The Soloist (2009)

I just finished this film and thought it was pretty good…it surely was worthwhile to watch. I popped a big bowl of popcorn, and munched down while seeing this. The drawback to this one was the length of it, if only they would have made it shorter, it would have been a better film. The individual performances by Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx were remarkable and surely Oscar worthy. They put their very best into their roles. They delivered massive amounts of dialogue together, which was intriguing and the scenes seemed to work out well.

Robert Downey Jr. plays Steve Lopez who is a reporter working for the Los Angeles Times newspaper writing his own weekly column. He is stumped for a story, after smashing his face from a bicycle accident on the roadway. Later on, he happens to stumble upon the likes of Jamie Foxx and befriends him. Jamie plays a homeless man named Nathaniel Ayers who plays a cello along the highway and under the statue of Lugwig van Beethoven who he is obsessed with. Robert’s character Steve sees potential for a possible story to write about him and his life. He is desperate for a story because the newspaper is hurting for subscribers, due to lack of interest of the paper. They are laying off journalists left and right. Steve’s ex-wife Mary Weston is played by the talented Catherine Keener. I didn’t understand the entire relationship between them, as some details seemed to be left behind in the film.

The character Nathaniel formally studied at Julliard for two years, and later left due to deep psychological issues that he deals with each day. He suffers from schizophrenia, and seems to run and hide away from his problems and lashes out at people as well especially those closest to him. The story can go in different directions at any point. But, director Joe Wright keeps the center of interest mainly focused on Nathaniel. The method of using various flashback sequences to his childhood and earlier years helps to explain things about him and his gift of playing music. This story was based upon a book written by Steve Lopez with the screenplay written by Susannah Grant.

More of the cast includes: Tom Hollander playing Graham Claydon, Lisa Gay Hamilton as Jennifer Ayers, Nelsan Ellis is David Carter, Rachael Harris is Leslie Bloom, Stephen Root plays Curt Reynolds, Lorraine Toussaint is Flo Ayers, Justin Martin plays the Young Nathaniel, Susane Lee is Marisa, Marcos De Silvas is Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Ilia Volok is Harry Barnoff, Michael Bunin plays Adam Crane and Patrick Tatten is Paul Jr.

The underlining theme for this film is about homeless people, the lack of respect and injustices that they endure each day maybe not by their choice but by circumstances. There are estimated around 90,000 homeless people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds living just within the Los Angeles area. I hope this film shines light on the homeless people who suffer each day. I hope they can get back on their feet again and off the streets. I will recommend this film it was pretty good.