MESSAGE IN THE MOVIES

Solitary Man Rated R

Directed by David Levien and Brian Koppelman.  Starring Michael Douglas, Mary-Louise Parker.

Photo © Anchor Bay Films
Movie Review by Rev. Bruce Batchelor Glader

If being a sinner means living your life apart from God and putting self-interest ahead of all other things, then Ben Kalmen (Douglas), the main character in Solitary Man, is a sinner par excellence.

Ben is divorced, disgraced (he lost his chain of car dealerships through corruption), and degenerate, still trying to work out deals by going to bed with women with connections, including Jordan (Parker) whose circle of influence may help Ben make a comeback. 

The only problem is Ben himself, who seems unable to reform himself.  Ben grew rich using his power of seduction to sell people cars they didn’t need.  He is still handsome but also aware of his own mortality, which keeps him chasing after younger conquests. 

His ex-wife (Susan Sarandon) keeps him at a distance and his daughter (Jenna Fischer) and son-in-law (David Costabile) are at their wits’ end with Ben’s on again / off again relationship with his grandson. 

Solitary Man is a tightly scripted, well-acted account of Ben’s sins catching up to him.   There are moments of grace as well as judgment as Ben’s life begins to spiral in upon itself. 

Michael Douglas could play this part in his sleep, but he brings nuance and pathos into his performance.  I still didn’t much like Ben Kalmen by the end of Solitary Man, but I did feel compassion for him, and prayed for a possible moment of redemption in his future. 

This is a small gem of a movie and well worth seeking out for the way in which it surprises us with its tiny moments of grace.

Pitchfork/Halo Ratings: Four halos. A smart and wise film about sin and redemption.
Three picthforks. A truly irresponsible lead character who lies, cheats, and practices promiscuous sex; underage drinking; some drug use; and some swearing.

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