Movie Recommendation: "Solitary Man" from 2010, starring Michael Douglas

Film Recommendation: I saw "Solitary Man" in 2010 when it came out, and really loved it. I finally watched it again, and I enjoyed it just as much. But apparently very few people saw it on it's release, so I'm including it in my reviews of great films few people know about.

This is a big cast of well known actors, but primarily stars Michael Douglas who is in every scene. He plays a very successful man in his mid-50's, has a doctor suggest (and really only suggest) that he should have his heart checked out. And this leads him to a years long series of self-sabotaging, basically destroying all the things that once made him happy.

Ebert's review describes Douglas as playing a character who is always playing a character. A man who knows he is charming, and always working hard to be likable, and desirable. And the film shows how it carries him along, successfully, until perhaps we realize he might just be addicted to seducing younger women to feel immortal. And a lot of characters represent why you should stick with the really good things in your life, rather than always cutting them off to find another one.

This is also one of those very odd films that is very short but feels longer. It is just under 90 minutes, and when I first saw it remember leaving the theater and amazed by how much story and side characters were contained in it. Aside from Douglas, you'll get memorable bits from Danny Devito, Susan Sarandon, Jesse Eisenberg, Imogen Poots, Jenna Fischer, Richard Schiff, David Costabile, Gillan Jacobs, and Mary-Louise Parker.

And you'll think it's an even better review if after you see it, you read Roger Ebert's review of the film. (But only read it afterwards, as it is spoiler heavy.)