THE SOLOIST

Music and movies are usually a good combination. However, it's important to remember: there's a difference between musicals and movies about music. A new example of the latter is The Soloist (USA, 2009), by Joe Wright (director of Atonement and Pride & Prejudice).


Differently from his other films, Wright now directs a modern story that takes place on Los Angeles. The movie is about Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.), a reporter who becomes friends with a lonely homeless man while looking for a story to write about.

That man, Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), is not like any other homeless person: he's a music genious, who plays violin in public streets. Plus... he's schizoprenic. Steve doesn't care about Nathaniel at first, but after a while he decides to make a difference in his life and help him getting better and living a better life.

The Soloist is a... complicated movie. Artistically and technically, it's very well done. Wright is an acclaimed director; his previous movies got really positive reviews and had a great public. So you can expect a very artistic film. However, it often seems slow and a little boring. There are good things about it, though.

First, it's well acted. Downey Jr. is now officially back on track: after a few setbacks involving drugs and jail, his popularity in Hollywood is now climbing like a rocketship. After playing Tony Stark in Iron Man (a great popcorn movie) and being nominated to the Oscar for Tropic Thunder (for his hilarious and memorable role), his acting here is secure and solid.

Foxx does a good work as well... although it's obvious that he's screaming for an Oscar. His playing of Nathaniel Ayers is quite good. Too bad he didn't hear Sgt. Osiris: never go full retard. I know schizoprenia is not like mental retard, but still: some people are not really buying his acting... FYI: Osiris is a character from Tropic Thunder... played by Downey Jr.!

Second: the music is good for the classic fans. But this movie's main triumph is its portrayal of schizophrenia. When we see things through Nathaniel's point of view, the voices he hears are quite disturbing... giving us the impression of actually feeling what it's like to be schizophrenic.

And other moments are purely cult. Like when he listens to one of Beethoven's symphonies and imagines explosions of colors. Schizophrenic viewers say the movie's portrayal of the condition is accurate and realistic, making this film a good study on schizophrenia.

Just one more thing: I might sound like a prude, but I think PG-13 was not an appropriate rating for this film. There's no big deal about language, sex, violence or drugs, but some scenes are quite upsetting.

The whole homelessness matter is quite sad, but the poverty and desperation are shown in a very depressive (and quite graphic) way. It might be just me, but I think R would have been a better rating.

In resume: The Soloist is well-done and touching, but quite slow. A lot of people will hate it (others won't even finish it). There are no big moral lessons, just a modern story about humility and friendship. My vote is 3.

>> ZÉ B. [3/5]

>> iRaphael [3/5]

IMDB link: HERE