The Soloist
The movie Soloist is inspired by a true story. The movie has all the important components required for a good story, the actors too have done a commendable job and there is this elevating drama but the audience may hardly feel anything great about the film.
It seems the directors have missed out on something to leave viewer feel good in spite of so many good factors of the movie.
The story is all about the musical genius Nathaniel Ayers, which is played by Jamie Foxx and Steve Lopez, played by Richard Downey Jr. who is the columnist in Los Angeles Times.
Steve dedicates his column to Nathaniel and builds a rapport with him. Nathaniel shoots up to fame and glory with Steve’s write-up. And due to Nathaniel’s mental ailment Steve is de-motivated to write further. But Nathaniel continues to play superb music.
The mental sickness of Nathaniel is depicted rather unconvincingly and probably the director was not quite sure of portraying this aspect in a rationale way. Nathaniel’s character is fluctuating and promiscuous but you may wonder how a good drama can be successful with such a loose element and this leads to a point when even Steve’s patience level is tested.
It is difficult to criticise the performance by Jamie Foxx who is portrayed to be jittery, perturbed and most likely he seems to be a schizophrenic. Jamie surely expected an award-winning performance but he is badly let down by the director and the screenwriter of the film and they fail to make a serious and sensitive film on mental sickness. The movie has lost track in between these two aspects.
The movie begins with Steve being surrounded by troubles; his marriage is on the rocks, has met with an accident and is least interested to work. He meets Nathaniel outside his office playing some fabulous music on his violin and Steve instantly befriends him.
Steve writes the first column on Nathaniel and he also gets to know that Nathaniel had studied cello in Julliard. Steve gets a cello from a reader for Nathaniel (this is a true incident) and Steve becomes his brother’s guardian.
The film Soloist has done a good job in exhibiting the rehabilitation center and we understand why people who do not have a shelter stay away from such places.
Nathaniel in his role as mentally ill and a musical genius is commendable but it looks as if he has stuck to the screenplay without offering something extraordinary and lacks the skill of giving a credible performance.
Jamie Foxx disappoints you in this area or maybe we have to blame the director Joe Wright and writer Susannah Grant. The two of them seem to have different frequencies.
Downey as a columnist is convincing and the actress of the film Catherine Keener who plays the editor is refreshing. Music by Beethoven is inspiring but the film has not tapped his skill for the best of its ability and fails to touch the emotional cords of the audience.
The character of Nathaniel is very vague that makes it hard for the audience to draw a conclusion about him.
The film is rated as PG 13 for some drug usage and some violent sequencing.
Film: The Soloists
Cast: Jamie Foxx as Nathaniel Ayers, Robert Downey Jr. as Steve Lopez, Catherine Keener as Mary, Tom Hollander as Graham, Gay Hamilton as Jennifer Lisa
Director: Joe Wright
Writer: Susannah Grant
Original Book Writer: Steve Lopez
Run time: 1 hour and 57 minutes
Rating: 2.5/5
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Posted on Saturday, April 25th, 2009 at 1:39 pm