Solitary Man (2010)
68%RT Audience Score: 50%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 3 nominations
Built around a singularly unpleasant main character, Solitary Man needed a flawless central performance to succeed — and Michael Douglas delivers
Solitary Man” is a movie that shows the not-so-glamorous side of living life to the fullest. Michael Douglas gives a great performance as a jerk who burns bridges and leaves pain in his wake. While the film may not be perfect, it’s definitely worth a watch for anyone who wants to see a character study of a flawed individual. Plus, nobody does oily quite like Michael Douglas!
Production Company(ies)
Cinema ’84 Euro Film Funding, Hemdale
Distributor
Anchor Bay
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
City Island, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some sexual content
Year of Release
2010
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.39:1
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Runtime:1h 29m
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Language(s):English, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 21, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 7, 2010
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
Solitary Man, Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Mary-Louise Parker, Imogen Poots, Jenna Fischer, Jesse Eisenberg, Ben Shenkman, directed by Brian Koppelman, David Levien, written by Brian Koppelman, produced by Paul Schiff, Steven Soderbergh, Heidi Jo Markel, comedy, drama, R rating, box office gross $4.4M, reviewed by Chris Chang, Nick Schager, Angie Errigo, Rick Groen, Amy Biancolli, Peter Howell, Mike Massie, Brent McKnight, David Harris, Kaleem Aftab, Dennis Schwartz, character study, aging man, car dealer, bad decisions, wandering eye, losing streak, Boston trip, college visit, flawed protagonist, existential reflection, phony scenarios, strong support, character-driven drama, unlikeable protagonist, oily, tight script, fine performances, sympathetic ex-wife, megalomania, hero worship, charisma
Worldwide gross: $5,682,554
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,724,787
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,043
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 842,398
US/Canada gross: $4,360,548
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,927,670
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,758
US/Canada opening weekend: $94,936
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $129,055
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,836
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $20,390,798
Production budget ranking: 1,357
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $10,980,445
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$23,646,455
ROI to date (est.): -75%
ROI ranking: 1,846
Mary-Louise Parker – Jordan
Jenna Fischer – Susan
Jesse Eisenberg – Cheston
Imogen Poots – Allyson
Ben Shenkman – Pete Hartofilis
Director(s)
Brian Koppelman, David Levien
Writer(s)
Brian Koppelman
Producer(s)
Paul Schiff, Steven Soderbergh, Heidi Jo Markel
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (99) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (77) | Rotten (22)
The film begins and ends with scenes of acute existential reflection, a state actors rarely convey convincingly-least of all in a contemporary American film.
November 13, 2013
Chris Chang
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Koppelmans script is awash in phony scenarios.
October 12, 2010 | Rating: C
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
A terrific turn by Douglas, and strong support, elevates this character-driven drama above its unlikeable protagonist.
October 8, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Angie Errigo
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
It’s a fascinating character study isolated within a mediocre film.
July 2, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Yet more proof that Michael Douglas can do anything he pleases so long as he’s playing a jerk.
July 2, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Amy Biancolli
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Nobody does oily like Michael Douglas.
July 1, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
A little incomplete and largely unsatisfying.
November 30, 2020 | Rating: 4/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Movie often romanticize people who live every day like it may be their last, who live like there is no tomorrow. “Solitary Man” shows the other side of that, the loneliness, the broken relationships, the burned bridges, and the pain left behind.
July 14, 2020 | Rating: B
Brent McKnight
The Last Thing I See
Douglas does have a commanding presence and it is good to see him back, but as his character becomes less and less likable, Solitary Man goes off the rails.
October 24, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
Douglas has always been at his best when he’s playing someone with no scruples… Unfortunately, not even he can do anything about the message feeling distinctly one-note.
May 15, 2018
Kaleem Aftab
The National (UAE)
A worthwhile watch even if an overlooked film.
April 25, 2017 | Rating: B-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
There’s no likeability anywhere in this film.
January 18, 2014 | Rating: 1.5/5
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures…
Plot
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?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Michael Douglas’ flawless central performance in Solitary Man, despite the film’s unpleasant main character.
Brian-Koppelman.jpg
