The Soloist
The Soloist is a story based literally on today’s headlines, or at least by-lines if you want to get technical. Star Jamie Foxx will probably be remembered at the next far away award season for his portrayal of Nathaniel Ayers which will be a testament to his outstanding performance (yet another) a the child prodigy at Julliard poised to make a mark on the world with his cello until his brain synapses started crossing wires and mental illness set in. We meet him relocated in Las Angeles and living on the street where he gives concerts in the park on a two string violin under the stony glare of Beethoven’s statue. This is also where Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) meets Mr Ayres. Lopez is a newspaper columnist always hungry for a scoop and finds in Nathaniel not just one but a series of articles that are insightful and therapeutic as they serve to bring Ayres in off the street while applying a lot of political pressure to address the issue of LA’s population of some 90,000 indigents. The articles also inspire an unlikely concert as the two become friends. It seems odd that such a compelling story would find it necessary to force humour with uncomfortable sight gags (emphasis on gag) inspired by urine from a variety of species and even odder that such a story expressed by wonderful actors could leave you unmoved emotionally.