SOLITARY MAN

Ben (Michael Douglas) is a one-time successful New York car dealer in his 50s who loses his business after a series of ill-advised moves. With one divorce from his college sweetheart Nancy already under his belt, Ben manages to lose his current girlfriend as well, who dumps him when she catches him in bed with her daughter. Meanwhile, his own daughter refuses to let him see his grandson, since Ben has seduced the mother of one of the boy's classmates. Is Ben the archetypal Yankee jerk or just a living example of a man whose integrity has faded away along with his looks? A solid script and brilliant performances by an all-star cast (including Susan Sarandon and Danny DeVito) establish "Solitary Man" as a firm favorite for this year's Academy Awards.