Review of Goodbye Solo (2009) by Walter M — 25 Apr 2009

[font=Century Gothic]"Goodbye Solo" is another heartfelt slice of life movie from Ramin Bahrani that is sadly not able to measure up to his previous two efforts. This time around, he is a bit more ambitious in telling the story of Solo(Souleymane Sy Savane), a cab driver from Senegal, living in Winston-Salem who dreams of becoming a flight attendant. That is not as compelling as the dreams of other men becoming their own man in "Man Push Cart" and "Chop Shop" which may be because Solo is about to become a father for the first time. So, he has more important things to care about which changes one night when he picks up William(Red West) to drive him to a movie theater. Along the way, William asks him to take him to a local mountain and leave him there for $1000 on October 20. At first, Solo thinks he is joking but then realizes he is not and becomes personally involved.[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]As far as other movie references go, I know other people have brought up "A Taste of Cherry" and I was also thinking of "Ballad of Narayama" but that could be because I have just seen it. There is also definitely an odd couple vibe in the relationship between the taciturn William and garrulous Solo. At least, William does not seem to be much of a racist. [/font].