingratiating performance, with the relatively lighthearted nature of the movie’s opening half hour effectively drawing the viewer into the proceedings – as it becomes virtually impossible to resist Ben’s newfound mentor/protege relationship with an awkward college student (Jesse Eisenberg’s Cheston). Douglas’ charismatic work is matched by an impressively diverse supporting cast that includes Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, and Mary-Louise Parker, and it’s clear that Solitary Man is generally at its best when focused on Ben’s encounters with the various folks in his life. The movie’s inevitable progression into darker, more somber territory isn’t quite as abrupt as one might’ve feared, admittedly, yet it’s hard to deny that the shift from comedy to drama slowly but surely drains the proceedings of its momentum (ie it’s just not as compelling as it was at the outset). Still, Solitary Man lives up to its promise as a better-than-average showcase for Douglas’ still extremely potent talent and it’s worth noting that the film ultimately makes a fine companion piece to 2000’s (undeniably superior) Wonder Boys.

**1/2 out of ****