Solitary Man (2009)

A car magnate watches his personal and professional life hit the skids because of his business and romantic indiscretions.

Directors:

Brian Koppelman, David Levien

Writer:

Brian Koppelman

Stars:

Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Jesse Eisenberg

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Douglas	...	Ben Kalmen
Susan Sarandon	...	Nancy Kalmen
Danny DeVito	...	Jimmy Merino
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Jordon Karsch
Jenna Fischer	...	Susan Porter
Imogen Poots	...	Allyson Karsch
Jesse Eisenberg	...	Daniel Cheston
Richard Schiff	...	Steve Heller
Jake Siciliano	...	Scotty
David Costabile	...	Gary Porter
Ben Shenkman	...	Peter Hartofilias
Anastasia Griffith	...	Carol Salomonde
Alex Kaluzhsky	...	Ted Loof
Simona Williams	...	Nurse (as Simona Levin Williams)
James Colby	...	Sgt. John Haverford

Storyline

Ben Kalman is aging: he has heart problems, his marriage is over, he's lost a fortune after being caught cutting corners in his East Coast car business, and he's sleeping with as many women as possible - the younger the better. He's chosen his current girlfriend, Jordan, because her father can help him get a new auto dealership; she's asked him to escort her daughter, Allyson, 18, on a visit to a Boston college campus. He behaves badly, and there are consequences to his love life, his finances, and his relationship with his daughter and grandson. Is there anywhere he can turn?

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Plot Keywords:

womanizer | aspirin | midlife crisis | older man younger woman relationship | ex husband ex wife relationship | 

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Taglines:

Ben loves his family almost as much as he loves himself

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

25 June 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

El hombre solitario

Filming Locations:

City Island, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$94,936, 23 May 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$4,360,548, 4 October 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Millennium Films,Paul Schiff Productions,Smartest Man Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Brian Koppelman reveals in an interview with filmschoolrejects.com that the blonde that walks by at the end of the movie is Sports Illustrated cover model Brooklyn Decker.

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Quotes

Jimmy Merino: When my father gave me this place years ago, I used to dream about these girls. Every night, dreams, all kinds of dreams about 'em. But then I'd see them coming back after graduation. They'd come to homecomings, ballgames. They'd sit at the same tables, eat the same food. And I'd look at them and I noticed, they don't stay like this. None of 'em. They put on years and pounds and wrinkles. And I got one like that at home. So. And we can talk to each other. I know her and I'll always know her.

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Connections

References Dr. Phil (2002)

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Soundtracks

Broke Down
Written by Slaid Cleaves and Roderick Picott
Performed by Slaid Cleaves
Published by Happy Valley Music/Magic Rat Music/ Welding Rod Music (BMI)
Courtesy of Rounder Records

User Reviews

Very Good

Ben (Douglas) got caught in a car scam when he owned numerous car dealerships and paid a hefty fine for his role. He lost his wife and is trying to get his life back by setting up another car dealership.

The title of this could have been Scorpion because a scorpion does what a scorpion does regardless of circumstances and anyone and anything around it. Ben is a womanizer and that seems to be on his mind all the time despite everything else going wrong in his life. And, that never seems to change.

Ben is likable to all, but when we see him we do not like him and wish he would do the right things. There is a moment, in the beginning, when we feel Ben has it all together, has all the answers, but then we discover we were wrong. He has the gift of gab, but even though still likable, the people around him do not trust him and don't believe him either…..yet they hope the best for him.

This was a great job by Douglas so much so that I felt his pain when he reflected from time to time. A great supporting cast brings everything home to us and we are helpless to do anything but hope Ben finally realizes what he is up against. An Oscar nomination for Douglas may be in the works, but Jenna Fischer who played Ben's daughter, Susan, may get a Best Supporting nod. She was us watching Ben and hoping.

The real winner in here is the dialogue throughout. It was honest and effective.

In the beginning, Johnny Cash sings the song Solitary Man in a slow rhythmic way to let us know Ben's plight, but the song is about women who did him wrong and that was NOT the case here. Did I hear someone say, "Ooops?" It is Ben's sexual nature that does him wrong, not any woman. The ending to this story leaves us with a choice as to what we would like to see happen, but remember the scorpion.

Violence: Yes, some, not much Sex: No. Nudity: No. Sexual Content: Yes, almost throughout Language: Yes, but not much.