A few times during the film Solitary Man, Ben Kalmen (Michael Douglas) is out of focus.
This filmmaking choice is just a literal representation of the man, who, after hearing that he may have some cardiac issues, decides to make all the wrong choices and has to deal with the consequences.
He has a loving wife and family, and he throws them away to sleep with younger women. He has a successful chain of car dealerships, and he makes some shady business decisions that result in him losing his livelihood.
All this is a gigantic case of denial: Ben can’t face the fact that he’s not the young guy he once was. Continue reading
Martin's Musings 