The real-life story behind The Soloist is a touching and motivating story: Los Angeles Times reporter Steve Lopez (played by Robert Downey Jr.) is intrigued by the beautiful music he hears in the park. He follows the melodies and finds the musician, a homeless man, Nathanial Anthony Ayers (portrayed by Jaime Foxx), playing a violin with only two strings. Lopez is intrigued by Ayers and decides to write an article, which later becomes a series of articles, for the paper. During his research, Lopez discovers that Ayers is a talented musician who dropped out of Julliard many years earlier, due to schizophrenia. The true story is fabulous; the movie version spirals downward into the abyss of mediocrity.
The movie is true to the story – Lopez publishes a series of articles about Ayers that touch many of the readers, resulting in fan donations of a cello, housing and cello lessons. During the research and composition phases of the articles, Ayers and Lopez mature emotionally as individuals and develop an unlikely bond. The movie explores the friendship, as well as Ayer’s backstory and homelessness in Los Angeles.
This movie could have served as a rallying cry for action. Although the movie cast two award-winning actors for the lead roles, only one successfully embodied the character he portrayed.
Downey gave a nuanced performance as Lopez. His conflict with being placed in a position of worship from Ayers was evident. He loved the accolades he received from the city and his paper, but did not relish the responsibility he felt for Ayers well being. Foxx was unable to become the character he played. From the moment we meet Ayers, it is evident that he has mental issues. Foxx’s opening sequence begins with a diatribe filled with names and historical references. Instead of being poignant and believable, he seemed to only be reciting memorized monologues. Oscar-winning Foxx overacted through a majority of the film and his performance seemed stiff.
Foxx is not the only one to be faulted for a disappointing movie. Director Joe Wright employed numerous visual storytelling techniques that made the movie muddled. Many of the minor characters were played as stereotypical caricatures (drug dealer, prostitute, thug, etc.) Wright also used colorful abstract collages during many of the musical scenes that left attendees a bit disoriented. There were numerous snickers heard from the audience during these interludes.
The Soloist is not well orchestrated. Wright attempted to cover too much ground in a limited time and Foxx simply doesn’t deliver as Ayers. This is a story worth telling, but it hit too many sour notes and the movie’s climax seemed contrived.
Grade: C-
