The Soloist - Film Review
Foxx and Downey Pull Heart Strings In Biography Of Homeless Musician
Apr 23, 2009
The film centers on the transformative friendship between the homeless Ayers, (Jamie Foxx), and a seemingly uninvolved newspaper journalist, (Robert Downey Jr.).
Both leading actors deliver powerful performances as two detached individuals that form a difficult, but committed alliance. Oscar-winning actor Foxx is particularly eloquent as the artistic schizophrenic living an independent life on his own terms.
A Symphonic Poem
“The Soloist” is also musically and visually arousing, such as when Ayers’ cello performance ascends into a fully orchestrated arrangement. To which a flight of birds rhythmically soar over a striking aerial view of the LA freeway’s interchange. The film’s graceful “slow movement” will resonate well with cultured music fans. Whereas a broader, less patient audience may find “The Soloist” fiddles their time away.
The Scoop
Ayers was discovered by Los Angeles Times journalist, Steve Lopez, as he played a battered, two-stringed violin under the Beethoven statue in downtown LA’s Pershing Square. In search of his next compelling human interest story, Lopez finds himself drawn to the eccentrically-clad indigent, and his obvious talent.
After some background investigating, Lopez uncovers the accelerated path that led the gifted instrumentalist to New York’s prestigious Juilliard School. It was in Ayers second year at the prestigious college that he became incapacitated by psychological illness. Consequently, this led to Ayers’ present-day situation as a middle-aged man living on the streets of LA’s Skid Row.
Lopez endeavors both to change the circumstances of Ayers, and other mentally-disabled, homeless Angelenos. Through a series of published articles, he is able to rally the support of his readers, the LA Philharmonic, and local politicians. Lopez and Ayers also find heartening assistance from the LAMP community, an organization on a mission to permanently end homelessness.
Ultimately, Lopez accepts what he can not change, and learns how to just to be a friend.
The Conductor And The Composer
Directed by Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride and Prejudice). Screenplay written by Susannah Grant, (Erin Brockovich, In Her Shoes and 28 Days)The screenplay is based on the non-fiction book, “The Soloist”: A Lost Dream, An Unlikely Friendship, and The Redemptive Power of Music by Steve Lopez. In the spring of 2001, the Los Angeles Times columnist wrote a series of articles about his friendship with Nathaniel Anthony “Tony” Ayers, a homeless musician living in Los Angeles’ Skid Row. These editorials later became the material for Lopez’s published book.
In The Orchestra Pit
Starring Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Nelsan Ellis, Tom Hollander and Lisagay Hamilton.
Cinematography by Seamus McGarvey; film edited by Paul Tothill; production designed by Sarah Greenwood; costumes designed by Jacqueline Durran, costume designer; art direction by Greg Berry and Suzan Wexler.
Produced by Russ Krasnoff and Gary Foster. Executive producers are Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jeff Skoll and Patricia Whitcher.
A Paramount release of a DreamWorks/Universal presentation, in association with StudioCanal and Participant Media of a Between Two Trees production, a Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment production, in association with Working Title Films.
Running Time: 109 min
Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug use and language.
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